Top Live Music Experiences of 2014 According to Johnny Cole of The Southland Music Line

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The following is a list of memorable shows from 2014. I attended 200+ shows throughout the calendar year and these are some of the best. First – a list of 40, then followed by several others that could have easily been listed in the list of 40.

1.) The Lone Bellow/Oh Jeremiah Show at T-Bones Records in Hattiesburg, MS (April 12).
2.) Larkin Poe at Stoltz Listening Room of the historic Avalon Theatre in Easton, MD (Nov. 5).
3.) Larkin Poe w/ The Shadowboxers, Lindsay Jarman & Rosco Bandana at Terminal West in Atlanta, GA. This show featured my favorite live music moment when Larkin Poe & The Shadowboxers did a cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “The Chain”. The rehearsal prior to show was equally entertaining (Feb. 15).
4.) Vintage Trouble at SXSW in Austin, TX followed by All-Star Tribute to Jimi Hendrix. The tribute in Austin’s Butler Park featured: Los Lonely Boys, The Doors’ Robby Krieger, Slash, Lucinda Williams, Carolyn Wonderland, Dave & Phil Alvin and more (Mar. 13).
5.) Dave Rawlings Machine at The Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN (June 27).
6.) Dave & Phil Alvin at Mid-City Lanes Rock n Bowl in New Orleans, LA (Aug. 12).
7.) Paul McCartney at Smoothy King Center in New Orleans, LA (Oct. 11).
8.) Leland Sklar performing with Judith Owen at Istanbul Cafe in New Orleans, LA (May 29).
9.) Grayson Capps, Anthony Crawford, Corky Hughes & John Milham at Callaghan’s in Mobile, AL (Dec. 28).
10.) Willie Sugarcapps at The Frog Pond at Blue Moon in Silverhill, AL (Nov. 23).
11.) Bruce Springsteen in Altanta, GA (April 26).
12.) Sugarcane Jane’s December show at Jack’s by the Tracks in Pascagoula, MS (Dec. 19).
13.) Hard Working Americans with Turbo Fruit at Iron City in Birmingham, AL (July 29).
14.) Rosco Bandana at SXSW ‘Holy Mountain’ in Austin, TX . Also at show Liz Longley, Desert Noises and Mandolin Orange (Mar. 15).
15.) Grayson Capps & The Stumpknockers at Callaghan’s in Mobile, AL (Jan 26).
16.) The Mulligan Brothers at Duling Hall in Jackson, MS. Oh Jeremiah opened the show (Nov. 21).
17.) Willie Sugarcapps at Wash Hole Jam in Brewton, AL (Sept. 20).
18.) Fleetwood Mac in Atlanta, GA (Dec. 17).
19.) Fleetwood Mac in Houston, TX (Dec. 15).
20.) Larkin Poe CD Release Party Show in Atlanta, GA (Oct. 24).
21.) Magnolia Springs (Magnolia Springs, AL) Seafood Festival featuring Willie Sugarcapps, Delta Reign, HanaLena & more (April 12).
22.) Bruce Hornsby at Schermerhorn Symphony Center in Nashville, TN (Oct. 20).
23.) Sugarcane Jane at Flora-Bama *following seeing them at a performance earlier in the day at Legacy’s in Mobile, AL (June 8).
24.) Bronwynne Brent at Jack’s by the Tracks in Pascagoula, MS (May 10).
25.) Tribute to the Memphis Soul: Take Me To The River with an all-star line up at Butler Park in Austin, TX (March 15).
26.) Acoustic House Party & Traveling Road Show at Birdie’s Roadhouse in Angie, LA (Aug. 2).
27.) B.B. King Final Indianola Homecoming Festival in Indianola, MS (May 25).
28.) The Frog Pond at Blue Moon Farm: Sunday Social featuring Will Kimbrough, Grayson Capps, Corky Hughes, Jimbo Mathus, Alvin Youngblood Hart, Chris Mule’ and Lightnin’ Malcolm (Oct. 26).
29.) Ben Taylor at Eddie’s Attic in Decatur, GA (April 8).
30.) The Bogalusa Blues & Heritage Festival in Bogalusa, LA w/ JJ Grey Mofro, Ruthie Foster, Mike Zito & The Wheel, Devon Allman, Johnny Sansone and more (Sept. 27).
31.) Ross Newell & Gram Rea Live at Jack’s by the Tracks (Dec. 23).
32.) 30A Songwriters Festival appearing Richard Thompson, Loudon Wainwright III and Ani DeFranco in January of 2014 (Scenic Hwy 30 FL).
33.) Jason Isbell with Cary Hudson at Brewsky’s in Hattiesburg, MS (Jan. 18).
34.) Grayson Capps, Corky Hughes, Anthony & Savana Lee Crawford and John Milham at Callaghan’s following a Summer event at Lap’s on the Causeway (Aug. 24).
35.) Underhill Rose at Eddie’s Attic in Decatur, GA (May show).
36.) The Mulligan Brothers Pre-release Party for “Via Portland” at Joe Jefferson Playhouse in Mobile, AL. Oh Jeremiah opened the show (Dec. 10).
37.) James McMurtry, Lincoln Duhram and others at Showcase show at SXSW (March).
38.) Wilco at The Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN (Oct. 21).
39.) The Geoff Painter Tribute with Fat Man Squeeze will forever be remembered because Painter meant so much to so many (Oct. 17).
40.) Billy Joe Shaver and Otis Gibbs at The Shed *Smoky Mountain Harley-Davidson) in Maryville, TN (June 15).

