Music heats up with Honey Island, Sundown Series

I was hooked on Honey Island Swamp Band the first time I heard them romp through the sexy, funky song “Chocolate Cake” from the album “Good to You” at one of the fests at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park. When singer Aaron Wilkinson hopped off stage to wander through the crowd while wailing on harmonica and paused to lean on my shoulder, that sealed the deal. The band can stretch a jam’s elastic groove until it’s taut and zinging with energy —HISB is famous for a New Orleans Jazz Fest set that consisted of a mere five songs that wrung all the juice out of the music and sprinkled it over the dancing throng. The band has special connections to Tallahassee — lead guitarist Chris Mule (there’s an accent mark over that “e”) and Hammond B-3 wizard Trevor Brooks met at Florida State University, and Brooks hails from my hometown of Marianna. Bassist Sam Price has kin from these parts, too. HISB brought a hot, sweet breath of the bayou to last fall’s Goodwood Jams, where it turned the November night sweaty and swampy. The band is touring to support its latest CD, “Demolition Day,” recorded in its home city of New Orleans with Luther Dickinson at the helm, and it saunters back to town to light up the corner stage at 9 p.m. Friday at Bradfordville Blues Club, 7152 Moses Lane. Day of show tickets are $30 (if any remain – this could be a sold-out show, folks). Call 850-906-0766 or visit www.bradfordvilleblues.com.