The Nick Moss Band and Dennis Gruenling return to their roots

‘The High Cost of Low Living’ ramps up the tension, excitement, and energy of the blues

Nick Moss Band
Photo credit: Courtesy Alligator Records

Only the deepest Chicago blues lovers might criticize veteran Windy City guitarist Nick Moss for shifting from his traditional blues bent toward a more rock/jam-oriented sound. After all, why shouldn’t he get a slice of Joe Bonamassa’s profitable crossover pie?

Perhaps he needed to get it out of his system. Regardless, Moss returns to the organic blues style he so clearly loves for his first album in two years, and 10th studio release, The High Cost of Low Living. The veteran player and band leader since 2001 aims for a larger audience by joining with popular harpist Dennis Gruenling and signing with the high profile Alligator label after self-releasing his previous discs.

The result is a fiery collection that ramps up the tension, excitement and energy using the blues existing framework. Ten out of the album’s 13 tracks are originals that slot into recognizable shuffles (“A Pledge to You”), Bo Diddley beats (“Lesson to Learn”), slow blues (“He Walked with Giants”), and Elmore James licks (the title track). But it’s the powerful playing and sheer joy that raises the bar. Gruenling takes his cues from Paul Butterfield’s rugged, plugged-in blowing, Moss sings and picks his leads with dynamic yet restrained commitment and the result is one of the finest, most invigorating roots-based electric blues sets in years; arguably an equal to many of the Chess Blues classic LPs these guys have obviously been inspired by for years. ★★★★☆

The Nick Moss Band with Dennis Gruenling. $8.Thurs., March 29. Blind Willie’s, 828 M. Highland Ave .Atlanta. 404-873-2583. www.blindwilliesblues.com.

 






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