Dirty Mac Blues Band's "Victory Bar"

The Blues has often been a male dominated genre. When this type of music comes to mind, the average listener can’t help but think of a host of different males artists, including B.B. King and Buddy Guy to name a couple from a very long and well-respected list. The topics of blues songs are usually sung from the perspective of a man and these performers are not just blues singers but also accomplished guitarists, another male dominated area of music. Because of these two factors, it is fair to say that most women have not traditionally been able to relate to the Blues or have a dominating part in a blues band. Thanks to the Dirty Mac Blues Band though, that can now change.

With Terry Mackie on vocals, The Dirty Mac Blues Band offers a fresh perspective with their newest CD Victory Bar . Unlike the typical blues band, these songs are song from the point of view of a woman. They are not about how some guy’s lady did him wrong and took off with some one else, but instead describe the frustrations and desires of women, creating an unexpected and unique twist. “BBQ” is filled with sexual innuendos with lines like “I hear you like to have your pork pulled tight/ Yeah, that’s something I get a craving for real late at night” and “ My dipping sauce is sweet/let me drip some on your meat” that are borderline inappropriate, but the point here is to draw attention to themselves and they manage to do so. Perhaps it’s the urge to compete with the male dominating artists in the genre and show that women can be as aggressive too, but by doing so they are narrowing down their listeners to a select few. Of course, this is all tongue-in-cheek humor and isn’t’ meant to be taken seriously, but one can’t help but wonder if there is some sort of underlying “If you can do it than so can I” attitude being used as the catalyst here and, if so, can potentially give this listen a black eye. While this is probably unlikely and a very deep look into a selection of songs that are not meant to garner that much critical attention, it is worth mentioning and taking into consideration when listening to Victory Bar . Mackie delivers these lyrics with conviction, however, due to her deep and impressive voice that can fill the room. .


The band itself is a laid back and sound confident. There aren’t any signs of flash or flair, but they are a solid and dependable band that fall in the pocket smoothly. “Gospel Stomp” is a memorable blues number with dirty slide guitar by “Bashful” Bob Ross and a slow rolling beat to back it up. The perfectly title “Mississippi Twang” gives off a real roots feel straight from the swamps of the south thanks again to Bob Ross’ guitar and "Gentleman" Josh Nathan’s harmonica. The lyrics help convey the mood even more when Mackie menacingly sings dark lyrics like “I watched the vultures pick apart all your bones” and “All those promises you made that you broke/ Now you’re hanging from the end of my rope”. The chugging “Gypsy Train” is a showcase for the strong rhythm section that is Mark "Yo Sam" Bell on drums and Matt Robinson on bass.

This does not sound like a band from the north east at all, but rather an experienced group from the belly of the south. They have a knack to capture a real back-porch blues sound on more than one occasion and this is ultimately their greatest strength. The presence of a female singer songwriter may be an attraction for some while not so for others, but they aren’t demanding much from their listeners and should appeal to most blues enthusiasts.


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