Dead Cat Bounce

• Artist: John Lisi/Delta Funk
• Rating:
• Release Date: March 06, 2007
• Genre: Blues

Review

The confluence of roots hardened Delta funkers Cody Dickinson (North Mississippi Allstars) on drums, bassist/producer/multi-instrumentalist Jimbo "Hambone" Mathus, and guitarist John Lisi results in a perfect storm of lowdown Delta blues-funk on this explosive disc. Recorded live in one or two takes, the energy shoots out of the speakers even on ballads such as "Cheap Motel." The three-piece sounds crisp and vibrant digging into the tough groove of the elastic blues-rockers that dominate the set, and it's obvious that everyone involved was having a party during the recording. It just exudes fun, whether it's in the backwoods guitar and percussion breakdown of "Po' John" or the more boogie worthy "Flip Flops" and "Beer Soaked Couch Slug" featuring Lisi's frenetic swampy slide guitar. Take the ZZ Top of old, bring 'em down to Mississippi, let 'em go wild and this grinding, raucous album might be the result. Lisi's Everyman voice and "aw shucks" attitude capture the spontaneous nature of the sessions, which sound like the band has been playing for years instead of just joining together for this recording. As the song titles indicate, the lyrics aren't exactly poetic, especially "Git 'Er 'Gon'," which consists primarily of those words repeated throughout the tune. But that's inconsequential: since the performance is so inspired and brash, the words are secondary to the trio's rowdy tone and flexible enthusiasm. Even the unplugged mandolin of the closing "Blah Blah Blah" cuts with pulsating precision as Lisi treats it like an electric guitar. The disc effortlessly combines the rawness of New Orleans music with the swamp soul of the Mississippi Delta to create exuberant, Southern-rock funk in its purest and most primal form. Once you get the bug, you'll return for more. ~ Hal Horowitz, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Dead Cat Bounce	John Lisi	John Lisi & Delta Funk, John Lisi, Delta Funk Express	(2:13)
Woke Up Pissed (Sleep Away My Blues)	John Lisi	John Lisi & Delta Funk, Delta Funk Express, John Lisi	(5:22)
Slow Down Sugar!	John Lisi	John Lisi, Delta Funk Express, John Lisi & Delta Funk	(4:23)
Beer Soaked Couch Slug	John Lisi	Delta Funk Express, John Lisi & Delta Funk, John Lisi	(3:37)
Cheap Motel	John Lisi	Delta Funk Express, John Lisi & Delta Funk, John Lisi	(4:10)
Po' Jon	John Lisi	Delta Funk Express, John Lisi & Delta Funk, John Lisi	(2:16)
Flip Flops	John Lisi	John Lisi, John Lisi & Delta Funk, Delta Funk Express	(4:32)
Flip Flops - Slight Return	John Lisi	John Lisi, Delta Funk Express, John Lisi & Delta Funk	(1:04)
C'Mon Down	John Lisi	John Lisi & Delta Funk, Delta Funk Express, John Lisi	(3:36)
Bad Luck Roy	John Lisi	Delta Funk Express, John Lisi & Delta Funk, John Lisi	(2:42)
Git 'Er 'Gon'	John Lisi	Delta Funk Express, John Lisi & Delta Funk, John Lisi	(3:38)
Blah Blah Blah	John Lisi	Delta Funk Express, John Lisi & Delta Funk, John Lisi	(3:11)

Credits

Cody Dickinson (Tambourine), John Lisi (Lap Steel Guitar), Jim Mathus (Tambourine), Cody Dickinson (Drums), Jimbo "Hambone" Mathus (Producer), John Lisi (Guitar (Electric)), John Lisi (Vocals), Jim Mathus (Vocals (Background)), John Lisi (Liner Notes), Jim Mathus (Piano), John Lisi (Dobro), Jimbo "Hambone" Mathus (Piano), John Lisi (Guitar (Acoustic)), Larry Nix (Mastering), Jimbo "Hambone" Mathus (Vocals (Background)), Kevin Nix (Mastering), John Lisi (Mandolin), Jimbo "Hambone" Mathus (Bass), Jim Mathus (Bass (Electric)), Cody Dickinson (Cymbals), Jimbo "Hambone" Mathus (Tambourine)