It's sometimes nice to have the sense you're rooting for an underdog. The path Moss and his band have chosen doesn't lead to fortune so to do what these guys do you have to be driven by something else. Moss spent years on the road playing with and learning from men who created the Chicago blues tradition, and every night on stage he and his bandmates give it their all to pay respect to that tradition and help keep it alive. Even though the music stands apart and on its own, it's hard not to get a little more emotionally invested when you see nice guys making pure music for the joy it brings them; a joy they share with audiences big and small night after night after night.
Seeing Nick Moss & The Flip Tops helped me appreciate even more the tradition they keep alive. That circle draws a little tighter because Nick's words about Little Johnny and Hound Dog Taylor can be applied to he and his band. You don't have to know them to like them, but it doesn't hurt.
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?