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Combining classic country and North Mississippi hill country blues with Southern rock and Americana flair, Oxford's own Rocket 88 has put together a sound that is all their own. Named after the first rock 'n' roll song and album of alltime, written by Mississippians Ike Turner and James Cotton (with respect to Jackie Brenston), Rocket 88 is made up of husband-wife duo Jamie and Rosamond Posey (Honey Blonde) on guitars and vocals, Nathan Robbins (Seth Libbey & The Liberals, Property of Wanda) on bass, Bradley Gordon (Pithecanfunkus Erectus, Space Invaders, New Madrid Click) on drums and the venerable Robert "Stubbs" Chaffe (Kudzu Kings, Mosquito Brothers, Pithecanfunkus Erectus) on keyboards and organ.
According to electric and slide guitar player Jamie Posey, some of the most profound influences on his original songs are none other than the storied local Oxford bands like Blue Mountain, Beanland and the bands that various members of Rocket 88 have played in before, as well as the music he grew up on.
"My grandfather had one of those old hi-fi phono record players, you know the ones that looked more like a big piece of furniture than a modern stereo," Posey said. "He played it all the time, and we would listen to a lot of Buck Owens and Jimmie Rodgers and stuff like that - classic country."
With a live show that would garner welcome from the juke joints to the honky-tonks and everywhere in-between, Rocket 88s two-part harmonies carried by Mr. and Mrs. Posey inject just enough twang into their sound to give them that saw-on-the floor, hoe-down, back porch susceptibility that, when combined with Chaffe's whirling organ and the playful rhythm being laid-down by Robbins and Gordon, can get your tailfeathers shaking and your boots stomping.
Rosamond Posey's vocals are strong and aggressive, like a cross between Lucinda Williams and Fleetwood Mac-era Stevie Nicks. When backed by husband and slide guitar-player Jamie Posey, Rosamond's vocals soar to the next level. The on-stage chemistry between the two is as undeniable as it is engaging. But it is ivory-fondler Robert Chaffe who provides most of the muscle for this rootsy quintet. Chaffe's experience touring and recording are no secret to the Oxford faithful. His resume precedes him as the accomplished keyboardist for the Kudzu Kings who has had the fortune of sitting in with popular touring acts like Leftover Salmon, Tishamingo, the North Mississippi Allstars and Widespread Panic. He and Gordon currently split time between gigs with Rocket 88 and Pithecanfunkus Erectus.
Posey says he has enjoyed being back in a band and playing the clubs between Baton Rouge and Memphis. It has been almost five years since the last band he founded with wife Rosamond, Honey Blonde, split up.
"If I had to think of one particular show that has stuck out in my mind it would be this one night down in Vicksburg," Posey said. "Chaffe ditched us after the show to go over to one of the casinos. There was a beauty pageant going on, probably Miss Mississippi or something, and after gambling for a while, Chaffe tried to get a room, but they were all booked. He couldn't get any of us on the phone to come get him, and he didn't want to get arrested, so he made himself a bed of pine straw on the roof of an old bank and slept it off. To this day, every time we play "Down by the Riverside," I think about Chaffe on that bank roof next to the Mississippi River." Stubbs, ladies and gentlemen.
Jamie Posey also said the band hoped to cut a record over the summer. "We have about 12 originals, and we've been working hard on about four of them, getting them ready to lay down in the studio," he said. "We will probably break a few of those songs in this weekend. Right now we are looking a couple of different studios in the area, but we haven't decided on one in particular yet."
This summer the band looks to expand its current touring radius to include Starkville, New Orleans and maybe Birmingham. Aside from the Double Decker Arts Festival, Rocket 88 will make an appearance at this year's Fest for All in Baton Rouge later this summer. Posey, Chaffe and Robbins recently sat in with the Burnside Exploration at Proud Larry's as well.
Rocket 88 is set to play at 12:30 p.m. on the South Stage at this Saturday's Double Decker Arts Festival.
Ben Bounds, for the Oxford Town