Summary
From 2012: Jimbo Mathus hops onto the Country Fried Rock stage, bringing a whirlwind of musical tales and soulful reflections that are as rich as a Mississippi mud pie. Right off the bat, he dives into the heart of creativity, revealing how his upbringing in the vibrant musical landscape of northeast Mississippi shaped his artistic journey. With a background steeped in family harmonies and raucous jam sessions fueled by cheap beer, Jimbo paints a picture of a life where music wasn’t just a hobby; it was the family business. He chats about his evolution from strumming mandolins as a kid to fronting one of Mississippi's first punk bands, showcasing a colorful tapestry of influences that range from blues legends to punk rock pioneers. As they meander through stories of juke joints, the beauty of original songwriting, and the importance of staying true to one’s roots, it becomes clear that Jimbo’s journey is not just a personal odyssey but a celebration of the Southern spirit and the transformative power of music.
Show Notes
Growing Up Mississippi Style
• Jimbo Mathus paints a vivid picture of his childhood in Northeast Mississippi
• Remembers chaotic and joyful family gatherings filled with music, cheap beer, and loud harmonies
• Shares how early exposure to banjos, mandolins, and gospel traditions lit the spark for a lifetime of music
Mandolins to Punk Rock
• Talks about learning the mandolin as a kid and the musical encouragement he got at home
• Reflects on forming one of Mississippi’s first punk bands, Johnny Vomit in the Dry Heat
• Discusses the challenges of building a punk scene in small-town Mississippi in the 1980s
Musical Identity and Evolution
• Shares his journey from punk to embracing blues, Southern rock, and traditional roots music
• Talks about the influence of Robert Johnson, Bill Monroe, and how those legends shaped his sound
• Emphasizes the importance of originality and blending genres in his songwriting
The Songwriting Craft
• Describes songwriting as a lifelong craft shaped by personal history and family tradition
• Highlights the role of Southern storytelling and creative persistence in his process
• Reflects on how returning home to Mississippi has deepened his artistic connection to place and people
Collaborations and Current Projects
• Talks about working with blues legend Buddy Guy and what that experience meant to him
• Gives a sneak peek into his upcoming album, White Buffalo, focused on cultural symbolism and storytelling
• Explains how he approaches new projects with intention and a desire to stay authentic
A Conversation That Feels Like Home
• The episode flows like a casual hangout on the porch with a good friend
• Filled with humor, insight, and heartfelt storytelling
• Jimbo’s passion for music, roots, and community shines throughout
Why You’ll Want to Listen
• Get to know the man behind the music, from punk pioneer to roots revivalist
• Discover how Jimbo blends rebellion with tradition to create something uniquely Southern
• Hear stories that reflect the deeper meaning behind the songs and the culture that inspires them
Tune in to hear Jimbo Mathus open up about the roads he’s traveled, the music he’s made, and the heart behind White Buffalo. Available wherever you get your podcasts.
Links
- REMINDER: IGNORE ALL LINKS OR EVENTS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE FROM 2012
- Toss a few in our Tip Jar!
- Jimbo Mathus
- Jimbo Mathus on Bandcamp
- You may also enjoy this conversation with Tara Nevins of Donna the Buffalo from 2012
Takeaways
- Jimbo Mathus shares his nostalgic memories of growing up around music in Mississippi, highlighting the family gatherings that shaped his artistic spirit.
- The podcast dives into how Jimbo transitioned from a punk rock scene to embracing traditional Southern music, blending both influences in his creative journey.
- Listeners get a glimpse of Jimbo's philosophy on recording music, emphasizing the importance of capturing authentic performances without relying on modern tech fixes.
- Jimbo discusses the profound connection between Southern literature and music, revealing how family history and storytelling play a crucial role in his songwriting process.
- The conversation touches on the significance of the juke joint culture in the South as a unique space for musical expression and community bonding.
