words and photos by Joseph Climer
A packed house is what Proud Larrys’ saw Thursday night, April 11th, once Light Beam Rider and Mississippi Shakedown boldly took the stage. Ten-thirty rolled around just as Light Beam Rider had begun to play, and the floor was already flooded with good dancing and better beer. There’s nothing quite like a stage full of born and raised Mississippians, pouring their hearts out to an Oxford crowd at one of best venues around. I would suggest bucket list-ing it, if you haven’t shared this experience.
Light Beam Rider, born in Corinth, Mississippi, a four-piece of spacey, solid waves of consistent progressive rock. And tonight, Light Beam sent out a tidal wave. The drowning crowd waved right back. From tunes that you couldn’t not drunken groove to, to borderline slow dances, and a perfect balance in between. Just when you thought you’d reached the calm of the storm, you got utterly splashed. Recently releasing their first full length album, Mississippi, and touring with The Weeks and Junior Astronomers all throughout the New South, Light Beam Rider has planted its roots deeply into the lively music scene of Oxford. Catch their next show at The Blind Pig on Friday, April 26, Double Decker weekend. Stop by www.vimeo.com/codyhopper/lbrthunder for their newly released music video, “My Name is Thunder.” Their album, Mississippi, is available at their merch table and www.lightbeamrider.bandcamp.com
Mississippi Shakedown is a two-piece from Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Both musicians brought their own fair share of sound and more, drenched in homegrown delta whiskey blues. They are a blossomed jewel of Mississippi mud. The frontman, Cox, finger-picked the banjo and guitar all night, while the drummer, Big Al, manhandled his drum sticks, while he beat his bass drum, barefooted. Muddy boots were stomped throughout the crowd, while Cox stomped on his wah pedal that laid in an old, open suitcase overflowing with effect pedals. Their album, Passer by, will be available at their merch table as Mississippi Shakedown and Light Beam Rider head throughout southern Mississippi, into Texas, Tennessee, and Alabama.
Check out lightbeamrider.bandcamp.com for tour dates.
