It could be a pretty special night at Newby’s on Thursday, March 1st, when roots reggae legends Culture hit town. Founded by lead singer and chief songwriter Joseph Hill in Kingston during the mid-Seventies, Culture rivals the Wailers and Toots & the Maytals among the most important of all reggae groups. The band’s colossal 1977 debut album, Two Sevens Clash, is roundly considered one of the greatest reggae records ever made — a feverish, rhythmically galvanizing, Rastafarian exploration of mid-Seventies Jamaica. At the time, the album, especially the apocalyptic title song, made such a huge impact that on July 7, 1977 — the day the sevens clashed — Kingston reportedly ground to a halt as people awaited judgment.
My first-hand experience with the band starts and ends with Two Sevens Clash, and if you’re wondering how well the band can conjure the excitement of 1977 today, then your guess is as good as mine. But it sure seems like a good idea to show up and find out.
Another show Thursday night worth getting excited about: If you read our music feature last week on the Memphis Troubadours compilation, then you might remember some favorable ink expended on local singer-songwriters Cory Branan and the Pawtuckets’ Andy Grooms, who were the heroes of that record. Well, now it turns out that the MADJACK Records labelmates are joining forces at the Hi-Tone Café on Thursday for what will no doubt be some first-rate song swapping. — Chris Herrington
When you go see Southern Culture on the Skids at the New Daisy on Friday, March 2nd (and you’d be a fool not to), chances are good you’ll walk away wondering, “Who was that great opening band, and why haven’t I heard of them before?” Well, that band is the Forty-Fives and I’ve slathered nine kinds of praise on their Hammond-driven sound the last two times they came to town. Nobody paid any attention though, and turnout bit. Now (finally) they are touring with a band guaranteed to draw a crowd. They deserve it too. There is not a finer garage band on the planet. Go early. Don’t miss a note.
All good things must end they say, and sadly enough Oxford’s mighty noise machine the Neckbones have skipped on down the primrose path. That’s not news really; they busted up a while back but I’m still not over it. In fact, I haven’t been this broken up about a band’s demise since the Oblivians called it quits. From the Oblivians’ ashes, however, two fantastic bands emerged: the Tearjerkers and (I really can’t believe how good they are) the Reigning Sound. Hopefully the late great Neckbones will likewise double down. Former Neckbones front man Tyler Keith, who gave us nasty-good ’70s-style punk in the form of songs like “Art School Dropout” and “Get My Kicks” as well as the gruff country of “Red Wagon,” is bringing his new band, the Preacher’s Kids, to Shangri-La Records on Friday, March 2nd, at 5:30 p.m. in support of their debut album Romeo Hood. Considering that the Preacher’s Kids is made up of members of Mississippi hellions/Black Dog record execs Blue Mountain, the chances are good that this will be a great rock-and-roll show. Not so coincidentally, Blue Mountain will be doing their thing later that night at the Hi-Tone. — Chris Davis