- Jimbo talks about his upcoming album White Buffalo, inspired by a rare buffalo's death and its cultural symbolism, showcasing his commitment to authentic storytelling through music.
Chapters
- 00:09 - Introducing Jimbo Mathus
- 00:59 - The Journey into Music and Identity
- 14:10 - The Journey to Artistic Discovery
- 20:59 - Returning to Roots: The Mississippi Connection
- 27:54 - The Evolution of Musical Expression
- 31:24 - The Significance of the White Buffalo
Mentioned in this Episode
- Country Fried Rock
- Nuci's Space
- Goner Records
- Squirrel Nut Zippers
- Big Legal Mess
Recommended If You Like
Country Fried Rock, Jimbo Mathus interview, Southern music inspiration, creativity in songwriting, Mississippi music scene, original music production, juke joint culture, blues music history, punk rock in Mississippi, Southern literary tradition, music and family heritage, Americana music podcast, Country Fried Rock podcast, mental health in music, Nuci's Space nonprofit, music production techniques, songwriting process, Southern culture and art, vinyl record production, creative collaboration in music, squirrel nut zippers
Transcript
Speaker A
00:00:00.800 - 00:00:17.920
Welcome to Country Fried Rock, where we talk with musicians to find out what inspires their creativity. Country Fried Rock music uncovered.
My guest today on Country Fried Rock is Jimbo Mathis, who's been in the music scene for a while and continues to create and push his own limits. Morning, Jimbo. Thanks for being with us.
Speaker B
00:00:18.080 - 00:00:19.840
Good morning. How are you?
Speaker A
00:00:19.840 - 00:00:23.920
I am fantastic. It is bright and early for a musician. I thank you for being with us.
Speaker B
00:00:24.320 - 00:00:25.600
I get up with the chicken.
Speaker A
00:00:26.240 - 00:00:27.280
You got yardbirds?
Speaker B
00:00:27.610 - 00:00:29.050
Yes, ma'. Am. You know it.
Speaker A
00:00:29.290 - 00:00:31.690
Are they pretty ones or country ones?
Speaker B
00:00:31.770 - 00:00:37.690
They are country ones. They're a little raggly. They gotta fight for their right to stay alive around here. Good talking with you.
Speaker A
00:00:37.770 - 00:00:46.570
Absolutely. You too. You too. Well, this has been a treat because your name has been brought up repeatedly throughout our show, but really more for your producing.
Speaker B
00:00:46.810 - 00:00:54.650
Right? I'm so glad.
Yeah, I did a lot of producing over the past five years, you know, helping other artists out and helping them get their sound like they needed it.
Speaker A
00:00:54.960 - 00:01:06.880
As I started to do a little bit of research, I realized we could talk about all different kinds of things. So let's set the stage a little bit for how you first started getting into music, like, as a little kid. What were you into?
Speaker B
00:01:07.280 - 00:02:02.000
Yeah, well, I grew up with music in the house, you know, with my father, my uncles, my cousins. This is. I'm talking about northeast Mississippi, in the hill country of Mississippi during the 70s and 80s. So, yeah, we had banjos, mandolins.
I first got attached to the mandolin when I was about six and I started learning the rudiments, you know, all instruments. We had a lot of harmony singing.
And music was just a part of our house and it was a part of our weekends, you know, and just what the family did, it's some of the most fond memories, you know, you can have, really. Just watching grownups get tanked on cheap beer and, like, singing like angels, you know, it's great when you're six years old.
And they always encouraged me.
And so that's how I got into it was really more from just the joy and the family aspect of it and then before, you know, ever realizing there was a business part of it.
Speaker A
00:02:02.000 - 00:02:07.080
Sure. Well, at what point did that expand for you beyond just what you were doing with your family?
Speaker B
00:02:08.440 - 00:02:25.840
High school, you know, I started branching out and wanted. I got an electric guitar and an amplifier and, you know, and wanted to rock. This is in Corinth, Mississippi.
