The Dig 3

The Dig 3

Self-released

There are still traditional blues albums. John Primer has one coming as does Bob Corritore, John Nemeth, and a handful of other artists who ply their craft apart from the blues rockers who dominate the airwaves. This is not to diminish other “real deal” efforts we’ve heard this year from Jose Ramirez, Derrick Procell, Mississippi Heat, and others but it’s nonetheless refreshing when we hear the “real stuff.” Dig 3 is an elite trio featuring the vocals and guitar of Andrew Duncanson of Kilborn Alley Blues Band, harmonicist Ronnie Shellist, and all-round multi-instrumentalist and onens-man-band Gerry Hundt, previously a vital cog for Nick Moss and Corey Dennison, to name a couple.

These three take us to the “old school” with original tunes written and sung by Duncanson. The three began to play together in Shellist’s backyard during the pandemic and after cooking up enough material, laid down these 14 tracks (three are bonus) completely live in the studio with no overdubs or effects. That’s partially due of course to Hundt, who plays several instruments simultaneously – as listed here – Farmer FootDrums and percussion, bass VI, guitar, harmonica, and mandolin. To be fair, guest upright and electric bassist Rodrigo Mantovani joined them but only for the three bonus tracks.

The opening “You’re the One” carries a John Lee Hooker-like boogie, as they settle into a groove with Shellist filling Duncanson’s vocal spaces with his wailing harp. “Every Drop” moves to Hundt’s insistent foot stomping beats. “Christmas Coming,” a feature for Shellist, gallops along in a country blues style while “Double Cross” points more to early Chess sounding Chicago blues. “One Left, One Right” owes as much to Hank Williams as blues and “Don’t Slip” is witty look at the pitfalls of drinking too much.  Standout track “Rock That Boat” sounds like it’s lifted from early last century. “Chicken Kiss,” is a marriage of humor and terrific harp playing, the latter of which is true throughout. On the other hand, the guitar functions as a rhythm instrument rather than for solos.

“Southern Fantasy” moves to a chugging bassline as Duncanson references NOLA in his chorus, “another night, another dream.” That distinctive Chicago blues shuffle manifests itself in the instrumental “Reposado Rock” and “Run and Ride” stomps, with Shellist in free flight. It’s one perfectly suited as closer, as one can easily envision an audience singing along to “run and hide.”  The three bonus tracks, though a bit heavier with the addition of a bass, fit right in, and unlike the others, give Duncanson a chance to stretch out on guitar.

Somewhere between back porch jamming, jug band music, Chicago blues, and country blues lies the sound of Dig 3 – all pure, and definitively infectious.

• Jim Hynes

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