The Moss Brothers believe strongly that family comes before anything else. Luckily, the two founders of this Americana/roots band are siblings so the music sits comfortably in shotgun position rather than relegated to the backseat. The band is Troy Moss on lead and backing vocals, electric guitar and mandolin; Jeff Moss on lead and backing vocals, dobro, acoustic and electric guitar; Kevin Dale on vocals, bass; and David Smith on drums.

Troy Moss met Dale in junior high school. Dale taught him to play bass when he was 15 years old. Moss’s older brother Billy introduced him to Smith, whom he’d met while playing blues jams together.

What are the Brother’s Moss up to this summer?

“We are busy playing some festivals and of course marketing our CD,” says Troy Moss. “We put a lot of sweat and energy into the recording. It makes it all worthwhile to read such wonderful reviews and have so many people at home and abroad buy it.”

The songs on their CD, Royal Orleans, were inspired by their trips to New Orleans, the plantation country north of there and their Alabama roots.

“The Deep South is very close to our hearts,” explains Moss. “The situation with Hurricane Katrina and the aftermath really brought home to us just how much we love that part of the country and the incredible people that live there.”

In addition to connections in the south, the band also has a strong following in Europe, which may bring about a Moss Brothers European tour to France and Germany in the near future.

“We are also on one hell of a writing streak,” says Moss. “And we are seven songs toward a second CD. The new material has really got us excited to get back in the studio.”

According to Moss, bands that inspire them are those that perform with conviction, soul and groove such as Darrell Scott, George Jones, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Shooter Jennings and Buck Owens.

“We are sometimes compared to Little Feat and The Band,” explains Moss. “Both comparisons are very flattering.”

Moss describes their music as back porch music spiced up with some raging guitars and a smooth rhythm section. Get better acquainted with them at  www.myspace.com/themossbrothers.



[Mandolin Café, Friday, July 13, 8-10 p.m., all ages, no cover, 3923 S. 12th St., Tacoma, 253.761.3482]