So actually, I had one of the very first punk rock bands in the state of Mississippi, you know, in the early 80s, called Johnny Vomit in the Dry Heat.
Speaker A
00:02:26.160 - 00:02:26.880
Great name.
Speaker B
00:02:26.880 - 00:02:36.880
And we had some 45, you know, that you can find out there that are on goner records. That would be my first recorded evidence would be Johnny Vomit in the Dry Heaves.
Speaker A
00:02:37.040 - 00:02:39.280
And so what sort of punk were you all?
Speaker B
00:02:39.520 - 00:03:23.200
We were backwoods Mississippi punk. We basically had to make up our own scene. I think we saw rock and Roll High School on, you know, HBO when we finally got cable in the 80s.
And that's when we realized that there was a thing called punk rock. We jumped in head first when we were teenagers.
But then I really just always kind of latched on to original things, things that were different, things that were original, as well as embracing like the traditional stuff. I still do the same. You know, the traditional stuff is like my bible. And the new and the different that just comes from being a songwriter.
And I've pushed to always have my own compositions. That's what I'm usually playing, you know, for the public.
Speaker A
00:03:24.080 - 00:03:49.250
Several great musician friends of Country Fried Rock generously donated songs for a free music sampler.
Download it at noise trade.com countryfriedrock 19 songs to help raise awareness and money for Nucci's Space, a nonprofit serving the mental health needs of musicians in the Athens, Georgia area. Find out more about Nucci's at n u c I.org from right away you were writing your own stuff?
Speaker B
00:03:49.410 - 00:04:04.290
Yes, ma'. Am. I got started writing my own stuff right away after high school.
I continued to do that and just something finally just clicked in my late teens and early twenties where I was able to just start writing on my own stuff. And I've done that ever since.
Speaker A
00:04:04.530 - 00:04:06.450
Is that something that just flows for you?
Speaker B
00:04:06.770 - 00:04:53.670
It does now. I just look at. It was this like a habit thing, you know, I mean, I had encouragement in music and I had encouragement in my family.
All through the generations are known as writers and musicians and different kind of eccentrics. So I've got a. They're also real smart. And so, I mean, just crazy smart people that scare you, you know. So I've got this kind of weird streak.
So I practiced doing it. I just. It kind of came out of me then over the years after doing it so long.
Now it's just a habit thing, you know, I can do it pretty easily as far as the composing, writing, latching onto ideas and kind of elaborating on them. It's like carpentry or something to make it, you know, it's. Or working on a carburetor. It's just habit and it's Pretty easy.
Speaker A
00:04:53.910 - 00:04:56.950
Does that tie into like a Southern literary tradition for you?
Speaker B
00:04:57.110 - 00:05:20.230
It really did. Big time. Big time. I've got authors in my family. Well, all of my family is based in Mississippi in the Deep South.
You know, I mean, that's three generations. As soon as they were settling in Mississippi, we were here. Yeah.
It really does tie in memoirs, kind of eccentric uncles and cousins who did memoirs, who did essays, poetry and this kind of thing.
Speaker A
00:05:20.630 - 00:05:22.630
When did you discover some of those writings?
Speaker B
00:05:23.110 - 00:06:14.680
I discovered all this stuff as a child.
You know, I was always into genealogy of the family, and I was always into digging around in the great grandmother's boxes and finding postcards and stuff, you know, asking questions about these things. You know, I started taking notes on the family genealogy, you know, when I was just, you know, I have.
I have notebooks that I kept and going through the family Bibles and stuff. So it's a. It is a Southern literary mindset very much.
And that's tied into our history as well into our music, you know, as far as the musical side, you know, my father was real stickler and a great memory for lyrics, you know, and he would know all the verses to everything. And he's just got this incredible photographic memory for. For song lyric.
And so I was brought up with all the proper lyrics, 22 verses for John Henry.
