Cary Hudson, a Southern rock musician with roots in Mississippi, will perform tonight at Dave’s Darkhorse Tavern. After eight years of playing, singing and writing songs with the band Blue Mountain, Cary Hudson branched out on his own. His debut solo album, The Phoenix, which was released in May, has much of the same sound as his previous albums, but Hudson insists it has more passion and force behind it than ever before.
“It’s still my sound,” Hudson said. “It’s a little different, but it’s still obviously me.”
With Justin Showah playing bass and Ted Gainey on the drums, Cary Hudson described his new trio as “straight ahead rock ‘n’ roll with a little Southern flavor.”
Their mixture of mountain music, rock and blues “is real music” and was influenced by artists such as Neil Young, Led Zeppelin and Muddy Waters.
“We just mixed it up and came up with our own thing,” Hudson said. “It’s unique, with lots of blues and some country. There’s no drum machines or pop music. It’s real music.”
Although Blue Mountain toured nationwide and in Canada, Cary Hudson is starting out a little smaller this time. With a brand new baby at home, months of touring behind him and a new album on the horizon, the trio is planning on taking time off.
“We play places close by right now,” Hudson said. “We’re trying to get re-established in the Southeast and focus on more local areas; then we’ll build it up later. I want to be home with my baby.”
Friday at Dave’s Darkhorse Tavern, Cary Hudson will be preceded by a local rock ‘n’ roll band called Dragline.
“One of the good things about this new 1 a.m. law is that we’ll be able to have opening bands on the weekends,” owner Dave Hood said.
The show will start at 9 p.m. and will continue until 1 a.m. The Tavern is only open to customers 21 and older.
“It’s going to be a good show,” Hood said. “Cary Hudson puts on a good show.”
After Starkville, Hudson plans to perform in Hattiesburg on Sept. 19, Proud Larry’s in Oxford on Sept. 21, Nashville on Sept. 27 and Hal & Mal’s in Jackson on Sept. 28.