Bluesman Papa Mali sounds like he’s singing inside an iron lung while
chain-smoking filterless Gitanes. His voice aches and quakes with a
throaty rumble that makes you want to simultaneously beg for mercy and
beg for more. In other words: He’s the real deal. Born on the bayou in
Shreveport, La., Papa sucked the lifeblood from his hot and sticky
homeland (just listen to that slide-guitar cry!), spit it out, and
then deep-fried it in funk for his much-praised debut, Thunder Chicken
(the title says it all, doesn’t it?). For his belated follow-up,
2007’s Do Your Thing, Papa shot his sound to the stratosphere, then
brought it back down in a capsule filled with extraterrestrial wails,
heart-beating drums, and ferocious bass. Don’t hurt ’em, Popsplease.
With guests. Nectar Lounge, 412 N. 36th St., 632-2020. 8 p.m. $10 adv.
Listen to a sample of Papa Mali’s “Honeybee.”
Sun., March 2, 8 p.m., 2008
