We Play

Mossy Creek, one of Chico’s most enduring bands, continues to evolve with its lively new project, We Play. In addition to traditional bluegrass flourishes that the band is most known for, We Play offers a pleasing supply of rollicking swing music and crafty lyrics. The 11-track album, recorded and mastered by local engineer Dale Price, includes nine originals plus the traditional folk song “Shenandoah,” and a cover of “‘39,” by Queen (the band sneaks a little of War’s “Low Rider” into one track). Now in its 16th year, Mossy Creek boasts a steady lineup of seasoned local players. Pat Haley, as he’s been since the beginning, is lead songwriter and guitar, banjo and Dobro player. Tamara Allspaugh offers flawless vocals on most of the material, and there are many skillful harmonica passages by Bob Littell. The rest of the cast includes Dean Mott (guitar/lap steel), Christine Hogan (fiddle), Kim Gimbal (bass), and Bob Kirkland (mandolin). If the members of this fine ensemble didn’t already have families and other careers, they could surely find an audience in the greater traditional American music scene.