TONIGHT May 20 Papa Mali: A Taste of Louisiana Swamp Blues and Delta Rock

That self-proclaimed High Deacon of the Divine Assembly of Freaks and Heads, Papa Mali, will swing through Fargo on his way to Harmony Park. He will be coming off a tour with B.B. King on the East Coast.

Papa Mali’s music is imbued with New Orleans—funk, blues, soul, and Delta rock. Sounding like an ancient swamp musician, Malcom “Papa Mali” Welbourne is a young man with an old soul who freely admits to being influenced by unseen spirits who watch over him. He grew up outside of New Orleans but now calls Austin, TX home. However, early exposure to New Orleans music, its musicians, and its ghosts has certainly shaped this talented musician.
Some have called Papa Mali the new Dr. John. Rightly, both musicians do dip into gris gris, but Papa Mali is channeling something more robust and accessible than Dr. John’s forays into swamp music. There is a fire in Papa Mali’s music that is generated apart from the lyrics and the intricate slide guitar licks. Often, vocally delivering lines in soft whispers or intimate asides over naked drums or silver strings, Papa Mali produces a power that other musicians try to generate through flash and volume.
Papa Mali admits that Dr. John was an early influence. “I got to see him perform when I was very young. He opened for the Allman Brothers in 1971,” Papa Mali says. “He was still doing the gris gris thing back then. It was pretty powerful experience.” Other musicians, however, soon made their mark, especially the Meters.
 
Papa Mali put his hands on his first guitar when he was six and soon learned “Walk Don’t Run” by the Ventures, “Pipeline,” and “Secret Agent Man.” He formed his first band at 13. “By 16, I was going over to the side of town where they had black bands playing blues and R&B,” Papa Mali says.

He left home at 17 and lived on the road in some rough circumstances. He picked oranges with immigrants and even lived in a skid row hotel. Eventually, he formed the hit band, Killer Bees, and then toured with Burning Spear where he was christened Papa Mali.

Generous on stage with fellow musicians and off stage, doing benefits to help New Orleans recovery, Papa Mali is a remarkable soul. Catch him at the Aquarium or pay the extra bucks and see his Thursday performance at Bella Sol. You can also see him at the 10,000 Lakes Festival later in July.

But make sure you don’t miss seeing him. Your own soul will walk away fuller for the experience.