DELTA MOON
LOW DOWN
JUMPING JACK RECORDS 12015
WRONG SIDE OF TOWN–AFTERGLOW–NOTHING YOU CAN TELL A FOOL–MEAN STREAK–LOW DOWN–DOWN IN THE FLOOD–OPEN ALL NIGHT–SPARK IN THE DARK–HARD TIME KILLING FLOOR BLUES–MAYFLY–JELLY ROLL–JACKY RAY
The twin guitar attack of Tom Gray and Mark Johnson, one half of Delta Moon, continue to be one of the most impressive tandems on the contemporary scene today. Winners of the 2003 IBC, they have recorded and toured almost nonstop since that time. Their tenth album is entitled “Low Down,” and is more of the slide-driven blues they are known for. Tom Gray is on guitar, keys, harp, and vocals. Mark Johnson is on guitar, Franher Joseph is on bass, and Marlon Patton is on drums.
They don’t waste any time gettin’ down, with their dual frets rompin’ and stompin’ on the leadoff “Wrong Side Of Town.” where “some will kill you for a dollar, others will love you for a song.” The title cut is a Tom Waits cover about a woman compared to a “crooked sheriff n a real straight town,” “my baby’s Low Down.” This one follows a cool, cha-cha-ish groove with the twin guitars rockin’ throughout. Dylan’s “Down In The Flood” has a Hill-Country feel, thanks to stomping percussion, and “Open All Night” is a juke joint jewel, with Tom on harp, and great call-and-response from the guitars.
We had two favorites, too—one original and one cover. The fellows capture the spirit of Muddy on “Nothing You Can Tell a Fool.” and, Skip James’ “Hard Time Killing Floor Blues” is embellished by haunting acoustic dobro mixed with electric slide guitar to convey the somber message of this classic.
Delta Moon features excellent musicianship and over-the-top songwriting with clever, insightful lyrics. Go ‘head on and get “Low Down’ with Delta Moon today!! Until next time…Sheryl and Don Crow, The Nashville Blues Society.
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