The following could easily be listed above. In no particular order:

* of Montreal w/ Yip Deciever at Spanish Moon in Baton Rouge, LA (May)
* Hozier w/ James Bay at 9:30 Club in Washington, DC (Nov. 4)
*Jimbo Mathus at The Shed at the Hwy 57/I-10 Crossroads, MS.

Earlier Jimbo Mathus mention:
#28 at The Frog Pond. (Oct. 26)

*Ben Taylor at The Vinyl in Pensacola, FL (Apr. 3).
Earlier Ben Taylor mention:
#26 – Eddie’s Attic in Decatur, GA (April 8)
*Doc Maclean with Libby Rae Watson at Jack’s by the Tracks (Oct. 8).

*Wes Lee at Jack’s by the Tracks (Dec. 18).
*Rambling Steve Gardner & Steve Steber at Murky Waters in Gulfport, MS (Aug 13).
Earlier mention:
They along with Libby Rae Watson and Wes Lee were mentioned earlier at #26 show at Birdie’s Roadhouse in Angie, LA).
*Banditos at Eastbank Pub (Summer show)

*Banditos at The Government Street Grocery (Dec. show)
*Banditos on two other occasions in 2014.

*The Lone Bellow with Kristin Diable and Foreign Fields at Thirsty Hippo in Hattiesburg, MS ( )
Earlier mention of The Lone Bellow:
#1 – show at T-Bones Records w/ Oh Jeremiah (Apr. 12)
*Mississippi Songwriters Festival *seeing Keith Sykes and others were a highlight.

*Bronwynne Brent’s performances at Jack’s and Scranton’s during Mississippi Songwriters Festival.
*Bronwynne Brent at Jack’s by the Tracks (Aug. 15).
*Bronwynne Brent Live in Bay St. Louis, MS. (May 30).
Earlier Bronwynne Brent mention:
#24 – at Jack’s by the Tracks (May 10)
*The Mulligan Brothers – seen on a number of occasions in 2o14 including show at Callaghan’s and Lap’s on the Causeway.
*Gram Rea 0f The Mulligan Brothers shows with Ty Taylor at Leo’s in Ocean Springs, MS; Gram Rea w/ Ty, G. DeLuca & B. Leininger at Leo’s in Ocean Springs, MS.
Earlier mentions of The Mulligan Brothers:
#16 – Duling Hall (Nov. 21)
#31 – Ross Newell & Gram Rea at Jack’s (Dec. 23)
#36- Album Pre-Release Show (Dec. 10)
*Oh Jeremiah at Jack’s by the Tracks in Pascagoula, MS (Aug. 14).

Earlier Oh Jeremiah mentions:
#1 – w/ The Lone Bellow (Apr. 12)
#16 – w/ The Mulligans Brothers (Nov. 21)
#36 – w/ The Mulligan Brothers (Dec. 10)
During the years 2012 & 2013, I saw Rosco Bandana more than I anyone else. During 2014, I saw them several more times.

*Rosco Bandana & Kaboom at House of Blues in New Orleans, LA | The Line did an article on this show (June 20).
*Rosco Bandana’s Summer Show at The Dock in Gulfport, MS (July 19).
*Other Rosco Bandana shows throughout 2014.
Earlier Rosco Bandana mentions:
#3 – w/ Larkin Poe (Feb. 15)
#14 – SXSW show in Austin, TX. (March)
* Monday Open Mic Night at Irish Coast Pub *actually there was two or three that really stood out.

*Em & Me: Coffeehouse Sessions in Pass Christian, MS |The Line did an article on this show (Spring).
*John Calvin Abney / Della Memoria at Mississippi Juke Joint in Ocean Spings, MS (Aug. 20).
*Della Memoria EP Release Party at Irish Coast Pub in Gulfport, MS (Nov. 26).
*Della Memoria at Government Street Grocery show prior to the EP Release Party (Nov).
Other Della Memoria mentions:
Additional shows from Della Memoria were enjoyed throughout the year at several  music venues.

