From somewhere in between and alongside country, blues, and the influences of Gram Parsons, Lowell George, and Doc Watson lies the music of John Mohead. One of a handful of elected directors of the Mississippi Pecan Growers Association, Mohead returns with an eclectic album of acoustic and electric music filled with tasty piano fills and runs by Jim "Fish" Michie and stellar lead vocals in the Brad Absher mode.
Mohead performed at King Biscuit in Helena this past June and put on a fine performance of Tennessee Williams, Duane Allman and Bill Monroe inspired country-blues. This vibe returns on the 13-track "Mary's Porch," which was released in 1998.
On the reflecting "Son of the South" Mohead muses: "I was born under the veil of a Cyprus tree, baptized in tears of history, raised on Faulkner and B.B. King, I had to leave no one would admit to me, I'm a son of the south…."
Performing with Mohead on various cuts on the CD is Keith Urban (acoustic/electric guitars), Steve Ebe and Jim Hardy (drums), Raphael Semmes and Denny Bixby (bass), Peter Clarke (percussion), Keith Sykes (mandolin, background vocals), T Bone (fiddle) and Holly Poole, Kim Keyes and Carol Dawn Johnson (background vocals). Mohead's beautiful baritone voice and laid-back guitar melodies play like an afternoon sitting on the front porch enjoying Mother Nature and her many special gifts.
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This review is copyright © 2000 by Matt Alcott, and Blues On Stage, all rights reserved.