Music Weekend Roundup: Eddie Dixon w/ Rosco Bandana, Fat Man Squeeze, Truitt Williams, The Mulligan Brothers, & Willie Sugarcapps

Eddie Dixon @ The Hard Rock

In a weekend of righteous liberation, I was afforded the chance to do a brief run around the coast from Thursday night all through Saturday. The adventures began at the Hard Rock Cafe, where musician and fellow band mate Eddie Dixon, took the stage to open for home town favorite Rosco Bandana. 

Stripped down with only two guitars, Dixon performed a series of songs from his assorted solo albums, including his latest work, Bump Key, where he pulled such tracks as "Swindle Sea" and "Countries Are Here". Dixon is currently producing the debut album for Los Angeles artist Leighann Nelson and is an avid visual artist and photographer. You can check out some of his artwork here. 

Rosco Bandana

Following Dixon shortly after, Rosco Bandana quickly made the finishing touches to their setup and began a two part show that lasted close to two hours. With a more minimalist line-up of six performers, the band showed that nothing has been lost in their ability to deliver a hard rock edge to their Americana folk roots, proving they are still one of the best, most energetic shows to see in the southern region. 

New to the line-up was Zachery Fellman, who has been loaning his skill of the keys to Rosco for several weeks now. He also provided backing vocals and some hypnotic accompaniment on the saxophone. In the several times I have seen Rosco perform, I have always been impressed by the talent of Jackson Weldon, who always seems to be taking the role of a different instrument, depending on the show. I have seen him work the bass, as well as mandolin, for the majority of any given show. Thursday night was the first time I saw him take the primary role of the lead guitarist, where he consistently took every other song to 11 with his furious, impassioned playing that captivated the audience. A particular instrumental number had Jackson and frontman Jason Sanford weaving in and out of beautiful melodies before the entire band decedent into a high powered jam that left bystanders temporarily faceless. 

From the sidelines of the center stage, Robby Amonett, a painter who has made a name for himself in the south capturing live performances as they happen in front of him, diligently replicated the energy from both shows as the night progressed. From the crowd, Johnny Cole of the Southland Music Line (see CNP #44 & 45) sat by watching the group he has loved from day one, as they gave thanks to those special followers, friends and family, who have supported their growth through all the past years. 

After the show, we all came together to pat backs, shack hands, and talk about our plans for the weekend. Johnny Cole, Eddie and I discussed the last showing at The Frog Pond in Mobile, which has become a local iconic venue that operates seasonally in the Fairhope area of Alabama. Their season ends next weekend until the fall. I mentioned a few festivals going on starting that Friday, including the Beachfront Blues event that was set to take place in Pascagoula the following day. 

Fat Man Squeeze @ Scranton's

Friday evening marked the beginning of some questionable weather that looked like it may put a damper on all things music for the weekend. Not one to be deterred, I loaded up my car with all the necessaries to make for a good time down in Pascagoula, where I was counting on hearing some good blues and exploring a new area. After an hour long drive, me and my traveling crew found the park we were looking for...but not a band or music goer in sight! I circled the block once or twice, thinking I was just unfamiliar with the area, but had no luck spotting the blues. A little research online directed us to a nearby bar where the show had been relocated due to weather. Down the narrow street of a quiet downtown area, we found Scranton's.

Making our way through the crowd in the main room, we found the side bar, a narrow room with booths and tables. At the very end of the straight shot was bluegrass performers Fat Man Squeeze. A three piece that welcomed our arrival with tunes that were fast, hard, and fun as hell to sing along to. 

Within five minutes of being there, we were treated to such numbers as "I'll Fly Away" and "Folsom Prison Blues" that had the entire room joining in, with thunderous claps keeping time to the speedier rendition of Johnny Cash's hit song. The crowd was constantly entertained by the antics of the band's frontman, who cracked jokes with his band mates and the audience who sat within arms reach of the group. At eight o' clock, the band closed with a cover of "All Along the Watchtower", and I left out with the feeling that I had seen a personal favorite for the weekend. 

