A good percentage of my blues cds are 'live' cds, way more than any other genre. Many blues lovers will agree that blues really is best live, and it often holds up well on live cds.  Case in point is the new release from one of the best out there, Nick Moss.  The new disc Nick Moss and The Flip Tops, Live at Chans: Combo Platter #2 follows their 2006 release Live at Chan's and delivers yet another set of high energy live Chicago style blues! Both were recorded not in their hometown of Chicago, but in Woonsocket, Rhode Island.  I'm pretty sure that these two discs are the only ones I have that were recorded at a Chinese Restaurant! Nick (guitar, vocals) is joined on the date by his fabulous band consisting of Gerry Hundt (mandolin, harmonica), Willie Oshawny (piano, organ), Bob Carter (drums) and Nick's wife Kate on bass.  Monster Mike Welch joined the band on the 2006 release.  This time, its Chicago guitarist Lurrie Bell who is the special guest for the summer 2008 date. The band starts off with a hot appetizer, the original instrumental Spareribs and Chopsticks, then delivers a main course loaded with spice! Gerry Hundt and his mandolin take center stage while Nick handles harmonica on Hundt's original Whiskey Makes Me Mean. Lurrie Bell joins the band for the last four tunes, including Five Long Years, which clocks in at 13 minutes, and Lurrie's vocal take on Willie Dixon's I'm Ready. It's definitely a full course that leaves no room for dessert, but will leave you wanting more!

Choosing cuts to discuss is difficult when you are offered 28 to choose from!  Disc #1 starts off with two of my favorites, “Late Night Saint” and “You Make Me So Angry.” The lengthy “Bad Avenue” also features some energetic guitar. My favorite on disc #2 is “You’ve Got the Devil Inside.” Nick even offers several electrifying instrumentals.  I happen to love blues instrumentals.  They give you a chance to catch a breath between bouts “losin my baby” and “my baby does me wrong...”.  The band brings their energy to the stage hundreds of time per year.  Of Nick, fellow Chicagoan Buddy Guy says, “Nick Moss is one of the local favorites at my club, Legends.  I always enjoy the way he plays and works hard to please our audience.” For those of us in the Detroit area, we have a chance to see Nick live at Callahan’s in Auburn Hills on June 19th. I can’t wait to see all of this blues energy live!