Big Chief Bo Dollis, Jr. & The Wild Magnolias
Chip off the Old Block
Strong Place Music
Music is in the air you breathe and the water you drink in New Orleans. It’s not separate from everyday life, but woven into the fabric of society. The Mardi Gras Indians are a great example of this. They carry a long tradition that includes making elaborate suits of beads and feathers, parading during Mardi Gras season, St. Joseph’s Day, and other events, and making music. Bo Dollis, Jr. is the Big Chief of The Wild Magnolias, a position his father held before him. He has been masking — performing and parading with the tribe — since he was 10 years old. In addition to leading his tribe in the traditional aspects of Mardi Gras Indian life, Bo and The Wild Magnolias take their culture to the world by performing their blend of street culture and funk on worldwide stages.
Chip Off The Old Block finds Dollis and The Wild Magnolias blending their New Orleans funk with Memphis Soul. They collaborated with the Hi Rhythm Section, long a backbone of the Memphis Soul scene as the go-to studio pros. Together, they share the musical richness that flows through the Mississippi Delta to the Gulf of Mexico.
The album kicks off with a statement of purpose: “Young Time Indians/Indian Red.” The song asserts that Indian tradition is alive and well with a new generation. The title track is a tribute to Bo Dollis, Sr. and to a lesser extent the culture bearers who came before him. Mainly though, it’s a love song. The Magnolias give us a taste of the street with “Indian Here Dey Come.” The song is a stripped-down chant for voice and percussion performed the way you’d hear it on Mardi Gras day.
Songs like “Dance With Me” and “Baby You’re Cooking” highlight the Soul and Blues contribution from the Memphis contingent. The songs are slow-burning Blues with funky horns and gospel inspired backing vocals. “Shake” is just about having fun and “shake what your Mama gave ya.”
Gentrification is causing a crisis in New Orleans. Escalating housing prices are threatening the communities that have fostered this music for generations. The irony, of course, is that the gentrifiers are drawn to the city’s culture. Bo Dollis, Jr. & The Wild Magnolias are doing their best to hold on to the traditions that have made New Orleans special for over 300 years.
