There were also stories about his days with Jimmy Rogers and Pinetop Perkins, and a great one about the night Robert Cray cleared the House of Blues. I also asked him about a story Gerry told me before the show. The band had backed the legendary Nappy Brown at the Blues Music Awards in Tunica, MS during which Brown did a striptease. Brown threatened/promised to do it before taking the stage. While others tried to talk him out of it, Moss playfully egged him on. Hundt said he was glad he was to behind the organ.
To open the second set, Moss invited a member of the audience on stage to blow some harp. It turns out "Doug" and his three buddies were soon heading overseas to Iraq. When the number was over Moss decided to play a song from his most recent album, Play it 'Til Tomorrow. Despite some political overtones to the song, he explained "Mistakes From the Past" wasn't a protest song, just a true story. The band turned in a hard-hitting performance keyed by Moss' guitar and the deep thunder of Hundt's bass, slowing it to a crawl.
The rest of the set was lighter, once again allowing each member of the band to take a lead vocal. Hundt abandoned his bass and played some harmonica on one track. He also urged Carter to play some "disco high hat" on another tune. He obliged, which made for some great music and some comically bad dancing. If ever there was ever any doubt that alcohol is not a performance-enhancing drug, some of my fellow attendees provided all the proof the world will ever need. The dancing was bad, the music was good. Once again, so was the company.
When the show was over, Moss told stories of his youth and talked about some of the band's upcoming dates. Hundt and I talked about T-Bone Burnett and the new Allison Krauss/Robert Plant record as well as our abiding love of Gillian Welch. He thinks Time (The Revelator) is a nearly perfect album at a time when fewer artists bother to really make albums. We agree on that as well as the devastating power of "Dear Someone." I shook hands with the band as they got into their van and headed for my own car.
Most days I believe there are only two kinds of music: good and bad, and only one of those is worth concerning yourself with. Music stands on its own, apart from image, marketing, and gimmicks. If the music has life, it doesn't matter what friends or critics think. 10 million copies sold doesn't validate a record and there's no virtue in exclusivity, but there are exceptions.
Article comments
1 - Glen Boyd
Great review on what sounds like a fine evening Josh. Sounds like your informal relationship with these guys paid some dividendes as well.
Its also nice to know that there still are a few places left In America where they won't string you up to a noose for having a smoke.
Great stuff.
-Glen
2 - Mat Brewster
great review, Josh. Sounds like an incredible night.
3 - Allen From Altanta
Nice review. Last night, June 13th, my lady and I saw Nick and the FTs at Darwin's Blues Club in Atlanta; that was after an early week trip to Chattanooga (Riverbend Fest) for an evening FT show in the heat. If you love the blues, you owe it to yourself both to see Nick, as well as listen to his recorded performances. Most are live and capture the magic he conveys on stage. Nick and the band work hard at carrying on the tradition of Chicago blues. The gig at Darwin's was absolutely incredible.
4 - Josh Hathaway
Thanks, gents. It was a fantastic evening of great music and conversation. It was an affirmation of so much of what I love about music. There are still people out there who do it well and do it for the right reasons and it was really something to behold. I haven't had that much fun in a very long time and I was uplifted by it.
Allen, so glad you got the chance to see Nick last night and up in Chattanooga. If my work schedule hadn't prevented it, I came very close to driving down to City Stages in Birmingham to see the headlining set they're doing on one of the stages this evening. This was my first Flip Tops show, it won't be my last.
5 - Joanie
Congratulations on getting up off your ass and getting out to support live blues! The reason it's so hard to get quality acts booked is for the very same reason that almost kept you home. Stay home, and the bands and the venues make no money. Go, and you run the risk of having fun.
Like you, the price of tickets kept me from attending many concerts over the years, especially once I had kids. However, the great news is that most blues bands aren't booked at big venues (unless your name is Clapton or Santana or B.B.) and the tickets are generally more affordable. This excludes any venue that's a part of the Live Nation family.
Here, I can generally catch a show for under $20. Since I try to go to many shows and have been involved with the blues society, I often receive a discount. Email me, Josh, and I share another fun little secret about affordable concert going. Can't give away my secrets to the world, can I?