*Lawnaroo at Chimney’s featuring Della Memoria, The Eves, Brooks Hubbert and more (July 4).
*Kaboom at Hard Rock in Biloxi, MS (I saw Kaboom on more occasions in 2014 too – including their New Orleans House of Blues show with Rosco Bandana, Twice at Government Street Grocery & Irish Coast Pub)
*The Wooden Wings, The Scorseses and more at Voodoo Gardens at House of Blues in New Orleans “Bewsiana” (Aug. 23).
*Bantam Foxes at Achemy Tavern in Mobile, AL (July 18).
*Sugarcane Jane on the balcony at Scranton’s during Live Oak Festival in Pascagoula, MS (May 10).

*Sugarcane Jane (after returning from doing a show at Bud Cason event in Tennessee, they rocked the house at Callaghan’s.)
*Sugarcane Jane at Courtyard at 311 Fairhope, AL ( Aug. 31)
*Sugarcane Jane at The Shed at Hwy 57/I-10 Crossroads (May 30 & additional dates).
*Sugarcane Jane, The Mulligan Brothers, The Underhill Family Orchestra at Lap’s on the Causeway (Aug. 24) -Lap’s Locals Sunday Funday Concert
Sugarcane Jane…….I saw Anthony & Savana Crawford aka Sugarcane Jane more times than I did anyone else in 2014 – especially when you include them with Willie Sugarcapps. These shows and others were all memorable.

Earlier Sugarcane Jane (Anthony & Savana Crawford) mentions:
# 10 – w/ Willie Sugarcapps (Nov. 23)
#12 – show at Jack’s (Dec. 19)

#17 – w/ Willie Sugarcapps (Sept. 20)
#21 – w/ Willie Sugarcapps (Apr. 12)
#23 – show at Flora-Bama (June 8)
#9 – show with Grayson Capps (Dec. 28)
#34shows with Grayson Capps (Aug.24)
*L.A. “Lower Alabama” Songwriters Festival “The night featuring Sugarcane Jane, Scott & Scott Boyer, Wes Lee, Cary Laine, Eric Erdman, Suzi Ragsdale and Travis Meadows (Sept. 12)
*Grayson Capps w/ Cary Hudson – Charity Event at Government Street Grocery in Ocean Springs. Event also featured The Dig, Em & Me and others.

Earlier Grayson Capps mentions:
#9 – w/ C. Hughes, A. Crawford & J. Milham (Dec. 28)
#10 – w/ Willie Sugarcapps (Nov. 23)
#15 – w/The Stumpknockers (Jan. 26)
#17 – w/ Willie Sugarcapps (Sept. 20)
#21 – w/ Willie Sugarcapps (Apr. 12)
#28 – w/ G. Capps, C. Hughes, L. Malcolm, C. Mule, J. Mathus & A.Y. Hart (Oct. 26)
#34 – w/ A. & S. Crawford, C. Hughes & J. Milham (Aug. 24)
*Will Kimbrough at Bay Harbor Festival in Bay St. Louis, MS (July 27)

*Will Kimbrough at Scranton’s in Pascagoula, MS (Aug. 15)
Earlier Will Kimbrough mentions:
#10 – w/ Willie Sugarcapps (Nov. 23)
#17 – w/ Willie Sugarcapps (Sept. 20)
#23 – w/ Willie Sugarcapps (Apr. 12)
#28 – w/ G. Capps, C. Hughes, L. Malcolm, C. Mule, J. Mathus & A.Y. Hart (Oct. 26)
*Corky Hughes Trio Reunion Show at Jack’s by the Tracks (on two memorable occasions in 2014)

Earlier Corky Hughes mentions:
#10 – w/ Willie Sugarcapps (Nov. 23)
#17 – w/ Willie Sugarcapps (Sept. 20)
#23 – w/ Willie Sugarcapps (Apr. 12)
#28 – w/ G. Capps, W. Kimbrough, L. Malcolm, C. Mule, J. Mathus & A.Y. Hart (Oct. 26)
#34 – w/ G. Capps, A. & S. Crawford & J. Milham (Aug. 24)
* Willie Sugarcapps “Fall Opener at The Frog Pond at Blue Moon Farm (early autumn)
Earlier Willie Sugarcapps mentions:
#10 – The Frog Pond (Nov. 23)
#17 – Wash Hole Jam (Sept. 20)
#23 – Magnolia Springs (Apr. 12)
*Cowboy: Boyer & Talton / NC Thurman with Ben Jernigan & Friends at Callaghan’s in Mobile, AL (Aug. 9 )
*Cowboy: Boyer & Talton with NC Thurman at Jack’s by the Tracks ( Aug. 10).
Earlier Scott Boyer mentions:
L.A. “Lower Alabama” Songwriters Festival
*John “Jabo” Starks – Jabo Night at Callaghan’s in Mobile, AL with Ben Jernigan & Friends. ( ).
* Ben Jernigan & Friends at Callaghan’s (early 2014).
*Johnny Sansone with Ben Jernigan at Jack’s by the Tracks (June 13).

