The Nick Moss Band featuring Dennis Gruenling

Lucky Guy!

Alligator Records

Nick Moss has been at the forefront of the Chicago Blues scene as both a member of the Legendary Blues Band learning the old school style from Willie “Big Eyes” Smith; and spending three years with the Jimmy Rogers band. Moss formed his own band in 1997 and has thirteen albums of his own. He has become a perennial Blues Music Award nominee with over twenty-six nominations. In fact he has collected nominations in more categories than any one else including Best New Artist; Contemporary Blues Male Artist; Best Instrumentalist Guitar (2); Best Contemporary Blues Album (2); Best Traditional Blues Album (3); Album of The Year (6); Best Blues Rock Album (3); and eight times as Band of The Year.

As bandleader Moss’ influence has been felt by mentoring the late Michael Ledbetter and recording two albums with him. On last years “The High Cost of Low Living” Moss partnered with harmonica ace Dennis Gruenling who already had four BMA nominations of his own. In 2019 the band received four additional award nominations; Moss taking home the award for Traditional Blues Artist of The Year, and Gruenling winning for Blues Instrumentalist – Harmonica.

The Nick Moss Band includes Moss, guitar and vocals; Gruenling, harp and vocals; Taylor Streiff, piano, B-3, Wurlitzer and background vocals; Patrick Seals, drums and background vocals; and the newest member bassist and background vocalist Rodrigo Mantovani. The album is co-produced by Moss and guitarist Kid Andersen who guests on five tracks. It was recorded and mixed by Andersen and Robby Yamilov at Andersen’s Greaseland Studios in San Jose.

Moss has written eleven new songs while Gruenling contributes two of his own. Moss’ songs range from the autobiographical, including the title track about his love for his wife Kate; “As Good As It Gets” about family; and about his love for his home town “312 Blood”. He also writes about more topical subject matter on “Sanctified, Holy and Hateful” and on “Simple Minded”. Mike Welch, the 2019 BMA winner for Best Instrumentalist – Guitar, joins Moss on “The Comet” an emotional tribute to their friend the late Mike Ledbetter who played with both of them.

Gruenling takes the vocal on both of his songs “Movin’ On My Way” and “Wait and See”.  The only cover is the fabulous “Ugly Woman” originally written and recorded by Johnny O’Neale Johnson in 1956; it didn’t appear on record until twenty years later when it was included on Sun Records “The Roots of Rock: Volume 3: Delta Rhythm Kings”.

The Nick Moss Band previously known as Nick Moss & The Flip Tops has a reputation as one of the best blues bands in the land. Moss’ guitar and vocal attack, now with world class harmonica from Gruenling, sets this superb band at the apex of Chicago styled blues. Thanks to Moss for his many years of superb music making.

Richard Ludmerer