How did Woody Pines get to Cafe 9? By tramping through cotton country, following the sound of the drum, guided by Robert Johnson, Son House, and Elvis Presley.
At least that’s how he described the process from the stage of the State Street bar on Monday night.
He was there with his mandolin and bass player on the last day of a four-and-a-half week tour.
During an extended breakdown (featuring a car breaking down) during the song “Counting Alligators,” Pines talked about driving Highway 61 to New Orleans. The road traces the history of rock and roll: from the crossroads where Robert Johnson made his deal with the devil to Graceland, home of the King. Click the video to hear about his journey.
Pines’ whole show, combining country blues and rockabilly, felt like a tribute to the roots of rock. With the standup bass thumping and the jangly guitar jumping through boogie-woogie and early rhythm and blues, it was easy to feel like Pines might just invent rock and roll at any minute.
