Headed to the Bottoms
The Bottoms
Balsam Range
Balsam Range has exploded from the hills of North Carolina in the past few years. With three CD's under their belts and several number one songs to their name, this band is poised to emerge into assuming a wider and more highly recognized profile. Their driving Appalchian tinged bluegrass manages the neat trick of being contemporary and sounding traditional simultaneously. They're instrumental and vocal power captures listeners and keeps them listening. Buddy Melton's distinctive tenor voice is instantly recognizable, while Caleb Smith's flat picking and song writing are both worthy of recognition. Listen carefully to Tim Surett on bass, too.
Marc Pruett
Caleb Smith
Darren Nicholson
Buddy Melton
Tim Surrett
Robin & Trina
Balsam Range Fans
Robin & Trina
Only a (very) Few Years Ago
Nothin' Fancy
Nothin' Fancy continues as one of the most entertaining bands on the bluegrass circuit. Mixing comedy routines with Mike Andes' song writing (both serious and novelty material) and an ongoing commitment to the music of the Country Gentlemen, this band has developed a large and loyal fan base which travels to see them. Their long-time fans and new devotees particularly enjoy the extended bits combining broad comedy with inside musical jokes played by Chris Sexton on the fiddle. Each member brings an individual personality to the mix, creating a pleasing and enjoyable whole.
Mike Andes
Tony Shorter
Gary Faris
Mitchell Davis
Chris Sexton
Andes & Shorter
Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper
Mike Cleveland's band is still experiencing some growing pains, but the addition of Ashby Frank on mandolin adds an important instrumental and vocal piece. His first class mandolin work and excellent voice make him a double threat for the re-building band. Charlie Lawson singing lead and playing guitar brings a superior bluegrass voice and strong emcee skills to the mix. Blake Bowen on bass is solid as a rock. Charlie Cushman played his last gig as a member of Flamekeeper on Thursday, and Michael is auditioning banjo players. Mike, of course, continues with the powerful, historically informed traditional fiddling that's been his trademark for years. His joy in playing infects those around him. More on Mike later in this piece.
Ashby Frank
Charley Lawson
Blake Bowen
Charlie Cushman
Food Vendors Row
Lou Reid & Carolina
Lou Reid's been in the bluegrass business for along time. His mandolin playing and voice have been a part of storied bands from the original Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver to Ricky Skaggs' country touring band, and the Seldom Scene as well as super-band Longview. In each place his singing and musicianship always excels. With Lou Reid & Carolina he has the opportunity to put his own stamp on his music and takes full advantage of it, singing carefully chosen material that always suits him well. He has surrounded himself with a strong band. Christy, his wife and musical partner on bass and harmony vocals twines her voice around his. Shannon Slaughter's resonant deep baritone provides depth and power. He's also a fine flat picker. Trevor Watson on banjo provides both drive and fill to complete the mix. This excellent band truly deserves to be heard and seen much more widely.
Lou Reid
Christy Dowell Reid
Shannon Slaughter
Trevor Watson
Marty Raybon & Full Circle
Marty Raybon has had a long career in both bluegrass and country music. At present his band is going through something of a reorganization, but his fine voice should carry him through. He has a strong southern sensibility which shows clearly in his musical choices.
Marty Raybon
Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out
Another great set from this storied band. It's always a treat when they're on the bill for two days, because it provides them a good chance to hang out and visit. Great folks as well as a great band.
Wayne Benson
Edgar Loudermilk
Justin Haynes
Steve Dilling
Kyle Cantrell Introducing The Grascals
The Grascals
The Grascals have been closely associated with the MACC and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital almost since they were formed. His song "I Am Strong," written with his wife, has become a sort of bluegrass anthem to the courage of the children at the hospital and their will to survive and thrive. Late in arriving because of repeated traffic slow-ups along their route, they hit the stage five minutes after their bus pulled in and delivered a socko performance. Always high energy and entertaining.
Jamie Johnson
Kristin Scott Benson
Jeremy Abshire
Terry Eldredge
Danny Roberts
The Trio
Jamie Johnson, Terry Smith, Terry Eldredge
The Johnson Mountain Boys
The music of the Johnson Mountain Boys has influenced a generation of bluegrass fans to the wonders of a sound most of them never heard in its original versions. Emerging as a full-featured band in 1978, they created a huge stir introducing fans to the sounds of the first generation of bluegrass music. They were well-recognized and established a distinctive voice. Finding it impossible to sustain themselves as a road band, they dissolved, having occasional reunion tours into the mid-nineties. Now JMB has re-emerged and looks like it's entering into limited touring. The band played with energy and conviction, introducing a new audience to what had originally made them so popular, while satisfying fans of their former iterations. Michael Cleveland on fiddle laid to rest any concerns that band members are irreplaceable. Dudley Connell's relentless energy and good humor led the way as Richard Underwood, David McLaughlin, and Marshall Willborn all sounded and looked wonderful. Their next performance is at the Del-Val festival on Labor Day Weekend.
The Trio
Richard Underwood, David McLaughlin, Dudley Connell
Marshall Wilborn
Richard Underwood
David McLaughlin
Mike Cleveland
Twin Fiddles - McLaughlin & Cleveland
Dudley Connell
Johnson Mountain Boys - Columbus Stockade Blues - Video
Ted, I wish you had been around bluegrass in the 1980s so you could have understood the importance of JMB to the music. Many folks thought traditional bluegrass was dying because of the rise of progressive bluegrass. Then seemingly out of the blue the band of young guys hit the scene playing some of the best traditional bluegrass ever heard. This wasn't a re-hash of the classics, but obscure and under-heard songs performed brilliantly and with a sound that was instantly identifiable as their own. To many people, The Johnson Mountain Boys saved bluegrass and their demise in 1988 and for good in the mid-'90s was like a blow to the gut. Many of us had begun to believe we would never hear that JMB sound ever again. When The MACC succeeded getting them back together after 15 years, history was made. I traveled about 1000 miles to experience history in the making -- something I would do for no other band. What was missing from your JMB reporting was the historical context. Otherwise, great reporting as always.
ReplyDeleteOne more thing... David's name is spelled McLaughlin.
ReplyDeleteMy grandmother born in 1894 in Aroostook County Maine used to play an old mandolin. It was one of the pot-bellied style not so much in fashion now. She had inherited it from her Mom. Aroostook County is a little far north of the Appalachians. Yet I remember she used to play a lot of country music some of which I recall sounded quite a bit like some of the modern Bluegrass. I was born in 42 and I heard her playing almost every day in the late 40s and early 50s. So wondered if what she was playing was traditional in northern New England or perhaps in the Canadian Maritime Provinces where her grandparents had come from? Or maybe she was playing tunes she had heard on the radio when I was a boy?
ReplyDeleteLove the "Then and Now" pics of me and Robin!!! Great to see you again Ted. Safe Travels and see you down the road somewhere soon!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Trina. Hope the real parents liked it as much. See you along the trail? IBMA?
ReplyDeleteLove the "Then & Now" pics Ted! Thanks for taking that one. Trina & I see each other not nearly enough! Love your blog & you & Mrs. Irene!
ReplyDelete