by jon bosworth jaxvillain@yahoo.com
What: Jimbo Mathus and the Knockdown South
Where: Fuel Coffeehouse
When: December 13, 2006
Jimbo Mathus ain’t pretty in the traditional sense. But when it comes to playing the blues in the true style and tradition of the great bluesmen, he is the prettiest catfish in the catch.
“A good Bluesman is someone that has lived some life. Gone through some hardships.”
You may think that Mathus wouldn’t know much about that since his first major label band, Squirrel Nut Zipper, hit while he was still in college, but Mathus didn’t let the success get to his head. He likes things done the old-fashioned way. From his hand-written website to his primitive recording studio (that doesn’t have a single computer in it) Mathus likes things to be simple. Like the blues.
“My studio is real stripped down, just vintage microphones and tape machines. Coming into my studio to cut a live album is pretty much like going into a studio in the 1950s.”
After his stint with Squirrel Nut Zipper, and before getting Knockdown South back together, Mathus got wrapped up in Buddy Guy’s career. He won a Grammy for his work on Buddy Guy’s Sweet Tea and still considers Buddy Guy one of the greatest living bluesmen.
Mathus’ latest release, Old Scool Hot Wings is a true blues album that starts off with Jimbo introducing a blues song from the 1920s about some pork chops that talk. Complete with kazoo and Luther Dickinson (of The North Mississippi All Stars) on mandolin, these songs step straight off of a porch full of old blues and bluegrass musicians, perhaps in Mathus’ hometown of Clarksville, Mississippi.
“I grew up in a house full of musicians. I started playing guitar when I was 6. Music was pretty much always a big part of my life.”
Between Squirrel Nut Zipper, which played big band and ragtime music circa 1920s, to the Delta Blues of Knockdown South, Mathus is perfectly content living in the past. But he doesn’t want Mississippi to live in the past in all respects.
EU: What is it about Mississippi that makes it so unique?
JM: Every state is unique in its own way, but Mississippi has gone through some pretty hard times. Mississippi is poor; there is a lot of poverty here. And, let’s face it, Mississippi had a lot of slavery and conditions for the black people were bad.
EU: How much has it improved?
JM: It’s improved in some ways. In some ways it’s stayed the same. But it’s still bad. It’s the unhealthiest state.
EU: How did you get hooked up with Squirrel Nut Zippers?
JM: I got that group together back in Chapel Hill in my younger days. I just fell in with some good musicians and some creative people. Catherine really grew into music as the singer of Squirrel Nut Zipper.
EU: How does Carolina compare with the Delta, culturally?
JM: It’s much wealthier, but Mississippi is my home. I love it.
EU: How difficult is it to remain authentic in the music industry?
JM: I just don’t really acknowledge the music industry, so it doesn’t really affect me much.
EU: Is that from your experience in Squirrel Nut Zipper, or just the way you’ve always been?
JM: Oh, that definitely had something to do with it, but that experienced just reinforced feelings I’ve always had about the music industry. And it’s all just changing so fast, how record labels work and everything, that I’m just sort of stepping back and trying to get my bearings.
EU: Why do you jump labels so often, is it difficult finding a label that allows you to do your thing?
JM: Well it’s hard to find the right match. I usually just go with the one that has the least strings attached. Lately I’ve just been putting them out myself.
Jimbo Mathus and Knockdown South will perform live at Fuel Coffeehouse in Five Points on December 13. Get there early to get a seat at the bar, because to get the blues going sometimes takes a couple. Look for the new Knockdown South album Jimmy the Kid as well as a honky tonk concept album from Mathus in the coming year.
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