RIYL: Stevie Ray Vaughan, Los Lonely Boys, Government Mule

Guitarist Mato Nanji is celebrating the 10-year anniversary of his band with acoustic renditions of songs that cover the band’s entire career. The anniversary covers the decade of album releases from the band’s 1998 debut Things We Do up through their most recent album, 2008’s Broken Lands. The band has always centered around Nanji’s electrifying guitar work on his trusty Fender Stratocaster. But as we see here, Nanji’s ace musicianship translates very well to the acoustic spectrum. These tracks also serve to highlight his ever-soulful vocals and strong blues songwriting.

The disc opens with two great tracks from Things We Do,; “Now That You’re Gone” and the title track. Both epitomize Nanji’s endearing style with bluesy but melodic tunes that feature sharp chord changes and lead guitar lines that sing. Nanji’s wife Leah also sings on the harmonies, helping to keep Indigenous a family affair (following the departure of Nanji’s brother, sister and cousin from the band in 2006.) Nanji then moves on the band’s great second album Circle, featuring “Little Time” and “Rest of My Days.” The former features some of the best riffing on the album over a tribal sort of rhythm. The latter highlights the way Nanji mixes heartfelt vocals with hard-hitting riffs to really dig deep into the blues. Both were electrifying in their original format, but work great acoustically too thanks to the stinging riffs, vocal melodies and crisp rhythms.

“Want You to Say” moves on to the band’s third eponymous album with one of the band’s top tunes, a deeply melodic and infectious love song that benefits from the husband and wife harmonies. Three songs are featured from the fourth album Chasing the Sun. “Fool Me Again” has some great note bending and more strong harmonies. “Come on Home” is a deep blues ballad that just oozes soul. “Leaving” has some of Nanji’s bluesiest riffs, and feels like it could fit on the soundtrack to a Clint Eastwood western. It also features some great guest fiddle work, which deepens the bluesy feel of the track even further. The last album is represented with “Should I Stay” and “Eyes of a Child,” two more soulful tunes that feature the deeper perspective of the passage of time. A playful cover of Roy Orbison’s “You Got It” closes the album on an uplifting note.

The whole album serves as a great back-to-basics exercise in the blues. It’s easier to impress with amps cranked, but Nanji’s virtuoso blues playing and songwriting really shines on these tracks. (Vanguard Records 2010)

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