Truitt Williams Band @ Jack's By The Tracks

Stepping out of Scranton's, I made a quick call to Johnny Cole to see if the Southland Music Line was planning on making the trip down to Magnolia Springs tomorrow for the seafood festival that was set to take place all day long, rain or shine. We agreed that the weather wasn't promising, but we would both keep an eye out and make a decision in the morning. Loading up the car, me and the road crew went over the train tracks to pay a first time visit to Jack's By The Tracks, a venue that we discussed in the last two episodes of the Coastal Noise Podcast. 

Although I only stayed for a few minutes, it was enough to get a good first time feel for what Jack's By The Tracks was all about. An attentive crowd looked on as The Truitt Williams Band played a lively set (with a sign announcing Fat Man Squeeze to play the following night). The venue is a shotgun style restaurant, which gives a unique sound to the acoustics in the building. Even from the very back, where patrons sat eating an assortment of delicious looking dishes, you could still hear the band playing with clarity. 

The Mulligan Brothers @ Magnolia Springs Seafood Festival

The next morning I woke up, made some tea and took to my back porch where I began sorting through the pictures from the last two nights. As it approached ten, I started checking the weather. Despite the nasty images that filled the radar just the night before, everything around Fairhope, Alabama seemed to be clear. It might not be such a bad day for a festival after all. I second phone call to Johnny Cole confirmed it. We agreed to meet at the Shed Blues and BBQ Joint in Ocean Springs and travel together to cover the shows. I loaded up my equipment and an acoustic guitar (in case of an emergency) and took for the interstate. Before long, Johnny and I were on the park grounds where we met up with Pascagoula photographer and Southland Music Line partner, Stephen Anderson, along with Robby Amonett, who was setting up to paint the festivals performers before heading over to Callaghan's Irish Social Club, a well known bar in Mobile that has a reputation of attracting top notch musicians. 

Local band Mass Kunfuzion opening the festival

Though the rain no longer seemed an issue, baking heat began to creep over the festival, which was soon replaced by a nice breeze and some not so nice gnats. No one seemed to mind much though, as Johnny, Stephen, Robby, and I stood around with members of the Mulligan Brothers to make small talk before they took to the stage to set up. We grabbed our seats under the tent and settled in as the four piece folk inspired band began their hour and a half long set, filled with beautifully arranged songs that featured dynamic song structure and thoughtful lyrics. Half way through the show, we noticed the band was struggling to keep the bothersome gnats, which seemed to be increasing in numbers, away from their busy performance. I soon earned a reputation with the festival goers as "The Bug Spray Guy" when I handed over my spray bottle of Off to frontman Ross Newell's. Despite their difficulties, they powered through and left the stage to the applause of a delighted crowd. 

Willie Sugarcapps

The headline performance followed soon after. Willie Sugarcapps, a band that came together from reoccurring collaborations at The Frog Pond just down the road, is the make up of five well respected musicians of the south. 

Grayson Capps, Will Kimbrough, Corky Hughes and the duo Sugarcane Jane featuring Savana Lee and Anthony Crawford, make up this soulful display of powerful songwriting, harmonies, and skilled instrumental talents. Members take turns singing lead, swopping different instruments, and performing songs that he or she wrote, sometimes improvising comical ditties on the spot to the amusement of the crowd. When the band finished its last song, the crowd gave the group a standing ovation and called out for more as the sun was just beginning to go down. The band thanked them again and again and then stepped off to meet and greet with the appreicative festival goers. 

Painting by Robby Amonett

All in all it was a fantastic day in Magnolia Springs, and a great way to wrap up my Music Weekend Roundup. A special thanks to Johnny and Stephen at the Southland Music Line for hanging around, Robby, and all the musicians I saw this week for getting out there and putting on one rockin show after another. Hope to see you all out in the future. Please share and support our local music scene. All comments welcome below. 

Until next time.

Stefan