Review: The Dig 3 'The Dig 3'

Photo: The Dig 3

By Mike O’Cull

Blues and roots super-trio The Dig 3 throw down a set of steady-grooving, cliche-free tunes on their new, self-titled record The Dig 3.

Released in September of 2022, The Dig 3 is the first album from this new alignment of blues and roots music heroes Andrew Duncanson (Kilborn Alley Blues Band) on guitar and vocals, Ronnie Shellist (Kilborn Alley Blues Band, Corey Dennison) on harp, and multi-instrumentalist Gerry Hundt (Nick Moss, Corey Dennison).

The group and the record are both raw and wild affairs that tap into the essence of the blues. The tracks aren’t over-produced or full of long, flailing guitar solos. They’re captured moments of three masterful practitioners of the three-chord art who know how to make each note matter. The music is soulful and supreme, stacked with the heart and talent needed to heat up any house in the world.

The Dig 3 came together in 2020 as a shared effort to remain creative during the months of Covid lockdowns. The vibes became so strong that this album was recorded live off the floor with no second takes or overdubs. Not every band is capable of doing that but these three players thrive on this stripped-down, unforgiving approach. Hearing it in action is a privilege. They take every bit of modern gloss off of the music and make their songs overwhelmingly human and real.

The opening cut, “You’re The One,” is a prime example of how The Dig 3 get down. It’s a stomping, hypnotic vamp that comes out of nowhere, builds in intensity, and sounds like three friends having a back porch jam. Lyrically, it’s a hard-edged love song full of lines like “I need you like a gangster needs a gun” that quickly gets its message across. It’s a blast of blissful minimalism that will appeal to those who love real-deal blues.

“Every Drop”

“Every Drop” is a broken-hearted drinking song that sits on Gerry Hundt’s funky, tremolo-soaked, one-man-band bass and drum work. It’s the sort of tune that fills the dance floor after midnight with lost souls who feel the same pain and have no recourse other than shaking their bones. Andrew Duncanson delivers a fine vocal performance that tops the beat just right and will make you think he’s right in your room with you.

The shuffling “Christmas Coming” is all about holiday love trouble and features a boatload of sweet harmonica lines from Ronnie Shellist. His melodic ideas are inventive and strong, floating above the pocket like snow in the air. It’s amazing how effective The Dig 3 are in this ultra-small band context. If the blues is a rhythm and a feeling, this crew max it out with zero wasted effort.

Duncanson turns in an excellent rhythm guitar turn on the swinging “Rock That Boat” before dropping an equally-cool solo. This one is a party starter of the highest order, built on a perfect groove and laying just enough on top to grab you and keep you. Listeners used to more heavily produced music will be astonished at how mighty The Dig 3’s live style is and how much it makes them want to move.

Every moment of The Dig 3 is worth your while and has the potential to light up your night. You can drop the needle freely without fearing disappointment. Tracks like “Chicken Kiss” and “Southern Fantasy” are deep in the record’s sequence but hang out and let them find you. The Dig 3 fly in the face of typical blues tropes on this set and defy all expectations. If you’re looking for something fresh for your Fall playlist, these guys would be a superior pick.