The first 2025 Catfish Friday convened at the UAPB Bistro at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Business Support Incubator, 615 S. Main St., in late January.
Host Jimmy “Catfish” Cunningham welcomed the capacity crowd to what promised to be an exciting night of good eats and great Mississippi “Hill Country” blues.
“We are bringing the hot sauce here for y’all tonight,” he said.
The four-piece Duwayne Burnside Band from Holly Springs, Miss., consists of Duwayne Burnside on vocals and lead guitar, Chris Richmond on keys, Jason Wilburn on drums and Pinky Pullian on bass. A fifth integral part of the regular entourage includes driver/security Tray Gatewood. The quartet poured out a blues brew of traditional “Hill Country” style mixed with blistering rock infused electric guitar.
The term “Hill Country” comes from a style of blues that originated in the north-Mississippi hills surrounding Burnside’s home.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Besides being an accomplished musician in his own right, a Grammy nominee and a member of the North Mississippi Allstars from 2001 to 2004, Burnside is also one of 14 children of legendary north Mississippi bluesman R.L. (Robert Lee) Burnside.
R.L. Burnside, along with Junior Kimbrough, Joe Ayers and Kenny Brown, are credited with developing the unique hypnotic, syncopated style of Cotton Patch Soul Blues, also known as “Hill Country” blues. Proving blues is in their DNA, several children and grandchildren of both men have forged successful music careers of their own.
“We’re going to do a little Hill Country for y’all, Burnside style,” Duwayne Burnside said while strapping on his guitar.
He proceeded with several traditional blues songs flavored with that unique north Mississippi groove.
The repertoire included “Last Two Dollars,” “Change Her Mind,” “Dust My Broom,” “The Thrill is Gone,” “Easy Like Sunday Morning,” “Voodoo Chile” “Pride & Joy,” “Miss You” and “Nobody Loves You When You’re Down and Out.”
A grin on his face and a twinkle in his eyes rarely leave Burnside’s face while playing, reflecting the joy at sharing his gift and heritage.
When Burnside brought out “Purple Rain,” the crowd joined in on the chorus.
Nearing the end of an hour and a half of solid songs, Port City Blues Players keyboardist Pops Cooper sat in while Gary Wilson played lead guitar and vocals, performing a “Brick House/Shake Your Money Maker” medley.
Before the quartet took a brief break, Burnside addressed his audience, thanking Rose Pettigrew of RJ’s Sports Grill & Bar for first bringing him in April 2024 to the town he has since grown to love.
After a 10-minute break, blues legend and local celebrity Detroit Jonny Johnson joined the group to share “Rock Me Baby.”
Following Detroit Johnny’s blues musings, Burnside again donned his sunburst Gibson electric guitar to present one of his father’s original numbers.
“I’ve had a great time here tonight,” he said. “You have been a marvelous audience. I’m gonna wrap up with one of my daddy’s songs. This is Hill Country, y’all!” With that, the band launched into the R.L. Burnside classic “See My Jumper.”
The show concluded with a standing ovation for the performers.
Before the crowd dispersed, emcee Cunningham spoke.
“We’ve had a fantastic time as always on Catfish Friday,” Cunningham said. “Give another big hand for one of the hottest young blues performers on the scene today. He set this place on fire tonight for a crowd that couldn’t get enough of it.
“We really brought the hot sauce tonight and the juke joint to Pine Bluff,” Cunningham said.
After their appearance in Pine Bluff, the group returned to Holly Springs to be home for their weekly Sunday afternoon performance at Duwayne’s Burnside Bar & Grill. A regular guest at these occasions is 72-year-old blues icon Brown, still making music with the young folks.
In addition to his contributions on the albums of many other well-known artists, including nephew Cedric Burnside’s 2022 Grammy-winning “Hill Country Love,” Duwayne Burnside’s discography includes 1998’s “Mississippi Mafia Live at the Mint” and 2022’s “Acoustic Burnside.”
Referencing the Grammy-nominated “Acoustic Burnside,” Duwayne Burnside said of the solo, un-electrified record, “playing stripped down like that, you can hear the music come right out of my heart because that’s where my daddy put it.”
The Duwayne Burnside Band will perform as the headlining act on April 25 as part of the 44th Fordyce on the Cotton Belt Festival. In addition to Burnside, his brother Garry and the Garry Burnside Band featuring Tesa Daniel will open the evening in Fordyce.
The Duwayne Burnside Band members are Chris Richmon, left, on keys, Duwayne Burnside on lead guitar and vocals, Jason ‘J.J.’ Wilburn on drums, and Pinky Pullian on bass guitar. (Special to The Commercial/Richard Ledbetter)
Catfish Friday host and emcee Jimmy ‘Catfish’ Cunningham introduced the DuWayne Burnside Band to a packed house in the UAPB Bistro at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Business Support Incubator, 615 S. Main St. (Special to The Commercial/Richard Ledbetter)