Johnny Moezzi comes charging out of the gate with a mission statement on his latest release, "The Underdog", a blues-funk song that pays homage to the essence of traditional groove-based music while feeling vibrantly alive in the here and now. The music is inspired by the famous Johnny Guitar Watson, and it’s not just a bow to its heritage but an embrace of it with confidence, swagger, and irresistible energy.
"The Underdog" builds the kind of infectious velocity that demands to be heard instantly. A powerful funk pulse supports its blues backbone, giving the music a familiar yet exhilarating quality. Moezzi doesn’t only draw on memories, but fills the song with a fresh intensity that shows the genre still has plenty of life remaining in it. What makes "The Underdog" special is that it has the raw thrill that made blues-funk such a captivating musical force to begin with. The song is full of life, flowing freely, powered by an irrepressible energy. Every aspect adds to an intense, realistic, and heavy musical workmanship that makes for a listening experience.
In a time when blues-funk often lacks new voices to take the genre ahead, Moezzi provides something genuinely intriguing. "The Underdog" is a reminder of the potency of the mix of blues, grit, and funk rhythm when handled with passion and conviction. It is more than a tribute to an influence in music, it is a shot in the arm that a stagnant genre needs.
"The Underdog" by Johnny Moezzi is a bold, groove-laden track that pays homage to the past while infusing the future with new vigor. If you like the blues-funk, this is a record that you must hear.