North Mississippi Allstars

Despite the quality of their past albums, particularly the hill country blues of 2005’s Electric Blue Watermelon, the North Mississippi Allstars have never quite managed to capture the knockout Allman Brothers whomp of their live shows on record. In that sense, maybe getting a little heavier in the studio is a deft move—which is exactly what they’ve done on their latest.

Named for their hometown (yes, now we know exactly where in North Mississippi they’re from), Hernando also pinpoints the band’s love for blues rock, with a heavy emphasis on the rock: After hearing Luther Dickinson peel off a few squealing guitar solos, anchored by brother Cody’s skin-thumping gallop, it’s clear that the bandana-tied thunder of Blue Cheer and Mountain has been rumbling through their tour bus speakers.

Which is not to say the Allstars have abandoned their roots: “I Want to be a Hippy” (“but my hair won’t grow that long,” Luther adds) is a classic 12-bar blues stomp, while “Blow Out” is a piano-boogie number that the Dickinsons’ dad, legendary Memphis record producer, Jim, might have cut 40 years ago. We still like it better when the band goes the trad route, and at times Hernando sounds a little schizophrenic. Then again, sometimes a power chord is just what the doctor ordered.

The North Mississippi Allstars play a free WXRT show at Cubby Bear Saturday 2.