Mem Shannon & the Membership, I’m From Phunkville (NorthernBlues Music)

As most of you no doubt know by now, Mem spent many years a cab driver in the Quarter, and he writes blues like one: urban, yeah, but also genuinely puzzled as to the everyday nature of humanity. Shannon, a vocalist and guitarist who keeps surprising areas of the musical world ready to write off both New Orleans and the blues, asks, “Why can’t we all just get along?” on the opener of this, his fifth album. But he’s really been asking that question for his entire career.

That stance—an honestly confused Everyman who just wants to be allowed to live his life—continues on I’m From Phunkville, but as you might guess from the title, he’s also concerned with moving some asses this time out. And he will; the second line funk of “Swing Tiger Swing” might not be about LSU, but you can bet it’ll make its way into several tailgate parties, nonetheless. Working as his own producer for the first time, Mem makes his crack backing band, the Membership, sound fatter and more vibrant than ever on the extended bellyrubbing urban blues of “Phunkville,” all squalling organ and sassy horns, and the jazzy swing of “Sweet Potato.” The band’s grown in leaps and bounds from the constant touring, too, having morphed into a tighter-than-tight unit capable of visiting the farthest reaches of urban blues with no loss of authenticity.

Happily, Mem’s skills behind the pen have not suffered in comparison: there are several excellent, heartfelt soul ballads here, as well as occasional flashes of Shannon’s trademark wit on “Ignant Stick,” which starts as a joke and turns serious, and the show-stopper “I’ll Kiss A Pitbull,” which works the other way around. There’s even room for a gentle smooth-jazz instrumental in “The Lights Of Caracas (I Didn’t Know)” and a remarkable retake on “Eleanor Rigby” that stretches even further than Brother Ray’s version. “Phunkville” isn’t any funkier than most Mem missives, but it IS thicker, and that, combined with his already-sharp sensibilities, means that the future of adult contemporary blues-funk is secure. If bringing folks together really is Mem’s goal, he’s got a better shot at it now than ever.