Song

It Can’t Hurt Me

Artist

Mississippi Macdonald

Mississippi Macdonald backstory

Rising star Mississippi MacDonald is a three-time British Blues Awards nominee. 

And despite his marvellous moniker, he hails from London! 

Macdonald’s been playing since he was 11-years-old and has travelled far and wide on the US Blues trail.

He’s met the likes of Pinetop Perkins, Willie ‘Big Eyes’ Smith, Otis Clay and even the King of the Blues: B.B. King.

Do Right, Say Right is Macdonald’s seventh album and It Can’t Hurt Me is the second single from the record – released last Friday.

Previous long players Dress For The Money (2016) and American Accent (2015) — both recorded with The Cottonmouth Kings — reached Number 1 and Number 3 respectively in the UK IBBA Blues Charts. 

American Accent was one of the Top 10 IBBA albums of 2016 and was Saint FM’s The Blues Is Back show’s Album of the Year in 2017.

Last year’s This Is How It Is maintained the upward career curve of one of the UK’s most exciting and innovative bluesmen.

In Mississippi Macdonald’s own words:

“Don’t misunderstand these blues.

“This isn’t sad music: this is about joy and the celebration of who we are and the journey we are on. 

“From hard times to succeeding despite the odds; from heartbreak to healing; from darkness into light. 

“You’ll hear a little of the Alberts — King and Collins — some Memphis horns and Hammond organ.

“And I’ll tell you stories with my ’61 Strat. 

“But most of all, I hope you’ll hear my lifelong passion and love for this music.”

The verdict on It Can’t Hurt Me

Oozing trad blues cool with a 2020s twist, It Can’t Hurt Me cuts to the heart of Macdonald’s unique talent.

Fusing a familiarly rustic vocal with intuitive fretwork, the second single from new album Do Right, Say Right is dreamily defiant.

Macdonald means what he says and says what he means with conviction.

This isn’t some lazy, hackneyed trope trying to reinvent the blues wheel…it’s affecting stuff from an A* student of the genre.

It Can’t Hurt Me is a moody, brooding masterpiece.

And it can’t hurt Macdonald’s rising reputation as a bluesman par excellence.

What’s next for Mississippi Macdonald

The official Do Right, Say Right album launch show takes place at London’s 100 Club on Tuesday November 30.

Limited tickets are available via mississippimacdonald.com

Do Right, Say Right is out now via APM Records.