North Mississippi Allstars guitarist Luther Dickinson made his hometown debut with his new band, the Black Crowes, Sunday night to close out the 2008 Beal Street Music Festival.

“It was the first time I’ve been nervous with them,” said Dickinson, who joined the Atlanta band last winter. “I was okay though. I was glad mom and dad were there.”

Jim and Mary Dickinson watched their son from the wings of the Budweiser stage, along with Dickinson’s wife Necha and his lifelong friend and fellow guitar player Steve Selvidge (Big Ass Truck, Secret Service, Antenna Shoes) and his wife, local film maker Joan Self. His brother Cody and Allstars bassist Chris Chew were waiting for him at the New Daisy on Beale Street for a post-festival jam session.

Dickinson’s friends and family got to see him handle the majority of the lead guitar duties in a 2-hour set that included several selections from their new record, their first with Dickinson, Warpaint. Crowes co-founder, guitarist Rich Robinson, let the new guy have the six-string spotlight most of the night, including on an epic 20-minute “Thorn In My Pride.”

“Rich writes all the tunes so his rhythm is he core of the songs,” said Dickinson of his role, “so they just let me go crazy. It’s crazy.”