HAGERSTOWN, Md. — The Nick Moss Band featuring Dennis Gruenling will perform at 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12, at Live at Hub City Vinyl, 28 E. Baltimore St.
Tickets range from $29.53 to $44.97 for the concert, which will feature the traditional electric Chicago blues group. The band won the Blues Music Award for band of the year in 2024.
Chicago-born guitarist and vocalist Nick Moss and New Jersey-born harmonica player and vocalist Dennis Gruenling lead the group. The lineup also includes bassist Rodrigo Mantovani, keyboardist Taylor Streiff and drummer Pierce Downer.
The band’s 2023 Alligator Records album, “Get Your Back Into It!,” draws inspiration from blues recordings of the 1940s, ’50s and ’60s.
“We are a rare breed as far as how authentic we like to keep the music,” Moss said in a news release.
Produced by Moss and Mantovani, the album includes 14 original songs, with 12 written by Moss and two by Gruenling. Three tracks are instrumentals. Guest musicians include saxophonist “Sax” Gordon Beadle and organist “Brother” John Kattke.
Moss developed his style while working with several established blues musicians. He played bass for Jimmy “Fast Fingers” Dawkins before joining Willie “Big Eyes” Smith’s Legendary Blues Band, where Smith encouraged him to switch to guitar. Moss later toured as guitarist for Jimmy Rogers, whose songs included “Walking By Myself” and “Ludella.”
Gruenling, a self-taught harmonica player, has released seven solo albums and appeared on numerous other recordings, according to Alligator Records. He and Moss have been friends for more than 20 years.
The group’s first two Alligator releases, “The High Cost of Low Living” in 2018 and “Lucky Guy!” in 2019, helped earn recognition across several Blues Music Award categories.
In 2019, Moss won the traditional blues male artist award, while Gruenling won the harmonica instrumentalist award. In 2020, the group won band of the year, “Lucky Guy!” won traditional blues album of the year and its title track won song of the year.
Moss said the musicians’ connection helps drive their live performances.
“When we get together, the music takes over,” he said. “We can’t hold back, and the energy just comes pouring out. We get carried away and the audience gets carried away with us.”
For tickets and additional performance information, readers may visit liveathubcityvinyl.com or call 301-800-9390.
