MSM 90s: Attitude, Fiddleworms
9/14/26
By Monica Collier
The 2026 edition of Muscle Shoals Meets was a multi-faceted week-long event. From alternative and pop to jam bands and country, we celebrated 1990s music in true MSM style in restaurants and venues all across the Shoals. Our love for live MSM music culminated in the ultimate 1990s-driven concert at the Renaissance Shoals.
It was a new way of doing Muscle Shoals Meets, friends, and it was good. Real good. Muscle Shoals Meets the 90s has always been about more than the music. It's about representing and supporting our community.
It was so nice to see MSM creative visionary, Scott Campbell, reluctantly step into the spotlight. The MSM team auctioned off his watercolor portrait of the one and only beloved Shoals music son, Spooner Oldham, for the cause. Did you see the painting? So so good. Scott even had prints available at the merchandise table and a portion of the proceeds from those sales went to Chloe's Fund. MMS doing the good work.
Before I launch into recapping the MSM 90s second set, how about we give Anthony Brooks a round of applause? AB brought the fun as emcee, y'all. No matter the setting or circumstance, AB radiates light and inspiration. He's just this naturally poweful force of positivity. It was so good having AB in the mix.
If you know me at all, you know I believe music is both a mirror reflecting our hearts and a window into our souls. Russell Mefford kicking off the MSM 90s second set with "Attitude" was such a nice Easter egg. What a nice detour to the path less taken ... it was a path that included both a mirror and a window.
Russell had his acoustic for this one and was sporting a Dr. Seuss hat. Remember? His oldest son, Christopher, was behind the keys, too. Mitch Mann was singing backup and Kelvin Holly was there working his sweet guitar magic. Ahh, those fabulous Shoals Strings, too ... Carleigh Pickard, Cade Garcia, Christina Volz Stomachin, Kate Francis, Rachel Gregory, and Kate Tayler, who wrote of the arrangements. Talk about the coolest of the cool. It was so good.
"Attitude" is what makes life interesting, my dear MSM friends. I needed this detour. I needed this mirror. I needed this window. Thank you, Russell. Thank you, Fiddleworms. Thank you Shoals Strings.
Stay tuned. More to come.
Dig Worms.
Photo by Devona Hawkins