Speaker A
00:06:14.760 - 00:06:15.240
Wow.
Speaker B
00:06:15.800 - 00:06:24.080
You know, or whatever. There's a certain number that we knew. And it's like. Like I said, it's like the canon of the Bible. You learn it and then you know.
Speaker A
00:06:24.080 - 00:06:33.000
It with the literary influence and then combined with the history and tradition of the musical history of the Deep South. Where did it lead for you?
Speaker B
00:06:33.160 - 00:07:35.460
Oh, well, I mean, it just, you know, that's just being a kid with a lot of testosterone, you know, and been zits, you know. So I mean, I just kept really at this. I just kept on the same path, really.
I know it seems sort of chaotic if you look through my catalog, but the whole time I was studying Bill Monroe, I was learning how to play Robert Johnson, I was learning how to play Charlie Patton.
There's things that I didn't grow up with that I continually, as I got older and was able to say, go to record stores and find a Elmore James record or find a Louis Armstrong record or something, and just pretty coincidence, and started getting out into the bigger world and being able to travel to Atlanta and in other areas and see more of the world and go to, you know, Chapel Hill and look through the music stores and hear the college stations. I was. Grew up in a Very rural. I mean, we were. It could have been the 1950s in my town.
So there were no computers there, you know, very little access to anything. I had the same teachers in high school that my dad had had.
Speaker A
00:07:35.800 - 00:07:36.040
Right.
Speaker B
00:07:36.680 - 00:08:17.100
And they confused us, you know, they were, like, senile. You know, this was. There was like Lone Ranger was on tv, you know. So I got out and began to travel on my own.
And I was very curious about the art scene in the world, the music scene. And I just kept putting it to two and two together.
Kept realizing as time went on how everything really tied back into Mississippi anyway, for me, through Faulkner, through the blues, through the history of slavery, Civil War history, and everything that's tied in just kept pointing me back as I looked further and further around and kind of saw what America was all about. I just really kept on a pretty steady path through reading and through the music.
Speaker A
00:08:17.580 - 00:08:20.060
And literally, I mean, because you ended up back there.
Speaker B
00:08:20.220 - 00:08:32.150
Correct. Correct. Hey, everybody, you're listening to Jimbo Mathis here on Country Fried Rock.
And be sure and look me up on JimboMathis.com J I M B O M A T H U S what.
Speaker A
00:08:32.150 - 00:08:35.030
Was continuing to push you creatively with.
Speaker B
00:08:35.030 - 00:09:40.560
That, that point in time? Just discovery, you know, finding out all these other things about art, theater, music and in the Chapel Hill scene.
See, I relocated myself up there in the late 80s, and I was drawn to groups that were. I thought, were unique. Like, well, REM I know they had a very literary bent, studiousness in his lyrics.
But also groups like Southern Culture on the Skids, who were like, really celebrating, hey, we're Big Old Red, you know, and groups like Flat Duo Jet and who were very roots oriented, would do things like Benny Goodman music, you know, and they kind of made it. They fit it all into a rockabilly, you know, Southern thing.
I got encouragement for that and I was like, aha, here's a Southern new generation of people that are putting something together. And this is where I'm heading, you know, and this is my mindset.
So I really identified with that in Chapel Hill and then the Athens scene and the people kind of looking back and doing cool stuff and knew what they were doing. So I think that attracted me to that area and that really got me started with the Squirrel Nut Zippers.
Speaker A
00:09:41.360 - 00:09:48.480
You mentioned briefly about record stores in the role that they played, especially at that time in music discovery.
Speaker B
00:09:48.480 - 00:09:48.840
Yes.
Speaker A
00:09:48.840 - 00:09:53.520
Was there a bootleg that really got you or just something that was new to you that was like your Aha.
Speaker B
00:09:53.520 - 00:11:12.590
Album, You know, I would have to say it would be REM like when I was in high school, I saw them on...
