American roots music has enjoyed a resurgence in the past decade as one of the main building blocks for pop-friendly hits from artists like Mumford & Sons, Old Crow Medicine Show and Of Monsters and Men, and has even seeped into songs from electronic dance artists like Avicii (“Wake Me Up”) and Zedd (“The Middle”).
Canadian folk-bluegrass band The Dead South takes a more traditional approach while still expanding the genre, incorporating rock ’n’ roll energy and attitude rather than electronic-pop smoothness. That combination has made the band into rising stars in the roots-music scene, with their distinctive look (white shirts, black pants and suspenders) and their raucous live performances.
The Dead South’s most recent album, Sugar & Joy, which was released last month, ties them even more closely to American roots music, with production from Muscle Shoals music scene veteran Jimmy Nutt. “He knew exactly how to make the songs come alive,” the band told Billboard about working with Nutt, and PopMatters said that the album “shows there’s a lot of life in the corner of roots music (of) playing loud and fast while also leaving room for slower, more nuanced songs.” That’s exactly the place where The Dead South thrives.
House of Blues at Mandalay Bay, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 25, $28 plus tax and fee, 18+. 702.632.7600
