New Music: Gryph – Nash Angeles from Elbow Grease
When a Tennessee-raised rock and blues guitarist moves to Los Angeles and falls headfirst into dance culture, the result could easily become a messy genre experiment. But on Nash Angeles, Michael Griffin (aka Gryph) avoids every rookie trap, delivering a summer LP that moves effortlessly between disco, dub, post-punk, and house.
Released on the Elbow Grease imprint, the album builds on Gryph’s standout appearance on the Point Winona Sound Library Vol 1 compilation. Rather than leaning purely on his guitar roots, Griffin pairs his bass and guitar work with studio-ace co-production from West Coast underground veteran Dave Aju. The outcome sounds less like a sterile solo record and more like a live, open-air session tracked in a Los Feliz studio with a room full of friends.
From Nashville Blues to LA Open-Air House
What makes Nash Angeles click is its refusal to pick a single lane. One moment, Caroline Campbell’s harp drifts over Damon Palermo’s crisp drum patterns; the next, Derrick Lightning’s brass sections cut through dubby basslines and Italo-disco synths. Vocal contributions from Dina Moursi, Masho, and Shirtz keep the energy shifting between vocal R&B hooks and chant-along party energy.
Dave Aju’s mixing and co-production give the record a physical, club-ready weight without washing out the organic grit of Griffin’s guitar work. It’s an album clearly built for outdoor sound systems, backyard gatherings, and late-afternoon festival slots—funky, unpredictable, and anchored by real musicianship.
