The Mississippi Hippies - Toronto Star CD Review

(back) RARE AND GENUINE EXCITEMENT -Greg Quill/Toronto Star/Feb17/05 Toronto journeymen all, guitarist Gord Leggat, his bass-whacking brother Hugh (A Foot In Coldwater), and Blues singer, harp player and multi-instrumentalist John Dickie (John & The Sisters, The Cameo Blues Band), have reinvented themselves yet again-with the help of some notable sidemen, including drummer Mike Sloski, pianists/organists Norm Brown and Rob Gusevs, saxophonists Chris Mitchell and Pat Perez. A hard-driving revivalist electric Blues band that sounds for all the world as if it might have emerged from the American South via Chicago and Detroit 40 Years ago. In joyful acknowledgement of Toronto’s enduring passion for bedrock Blues, these proudly un-reconstituted Young St. saloon warriors bring a raw and elemental edge to 10 originals that recall major Blues legend.

From Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf to Chuck Berry and James Brown, and pull it off with great authority and, more importantly, without actually mimicking their mentors. In addition to being a wonderful reminder of music’s mysterious power to sweep away the trappings of age, and to renew hopes of spiritual epiphany, this recording also contains surprisingly powerful performances, excellent songs, and a rare and genuine excitement. It’s no wonder the band has been chosen to accompany British Blues legend Long John Baldry on his imminent North American tour, promoting the re-issue of his two landmark albums, It Ain't Easy and Everything Stops for Tea, produced by Rod Stewart/Elton John in the late 1960s. -Greg Quill /Toronto Star/Feb/05

LIVINBLUES CD REVIEW by Gary Tate - Who cares about such details as to why they call themselves The Mississippi Hippies, especially when you're getting an adrenalin rush from their explosive carnival of 'rock-em/ sock-em' revivalism. These musical Canadian veterans, by way of Toronto, have souls firmly immersed in the rich Delta soil that cultivated the likes of Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, and Bo Diddley...read more!

THIS GROUP IS GOING PLACES! -by Tom Radai/Blues Mgt. Group/ Every few years I come across a recording that just knocks my socks off. Just such a product found its way to me recently and when I learned that it was produced by some of the classiest people in the industry my intrigue was amplified...read more!

PRESS/PROMO DOWNLOADS