By ANTHONY PIDGEON // Rising stars Diggin Dirt wowed the crowd at Day 1 of the Waterfront Blues Festival in Portland with the powerhouse vocals and stage presence of lead singer Zach Alder, and tight, soulful musicianship from the energetic 7-piece band.
Rising stars Diggin Dirt wowed the crowd at Day 1 of the Waterfront Blues Festival in Portland with the powerhouse vocals and stage presence of lead singer Zach Alder, and tight, soulful musicianship from the energetic 7-piece band.
Showing off their range with a blazing cover of “Nobody’s Fault But Mine”, they started the tune with spare instrumentation and mournful vocals mining territory somewhere between Blind Willie Johnson’s original 1927 recording and Nina Simone’s haunting 1969 rendition.
Midway through the song, they suddenly shifted into a full blown rocker in the vein of the blazing Led Zeppelin & Black Crowes arrangements many may be more familiar with. Diggin Dirt will playing again tonight in Portland at The Get Down at 10pm if you missed them at the festival, or if you're already jonesing for more.