Muscle Shoals Meets the 70s rewind

Night 2, Part 2/3: It must be the attitude

On the heels of a scorching Muscle Shoals Meets the 70s night two rendition of "Layla" by the Fiddleworms backed by the Shoals Sisters and featuring Corey Jones, the third performance into the night strayed a little from the norm and it was crazy remarkable. Yes! And now for something completely different ... for real.

Listen, y'all — the Shoals is so very punk rock. It just is. Fight me on it. The Clash's "London Calling" as performed by Jamie Barrier and Russell Mefford was completely — dare I say(?) — REBELLIOUS. If this raucous performance didn't get your blood pumping, you could be a lost cause.

It was a real treat seeing Jamie and Russell — these two local music pioneers of the punk rock variety — proclaiming The Clash's timeless truth. I look at these guys and I see Joe Strummer, y'all. Oh my gosh, who noticed Jimmy Nutt on stage shredding? That was worth the price of admission. For those powerful three (plus) minutes, London called and Florence’s historic Shoals Theatre was the house Strummer built. The Shoals was filled with dissident combat rock and we’ve all been forewarned.

So many great moments during MSM the 70's two-night stand but this Haint Worms collab of "London Calling" triggered an epiphany for me, friends. I can't believe I never saw it before but Russell is an honorary Haint and Jamie is an honorary Worm. Right? If it's not a thing, it should be. Make it so.

Just a little personal sidenote: I will never forget the first time I heard "London Calling." I tend to lean on the melodramatic side but seriously friends, this song changed my life. Hearing this one song as a kid opened my eyes to the great big world. "London Calling" coming into my life marks the first time I really, truly heard lyrics. Not just that but I heard lyrics that gave me pause. There’s no coming back from that, friends.

All hail the Pine Hill Haints!

All hail the Fiddleworms!

All hail The Clash!

Stay tuned … more to come.

Dig worms.

Photo credit: Devona Hawkins