The Mississippi Hippies - Blues in London CD Review

(back) - THIS IS PARTY BLUES AT IT'S BEST! - Don't be deceived by the name, the Hippies don't hail from the Delta. However, they do appear to be hippies. Proper hippies, ban the bomb symbols and excessive facial hair.

But don't expect to find any Grateful Dead style love-ins here, this is party Blues at it's best. This Canadian trio, headed by vocalist John Dickie (also credited with "Mississippi Saxophone"), tear through this album with an originality and style I haven't heard for a long time. From the opening eight bars of opener Rockalator (think of a Gladiators style travelator with rocks on it) you know this album is gonna be fun. Imagine Little Richard and Elmore James playing a party hosted by Hugh Hefner in New Orleans, and you' be getting close. It isn't introspective, soul-baring Blues, but with cuts like Don't Touch My Hair it's clear that isn't what the Hippies are about. The musicianship is straightforward but classy, the guitar playing is competent and stylish but never oversteps the line of good taste. The vocals are raw, and lyrically witty. Dangerous Curves has more than a hint of Dr John. Occasional cuts feature a horn section, adding yet more class. It should be pointed out there aren't any half-baked covers on here, every song is an original. Yet it's easy to see where The Mississippi Hippies floral VW camper van is coming from: they've taken the most lively aspects of the past century of Blues, mixed it in with some hash cakes, and served it up to an unsuspecting Blues community. And that can't be a bad thing.
-by Vince Velour/ www.BluesinLondon.com

FIRST CLASS PARTY RECORD! - by Eric Stiener/ Cosmik Debris Magazine - The Mississippi Hippies aren't really from the Magnolia State, but this band sounds like it hails from juke joints all the way from Clarksdale down to Rosedale and back. Toronto's Mississippi Hippies are closer to Mississauga than to the Mississippi Delta, but they've produced a first-class party record that's worthy of any comparison I might make to the giants of Mississippi music.

Each time I turn up the Mississippi Hippies' record, I hear strong influences and main inspirers like Howlin' Wolf, Gene Vincent, the Bar-Kays, and Otis Redding. John Dickie's right-on ragged lead vocals travel those Dangerous Curves nicely along with some juicy fat-toned harp. Rockalator is a real Rockabilly treat. Rayleen and Luv Pad are guaranteed dance floor fillers in the Hippies' hometown. The slow dance of Ain't Got the Blues is perfect for a late night two-step and it floats on a Memphis beat buoyed by Norm Brown and Rob Gusev's keyboards. Discover some delightful uptempo craziness, tinged with the Blues and some mighty fine Rockabilly. - by Eric Stiener/ Cosmik Debris Magazine

BLUES REVUE MAGAZINE - BLUES BYTES - by Tom Hyslop - An effective antidote for the previous can be found in the new recording by The Mississippi Hippies (Big Smoke), a rowdy, raw, roots affair. This big band updates (only slightly) vintage Blues, R&B, and rock sounds with hip originals, Sci-Fi Baby, Luv Pad, Dangerous Curves, and Cruisalatin' Time. Rude slide guitar, nasty harp, and honking sax punch the grooves forward; John Dickie's vocals are rough-and-tumble, heartfelt, and justright for this aggressive, retro-themed band. There's a touch of Red Devils in the Hippies tough, swinging and stomping rhythms. The Farfisa organ on Funky Lil' Thang adds '96 Tears' action to the song's spy-movie guitar. Killer graphics, too. - by Tom Hyslop, Blues Revue