Sounds of "Slick"

Old School Blues from a New Face

By: Brandon Lockhart

Issue date: 2/8/06 Section: Arts & Life

In the Northern Hills of Mississippi, large crowds have gathered for decades to see legendary bluesmen. With the recent passing of RL Burnside, Paul "Wine" Jones, and Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, one would assume that the days of crooning for sweaty masses are over. However, the modern day sensation is Slick - and the sweaty mass is packed into Parrish Baker Pub every Friday night.

About a year ago, a little guy with flashy clothes dipped into Parrish's and asked if he could play for tips during Happy Hour. The bartender obliged, and soon after, echoes of his talent resonated in his guitar alongside his booming voice. Eventually, Happy Hour tips turned into a weekly gig.

The audience knew only two things. First, his name was Slick. Secondly, his soothing blues licks seem to flow right into your drink, falling down into the pit of your stomach as each passing vibration salves your soul.

Right when you think Slick has lulled you to an overwhelming sense of calm, he'll slowly stomp you back to life and make you dance and twitch like something's wrong with you.

"I'm just trying to play them blues like the old folks played in the South" said Slick;

"Them 'country-fied' blues from the cotton and tobacco fields."

We soon found out that this [sur]nameless wonder had a name and quite the story. Twenty-one-year-old blues man Daniel "Slick" Ballinger traded the hills of North Carolina for those of Mississippi upon his graduation from high school in 2002. That summer, Slick hooked up with fife virtuoso and blues legend, Othar Turner. Turner was one of the last blues musicians whose style was predominately African-influenced. Turner's style rubbed off on Slick - giving him an authenticated, soulful, honest sound.

"Mr. Otha was like my granddaddy and one of the best friends I ever had" said Slick.

"The most important thing he told me was to take your time. Take your time with everything; with music, with a song, and with life."

With advice coming from a man who didn't record an album until he was 90, lets hope Slick doesn't take too long. However, not every guitar-slinger can be the opening act for BB King, so be sure to catch this act before Slick "takes his time" somewhere else.

Take a step into Parrish's on a Friday night. As soon as you cross the threshold, you'll step back about 70 years. If it weren't for the abundance of North Face jackets and cell phones, one could get lost in each chord and find their self in a 1930's juke joint. Slick picks the acoustic guitar, twangs the electric, rips up the slide guitar and lately he's been blowing on a harmonica.

"When Slick gets up on the bar, he's second to none," adds Senior Journalism major Jason Byrne. "He makes Michael Jackson's moonwalk look like a hall crawl."

Once you're within earshot of the Square, you'll hear his percussive, soothing blues seeping out of the cracked windows, bouncing off walls and echoing in the streets of Downtown Oxford. If you don't know who's playing, you'll ask "Who is that?" If you do know who it is, push your friends out of the way and make a run for the door and a feel for the 1930's.

For sound bites and more information, visit the Web site at http://www.slicksblues.com.

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Sounds of "Slick"

Old School Blues from a New Face

By: Brandon Lockhart

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