Southern Rock BBQ

Summer is the time for two great Southern flavors — "redneck rock" and juicy barbecue. It's time to put 'em together for a smokin' mix of gutsy guitars and greasy grub. Little Feat hailed from Southern California, but their sound was pure Mississippi swamp, so throw some of their slide-guitar-seared "Dixie Chicken" on the grill. If those mouth-watering morsels and fiery licks seem too hot to grab, take some advice from the Georgia Satellites' sweaty, Stones-like blues-rock smash and "Keep Your Hands to Yourself." In the end, those grillables will prove too much to resist, though, so get in step with Lynyrd Skynrd offshoot .38 Special's streamlined, power-pop-tinged hit and "Hold On Loosely."

Find sizzling Southern rock staples in Next Steps

When the flame rises higher in that barbecue pit, back it up with the hottest tracks from the heaviest Southern rock heroes. The tasty licks dripping from the Outlaws' dueling guitars on "Green Grass and High Tides" make for some savory satisfaction. Jacksonville jammers Lynyrd Skynyrd bring their bluesy boogie up to a full burn on the skirt-chasing scorcher "What's Your Name?" And believe it or not, one of the biggest blazes in the Southern rock repertoire was kicked by a bunch of guys from New York when power trio Mountain celebrated the spirit of Delta mamas everywhere with the mammoth riffs of "Mississippi Queen."

Dig up Southern rock's bluesy roots in Deep Cuts

Anytime you throw down some Southern rock sounds for a summertime cookout, you're bound to brush up against some deep blues roots. Alabama boys Wet Willie get nice and greasy when they funk up Little Milton's hard-times soul holler "Grits Ain't Groceries." North Mississippi Allstars bring their jam-crazy swamp stomp to Delta blues house-rockin' anthem "Shake 'Em On Down" for some tangy Southern spice. And if you're ready for a little Southwestern flavor, listen to lowdown guitar slinger Stevie Ray Vaughan seasoning Guitar Slim's New Orleans blues standard "The Things (That) I Used to Do" with some true Texas twang.

Are you ready to bring some slammin' Southern rock jams to your barbecue bash? Then it's time to cue up the sounds of twin guitars tearing it up, soul-soaked singers shooting straight from the heart, and the down-home feel of country and blues seeping into a set of tunes that boogie on into the night, long after the last coals turn to ash — because that's the way they do it down in Dixie. So whether you sit down to some "Catfish Blues" by the Allman Brothers' blues-rockin' cousins Gov't Mule, or scoop up "Too Much Pork for Just One Fork" with Southern Culture On the Skids, this is the musical lighter fluid that's guaranteed to send up some sparks at your next rock 'n' roll grillfest.