Stagger Lee

Performed live on March 4, 2000 at Darkhorse Tavern, Atlanta, GA, USA.

The North Mississippi Allstars, a celebrated blues-rock band led by brothers Luther and Cody Dickinson, are well known for their dynamic interpretations of traditional blues and rock standards. Their music is deeply rooted in the sounds of the Mississippi hill country. They perform numerous adaptations of traditional blues tracks.

I want to talk about the mythology behind this kind of music and the persistent symbolism we see. The south, as you know, is known for its storytelling but Mississippi kind of just seems like its on another level. Focusing on music and not the rich literary tradition we have: Casey Jones, the Sugar Man and the Clear Creek Bridge, and of course the Crossroads. We love all that stuff. Is there something in the water over there that creates such vivid stories and imaginations?

Luther: Yeah, that's a great question man! I think that maybe being slow to modernize in the last century is part of it. I just think it's a great tradition of story tellers. You know there's John Henry and Stagger Lee. There's lots of great folk heroes from all regions.

-- Live and Listen interview with Luther Dickinson