Weekly Feature: The Nico Blues, live at Maxwell’s on 08.20

NYC’s The Nico Blues may enjoy theblues, but they are in no way an obvious blues band, nor are any of their members named Nico. The quintet’s latest record, “Blame the Boredom, Blame the Basement,” commences with hard hitting percussion, crunching guitars, and vocals that trade-off between melodious and roaring on “Three’s a Crowd.” The record carries on with highlights, an appropriate titled, twangy “Folk Song #2,” which indeed has folksy undertones, psychedelic and seductive “Living Proof” and “Story With a Purpose,” dark and dancy “Unprofessional,” and fast-paced alt-rock closer, “Adjust Accordingly.” The Nico Blues gather up their roots in rock, folk, blues, and punk to formulate widely appealing hooks. – Read Meijin Bruttomesso’s Q&A with the band here.