John Branch, Gypsy Mitchell

During the fated second run of the Relatives, a double-Reverend-fronted psychedelic gospel act from Dallas that reemerged in the 2010s, music heads were introduced to Gypsy Mitchell – an unconventional guitarist with deafening flair who deserved his own spotlight. Now mounting a solo turn, Mitchell’s been lighting up the SoCo soul cave with his durag, copious gold chains, and ornament-adorned guitar, which he plays behind his head (and with his teeth). Backed by the elite groove engine of Zach Ernst, Matt Strmiska, and Scott Nelson, plus backup vocalists Goldie Pipes and Jenny Carson – all in velour tracksuits – Mitchell & Co. impressed with forthcoming studio material including standout “Movin’." – Kevin Curtin