Earlier Johnny Sansone mention:
#30 – Bogalusa Blues & Heritage Festival (Sept. 27)
*Sara Jean Kelley at The Shed (Hwy 57/I-10 Crossroads)
*Blue Mother Tupelo at Jack’s by the Tracks in Pascagoula, MS (June 14)
*Cowboy Johnson w/ Luther Wamble at Jack’s by the Tracks in Pacagoula, MS.

Additonal Luther Wamble mention:
Luther Wamble at Blues Tavern in Mobile, AL
* Andrew Duhon at The Shed at the Hwy 57/I-10 Crossroads (Sept. 25).
*Jimmy Lee Hannaford (several performances at Tiki in Gautier, MS & The Shed at Hwy. 57/I-10 Crossroads)
*The Smart Brothers at Callaghan’s in Mobile, AL (Autumn Show).
*Heather Luttrell & The Possum Den at venue in Ocean Springs, MS (May 4).
* Custom Trio at Jack’s by the Tracks in Pascagoula, MS (Feb. 22).
* David Locklear & Tempura Cool at Long Beach Live in Long Beach, MS (May 15).
*Chris Knight at Duling Hall in Jackson, MS (June 26).
* The Eves were seen a few times in 2014: Lawnaroo, The Fillin Station, Govt. St. Grocery).
* Fat Man Squeeze were seen several times in 2014 at Jack’s by the Tracks in Pascagoula, MS.
Earlier Fat Man Squeeze mention:
#39
The Geoff Painter Tribute (Oct 17)
*Kelcy Hyde EP Release Party w/ Lance Carpenter in Nashville, TN (Oct. 22).
*Mr. Sipp “The Mississippi Blues Child” at The Mary C. in Ocean Springs, MS (Sept. 13).
*Zach Deputy at Vinyl Music Hall in Pensacola, FL (Jan. 31).
*Kress Live V.I.P. w/some members from The Revivalists at Kress Live in Biloxi, MS (July 3).
*SXSW Shows by Cheers Elephant, The Giving Tree Band, Roo & The Howl etc. (March).

Earlier SXSW mentions:
#4 – Vintage Trouble at SXSW / Jimi Hendrix Tribute in Butler Park
#25 – Tribute to Memphis Soul at SXSW
#27James McMurtry, Lincoln Durham etc Showcase at SXSW
*Fancy Sauce at The Celtic in Pascagoula, MS (Summer show)
* Brother Mountain at Long Beach Live (June 19) * Brother Mountain was seen three additional times in 2014.
*Mississippi Shakedown is another band I was able to see a few times in 2014.
*Gerard Raley (Guitarist) performed with several band lineups. There is several musicians along the Gulf Coast that frequent various live bands.

*Tuba Skinny at The Spotted Cat in New Orleans, LA (Summer show)
* Nick and The Ovorols at Callaghan’s in Mobile, AL (Aug. 31).
*Zach Fellman with Right Lane Bandits Live from Ocean Springs, MS (fall of the year).

*Cary Hudson was seen throughout the calendar year of 2014: The Shed, Govt. Street Grocery, Jack’s by the Tracks, Brewskys (with Jason Isbell – mentioned earlier.)
Earlier Cary Hudson mentions:
#33 – Brewsky’s in Hattiesburg w/ Jason  Isbell (Jan. 18)
* At Govt Street Grocery w/ Grayson Capps (July charity event)

The Dig was seen throughout the calendar year of 2014 including shows at Govt Street Grocery in Ocean Springs, MS.
Earlier Mention of The Dig:
July charity event at Govt Street Grocery in July on bill with Grayson Capps, Cary Hudson and others.

The above is a sample from the 200+ shows I enjoyed in 2014.
Others were Julie Anne Sellers, Rooster Blues, Vagabond Swing, The Mumbles, Fort Bayou Slim, Hester, Thomas Jackson, Gators in the Sawgrass, The Truitt Williams Band, Mark Pfaff, Pfaff Mouth Band, Phil Proctor, Brooks Hubbert, Ty Taylor, Delta Reign, Mississippi Shakedown, Party at the Moontower, Dash Rip Rock, Red Room Arrangement, several bands consisting of popular local musicians and more………

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