Diggin Dirt: “I think that’s as close as I’ll ever get.”
I had this plan for the last night of Jam Cruise. I would check out Diggin Dirt in the Black & White Lounge for half an hour, hit Lotus on the Pool Deck for another 30 minutes, then finish with Galactic in the Pantheon to close the night (well, except for Marc Brownstein and band with Chali 2na in the Jam Room at 2).
Didn’t happen.
Diggin Dirt threw down one of the most amazing sets of Jam Cruise — or any other time, for that matter. At the conclusion of the set, I accosted bass player Eric Dobko, explaining how he had ruined my plan, since I was riveted there the entire set. With a huge grin, he said, “That’s exactly what I was hoping for with the setlist!” BRAVO!
Then I offered one other comment:
“My one musical regret is that I never saw James Brown in person. I think that’s as close as I’ll ever get.” With tears in my eyes.
Diggin Dirt not only claim to play funk/rock/reggae groove music created behind the redwood curtain in Humboldt County, CA, but they deliver in mass quantities. I have not been this excited about a band in ages.
Diggin Dirt are: Zach Alder – vocals, Rory Urquhart – guitar, Zach Gutierrez – guitar, Eric Dobko – bass, Joey Incorvaia – drums, Aaron Gottesman – tenor sax, and Tyler Martin – baritone sax. Thatcher Holvick-Norton sat in for this set on percussion.
This was the soul music I grew up with in the ’60s and ’70s, but I confess I wasn’t expecting some cowboy-hat-wearing white boys to be throwing it down this hard. This group is impossibly tight, and Zach Alder might be the best soul shouter I’ve ever heard, and I’ve heard a few.
We had never heard of Diggin Dirt before stepping on board Jam Cruise 20 (I did NOT do my homework), but one of our friends did. “Don’t miss Diggin Dirt,” Rob Ostrow insisted. Their first set was scheduled for the little Brews at Sea Stage after our stop in Jamaica. However, due to some issue, the Steel Pulse set scheduled for evening had to be moved up to 4:30 so that one of the members could disembark after the set. After some rearrangement, Diggin Dirt’s set was elevated to the Pool Deck that evening. Well deserved, it turns out.
We missed the opening of the set coming from Cory Wong, but Diggin Dirt blew us away immediately, and the sound was great! And here was singer Zach Alder, with a big cowboy hat on, singin’ and shoutin’ and screamin’ and pourin’ himself into the set. Dobko on bass and Joey Incorvaia on drums propelled the groove with their relentless funk attack, and the guitars of Rory Urquhart and Zach Gutierrez harkened back to Jimmy Nolen on “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag.” (EVERY player on the scene today owes a huge debt of gratitude to Nolen.)
What truly set their presentation apart was the twin sax attack of Aaron Gottesman (tenor) and Tyler Martin (baritone). Several of their best-known tunes helped fill out the set, including “Operator,” “Superstar,” “Leather Tramp,” and “Milkman” (you MUST see this video!). Diggin Dirt already had us on a real high when the unmistakable opening notes of “Mississippi Queen” rushed out, and Alder owned it!
For the pièce de résistance, they rolled out of “Queen” and into “There Was a Time.” This comes from the greatest R&B recording ever (well, it’s my article), James Brown ‘Live’ at the Apollo (1967), in the medley “Let Yourself Go > There Was a Time > I Feel Alright > Cold Sweat,” and damn skippy that’s Jimmy “Chank” Nolen on that funk guitar!
[Pool Deck: Queen Dub, Turn Me On, Operator, Superstar, Treat You Right, Just Step, Mac & Cheese, Leather Tramp, Zodiac, Milkman, Mississippi Queen, There Was a Time]
Fast-forward to the show Thursday at the Black & White. I heard ALL of it. The first half hour was straight-up James Brown revue which included “Give It Up or Turn It Loose” and “Cold Sweat.” That “Satisfaction” is a band original. Near the end of the set, Zach brought the band down behind him to have a serious discussion with us, one which will remain in the hearts of everyone there. He explained that this night was three weeks to the day since he lost his wife, Clare.
Surprise, shock, and heartbreak filled us all. He then proceeded to leave it ALL on the stage with a spectacular version of “Unchained Melody,” the 1955 tune forever stamped into the culture ten years later by Bobby Hatfield of The Righteous Brothers.
I’ll take Alder’s rendition, thank you. He had mentioned that Adryon had helped him through the difficult period, at which time Ms. Adryon de León, artist at large, joined Alder and band for a magnificent “Chain of Fools.” The band then closed out the night with more wicked “Krunk Funk.”
[Black & White Lounge: Tell Me, Break! Into Action, Give It Up or Turn It Loose, Cold Sweat, Gotta Groove, Get Proud, Typsy Gypsy, Stoplight, Satisfaction, All Night, Unchained Melody, Chain of Fools, Krunk Funk]
These gents are fabulous, “But you don’t have to take my word for it!” Go find out for yourself!
DIGGIN DIRT
04/05 Tahoe Palisades CA | WinterWonderGrass – Palisades
04/11 Denver CO | Cervantes’ Other Side **w/ Hand Turkey, Dylan Kishner Band
04/12 Steamboat Springs CO | Schmiggity’s
04/13 Winter Park CO | Devil’s Craft **w/ Puddle Stomp
05/02 Solana Beach CA | Belly Up **w/ Band of Gringos, Audio Perdisco
05/03 Ventura CA | Ventura Music Hall
05/04 Paso Robles CA | BarrelHouse Brewing Co.
06/20-23 4 Peaks Music Festival | Bend OR
07/04-07 Waterfront Blues Festival | Portland OR
08/02-04 Rhythms on the Rio | Rio del Norte CO
09/06 Creekbend Cafe | Hope AR
09/07 Creekbend Cafe | Hope AR
DIGGIN DIRT
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