Live at The Coop featuring Davis Coen

Overview

Live at Proud Larry’s is roots & blues singer-guitarist Davis Coen’s 11th full album, and first recorded in front of a live audience. Taken from multiple shows at the historical music venue in downtown Oxford, Mississippi, Coen is backed by Memphis, TN band Just Groovin’ Experience on the first several tracks, featuring the soulful keyboard and vocals of John Gage. Father Charles Gage—who recently earned the Memphis Blues Society Lifetime Achievement Award—on drums, alongside workhorse Robb Roaten on bass guitar. For the rest of the record, Coen is accompanied by seasoned North Mississippi musicians Kinney Kimbrough (son of Junior Kimbrough) on drums, and Justin Showah on bass. Both are longtime Coen collaborators and appear on Magnolia Land (2009), Jukebox Classic (2010), and his upcoming studio release Hurricane Man.

Live at Proud Larry’s was produced by Blake Garder, the much beloved house soundman at the venue – which also happens to be only a few miles from Coen’s home. The album features a mix of original songs and American roots classics, from artists like Muddy Waters, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Charlie Poole, and Lefty Frizzell—whose country hit “Long Black Veil” gets a lively treatment. Among Coen’s originals are the sinister murder ballad “Mile After Mile,” the steady rolling “Stranger in My Home,” and the enticing slow groove “Basement With the Blue Light”—which asserts that “Just one taste gon’ change your mind.”

Some other Coen accomplishments include regular play on SiriusXM satellite radio, and original music on the DVD version of Martin Scorsese’s PBS special The Blues. Also, live performances on the film documentary about Hill Country blues matriarch Jesse Mae Hemphill, called Dare You To Do It Again. Coen’s music has been used on reality TV show Lizard Lick Towing, and Apple TV docuseries Home, as well as for indie films Fresh Cut Grass (2004), Mental Scars (2009), and Two Headed Woman (2019). A few of his notable show billings include the legendary King Biscuit Blues Festival in Helena, AR, Riverwalk Blues Festival in Fort Lauderdale, FL, Montreux Jazz Festival in Atlanta, GA, and Bellinzona Blues Festival in Switzerland.

daviscoen.com