[Herman’s Pick] Vol. 6, No. 47

Courtesy Mayhem String Band

See Mayhem String Band perform this Saturday, Aug. 9, at Martin’s.

by Herman Snell
August 6, 2008

With Mississippi’s hot August sun upon us, you may be leaning toward the darker, cooler scene at your nearby movie theater for your late summer outings. Hang in there, though: It’s not too late to get in that last bit of summer vacation, and maybe take one last Saturday road trip before the Labor Day weekend.

If you’ve picked up this issue fresh off the stands on Wednesday, Aug. 6, you can catch several punk bands in the Hal & Mal’s courtyard tonight. You’ll find area favorites like The Overnight Lows and ¡Los Buddies! in support of Washington D.C.-based punk outfits The Points and Die Rotzz, 8 p.m. Check them out on at myspace.com/thepoints and myspace.com/dierotzz.

On Thursday, Hal & Mal’s is back with jazz favorites the Barry Leach Jazz Group in the restaurant at 8:30 p.m., free. The other free Thursday night show is at Fenian’s with the old Irish dance tradition of Legacy from 8:30-11 p.m. Speaking of Fenian’s, they are hosting a wine tasting this Sunday, Aug. 10, from 2-5 p.m.

Also on Thursday night at 10 p.m., Martin’s brings back eclectic local duo The Passing Parade for a smorgasbord of alternative folk and banjo breakbeat. Never heard of “banjo breakbeat,” you say? You may know Cody Cox and Josh Taylor of The Bent Branches and Goodman County. These guys let loose their more experimental nature in the Passing Parade project. Their genre-blending creativity and talent make them well worth checking out.

The Hold Steady and The Loved Ones will bring Pitchfork Media love to Proud Larry’s in Oxford this Friday night. Last month, The Hold Steady’s new riff-rocking album “Stay Positive” garnered an impressive 8.4 on the Pitchfork scale.

If you haven’t been to 930 Blues Café since they renovated the space earlier this year, check out Mississippi native Lil’ Dave Thompson on Friday and Saturday nights this week. His acclaimed guitar playing is but one facet of his Delta blues sound. Joining her this weekend will be the 930 Blues Café house bands, alternating between breaks.

The Oxford-based Mayhem String Band returns this Saturday to Martin’s, 10 p.m. If you dig outlaw bluegrass in the aggressive hoedown fashion, this appropriately named band is a must-see. Blind Melon is back in Mississippi post Jubilee!JAM, returning to Rick’s Café in Starkville next Wednesday, Aug. 13. Tickets are $20 and are still available at Rick's Cafe.

Cary Hudson’s alternative country outfit Blue Mountain returns to Hal & Mal’s Big Room next Friday, Aug. 15. The members of Blue Mountain have been a staple on the Jackson/Oxford circuit since the ’80s with their band The Hilltops, playing almost weekly at W.C. Don’s. Since 1991, they have recorded as Blue Mountain, and with bassist Laurie Stirratt (sister of Wilco bassist John Stirratt), they have earned gigs playing to as many as 40,000 people at this spring’s Double Decker Arts Festival in Oxford and South by Southwest in Austin. Next Friday, they will be playing songs from their new album, “Midnight in Mississippi,” which comes out Aug. 19.

 
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