Mississippi Heat — “”Don’t look Back” — Delmark Records
Mississippi Heat is not your traditional Chicago blues band — except for the magnificent music that it creates.
Since the release of their its first album in 1992, this crackling sharp band, led by harmonica wizard Pierre Lacocque, works with a core group of musicians that now includes Lacocque, Sheryl Youngblood on vocals, Giles Corey on guitar, Brian Quinn on bass and Jason Edwards on drums.
What sets them apart is the addition of a variety of singers and musicians on each session. Their latest, “Don’t Look Back,” adds a musical cast that pushes the band to another level on each of the 14 original Lacocque songs. (A complete list of contributors is listed by track at the end of this post.)
Former vocalists Inetta Visor and Daneshia Hamilton share the vocals on one cut, and Danielle Nicole sings on two tracks, Omar Coleman sings on one song and plays harp with Lacocque on another. It all makes for a very special session. This time around, Youngblood has been added as the vocalist on nine songs. She’s a powerful singer with a take-no-prisoners style honed in church music and polished to perfection in the blues.
Youngblood launches the album with a fierce vocal turn on the high-spirited “You Ain’t the Only One,” with horns blazing and Lacocque’s devilish harp. Nicole’s tough vocal highlights the torrid blues of “Third Wheel,” driven hard by Lacocque’s harp and Johnny Iguana’s rocking piano.
Visor and Hamilton duet on the fast-paced blues shuffle, “Quarter To Three,” when the train leaves for Chicago, with more dazzling harp and rollicking piano. Youngblood returns for the gospel-drenched torch of “Stepped Out Of Line,” with the haunting choral backup vocals of man who’s NADIMA — Nanette Frank, Diane Madison and Mae Koen. Youngblood returns with “Can’t Take It,” an uptempo lament about a man who’s “a hot mess that I can’t take.”
Next, Lacocque and Coleman deliver the high-energy instrumental, “Moonshine Man,” then Youngblood turns in “Champin’ At The Bit,” with its gorgeous harp solo, before shouting her enthusiasm about “Love (It Makes You Do Most Anything).”
Nicole’s emotional vocal inhabits “Shiverin’ Blues,” dedicated to Lacocque’s father Andre, who died due to Covid-19. Corey’s slide work adds an appropriately ethereal note. That mood quickly shifts to the dance-friendly “The Sock Hop,” with Youngblood rocking and rolling the vocals. The band turns funky behind Youngblood on “Blue Amber,” a thoughtful piece of songwriting with John Kattke boiling beneath the surface.
“I Ain’t Evil” is driven by Corey’s fluid guitar work with a Latin vibe and more B3, with Youngblood explaining how she “ain’t evil.” On the title track, Youngblood’s soaring vocal offers encouraging advice on relationships and life — “don’t look back.” The closer showcases a Coleman vocal on the rousing “Four Steel Walls,” with the band and backup singers pulling everything together in a powerful finale.
Lacocque says “Don’t Look Back” is “the bluesiest project I’ve done in years.” And it’s a complete package — sharply crafted songs, emotional vocal performances and muscular musical backing. It’s classic Chicago blues that’s looking ahead, not back. The album was released last September, so I’m late to the party, but it that won’t keep me from recommending this powerful blues album as one of the best of 2025.
Here’s a Q&A with Pierre Lacocque by Michael Limnios of Blues Gr.
Pierre Lacocque took an interesting route to the Chicago blues. Read his bio here.
“You Ain’t the Only One” from the album:
Tracklist and credits:
1. You Ain’t the Only One Sheryl Youngblood (vocals), Pierre Lacocque (harp), Giles Corey (guitar), Billy Flynn (guitar), Johnny Iguana (piano), John Kattke (B3 organ), Brian Quinn (bass), Jason “J Rock” Edwards (drums), Marc Franklin (trumpet), Kirk Smothers (sax), NADIMA — Nanette Frank, Diane Madison, Mae Koen (background vocals).
2. Third Wheel Danielle Nicole (vocals), Pierre Lacocque (harp), Billy Flynn (guitar), Johnny Iguana (piano), Brian Quinn (bass), Kenny “Beedy Eyes” Smith (drums).
3. Quarter to Three Inetta Visor & Daneshia Hamilton (vocals), Pierre Lacocque (harp), Giles Corey (guitar), Billy Flynn (guitar), Johnny Iguana (piano), John Kattke (B3 organ), Big Mike Perez (bass), Jason “J Rock” Edwards (drums).
4. Stepped Out of Line Sheryl Youngblood (vocals), Pierre Lacocque (harp), Billy Flynn (guitar), Johnny Iguana (piano), John Kattke (B3 organ), Big Mike Perez (bass), Jason “J Rock” Edwards (drums).
5. Can’t Take It Sheryl Youngblood (vocals), Pierre Lacocque (harp), Giles Corey (guitar), Billy Flynn (guitar), Johnny Iguana (piano), John Kattke (B3 organ), Brian Quinn (bass), Jason “J Rock” Edwards (drums).
6. Moonshine Man Omar Coleman (acoustic harp), Pierre Lacocque (amplified harp), Giles Corey (guitar), Big Mike Perez (bass), Jason “J Rock” Edwards (drums), NADIMA (handclaps), Pierre Lacocque (handclaps), Natalie Bennison (handclaps).
7. Champin’ at the Bit Sheryl Youngblood (vocals), Pierre Lacocque (harp), Billy Flynn (guitar), Johnny Iguana (piano), Brian Quinn (bass), Kenny “Beedy Eyes” Smith (drums).
8. Love (It Makes You Do Most Anything) Sheryl Youngblood (vocals), Pierre Lacocque (harp), Giles Corey (guitar), Johnny Iguana (piano), John Kattke (B3 organ), Brian Quinn (bass), Jason “J Rock” Edwards (drums), Marc Franklin (trumpet), Kirk Smothers (sax), NADIMA (background vocals).
9. Shiverin’ Blues Danielle Nicole (vocals), Pierre Lacocque (harp), Giles Corey (slide guitar), John Kattke (piano), Brian Quinn (acoustic bass), Kenny “Beedy Eyes” Smith (drums).
10. The Sock Hop Sheryl Youngblood (vocals), Pierre Lacocque (harp), Giles Corey (guitar), Billy Flynn (slide guitar), Johnny Iguana (piano), John Kattke (B3 organ), Brian Quinn (bass), Jason “J Rock” Edwards (drums), Marc Franklin (trumpet), Kirk Smothers (sax), NADIMA (background vocals).
11. Blue Amber Sheryl Youngblood (vocals), Pierre Lacocque (harp), Giles Corey (guitar), John Kattke (piano), Brian Quinn (bass), Jason “J Rock” Edwards (drums).
12. I Ain’t Evil Sheryl Youngblood (vocals), Pierre Lacocque (harp), Giles Corey (guitar), Brian Quinn (bass), Jason “J Rock” Edwards (drums), Anthony “Tony” Alexander (percussion).
13. Don’t Look Back Sheryl Youngblood (vocals), Pierre Lacocque (harp), Giles Corey (guitar), Billy Flynn (guitar), John Kattke (B3 organ), Brian Quinn (bass), Jason “J Rock” Edwards (drums).
14. Four Steel Walls Omar Coleman (vocals), Pierre Lacocque (harp), Giles Corey (guitar), Billy Flynn (guitar), Big Mike Perez (bass), Jason “J Rock” Edwards (drums), Marc Franklin (trumpet), Kirk Smothers (sax solo), Anthony “Tony” Alexander (percussion), NADIMA (background vocals).
ALL SONGS WRITTEN BY P. Lacocque (Ransart Music, BMI)
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