Rockabilly pianist Smoochy Smith at the Powerhouse Tuesday

On Tuesday from 7 - 9pm the Powerhouse, Oxford's community arts center, will host a "Rockabilly and Liquor" edition of its Troubadour Lounge series featuring Sun Records recording artist Jerry Lee "Smoochy" Smith. Also performing are Oxford's own Jimmy Phillips and Donovan McCain, who is leading the house band. The event, which costs $7, will also include tastings of Jeremiah Ward Sweet Tea Vodka and Catdaddy Moonshine.

Smith, born in 1939, began working with Carl Perkins when he was just 14, and first recorded for Sun a couple years later with Ken Parchman. He also recorded with artists including Ace Cannon, Billy Lee Riley and Warren Smith. In the early '60s he was a member of the Stax group the Mar-Keys, who had the hit "Last Night." In the '80s I remember being impressed by Smith's frantic piano work when he was touring with the Sun Rhythm Section, a group of rockabilly veterans that also included Sonny Burgess, Paul Burlison, Stan Kesler, and J.M. Van Eaton. Here's an article about Smith by Bob Mehr in the Commercial Appeal.

Here's some video of Smith in action.



Smoochy Smith from Southern Folklore on Vimeo.

COOTERS HALLOWEEN SHOW

Hell, yes. What could be better than a kick-ass rock 'n roll show with the Cooters on Halloween night? The boys will be at the Two Stick tomorrow night for what should be a wild show.

If you don't know the Cooters than you haven't been in The Ditch long.

But this is a little explanation from their myspace page:

The highway: you know, that striped concrete abomination between roadkill and chugged beer bottles, leading from the middle of nowhere to everywhere. Well, The Cooters are on it. They're on it more than other bands because they're from Mississippi, where rock and roll begins and ends. They're not from California, not New York City, not even Nashville, but from Mississippi, where you have to drive to make ends meet. These boys are used to drivin' long hours and workin real hard to get their music to the people.

The Cooters run the gamut of rock and roll styles; playing everything from punk to metal, making pit stops at all points in between.

The Colonel Reports to Proud Larry's Tonight

Ok. So it's a crummy, rainy night in the Ditch. But a fantastic show at Larry's. Col. Bruce Hampton and The Quark Alliance arrive in town. Nothing like good music and cold beer to make you feel good.

Col. Bruce Hampton has been making music since he formed his first band in 1963. Col. Bruce has been in constant motion ever since leaving a trail of memorable live performances with his many bands, including The Late Bronze Age and Col. Bruce Hampton and The Aquarium Rescue Unit.

Along the way he appeared in the movie "Sling Blade" as the poet and band manager Morris and starred in Mike Gordon's cult classic "Outside Out" as a mystical guitar 'out'structor.

Since 2006, The Colonel has been playing a unique blend of blues and jazz with his band Col. Bruce & The Quark Alliance, featuring Kris Dale (bass), Perry Osborn (guitar) and Duane Trucks (drums).

Still rolling down the road, Col. Bruce continues his quest for the tonal center at each exit #6.