The re-emergence of The Wildwood Valley Boys has been welcome news for fans of Tony Holt and his signature baritone voice. With a rich legacy in bluegrass music, Tony Holt has carried on his father Aubrey’s legacy through a catalog steeped in tradition and great storytelling. With the band’s first release in over a decade, A Few From The South brings forth all of the elements that so many of us have come to love about their music.
This project was recorded over several years spanning different sessions. Despite that, the ensemble remains fairly consistent with Tony handling the lead vocals and Tom Feller handling duties on mandolin, guitar, banjo and bass. The opening track, West Virginia Rain, gets things off to a driving start. One of several written by Tony’s father Aubrey, the vocal blend is incredibly strong with Chris Hill on tenor vocals and Harlan Gabbard on baritone vocals. John Rigsby and Matt DeSpain also provide excellent instrumental backing on fiddle and resophonic guitar respectively.
True to form with any Wildwood Valley Boys album, the standouts of this project are the story songs. The two that particularly come to mind are some of Aubrey Holt’s final recordings, Ballad of the Green Berets and Listen To My Hammer Ring. The former by Barry Sadler and Robin Moore tells of men bravely sacrificing themselves for their country, while the latter tells an incredibly emotional story of a family building a casket for their child. Aubrey’s opening monologue of his inspiration to write this song is particularly moving.
There are several well-thought-out interpretations to be found on this effort. Smoky Mountain Memories from Earl Thomas Conley features excellent tenor vocals from Darren Beachley, along with stout twin fiddling from Rigsby and Michael Cleveland and smooth steel guitar backing from Craig Fletcher. Miller’s Cave by Jack Clement is perfectly suited for Tony Holt’s voice and he renders it in a mesmerizing fashion.
Another of Aubrey Holt’s originals, Savannah, is extremely reminiscent of his great recordings with The Boys From Indiana. The similarity is particularly eerie with the vocal blend of Tony, Aubrey, and Harlan Gabbard, the son of Harley Gabbard, who played dobro alongside his Holt cousins in the Boys From Indiana for many years.
Jon Weisberger said it well in the album’s liner notes when he wrote “A Few From the South is a treasured reminder of just how powerfully music can take us somewhere at once specific and universal.” I would venture to say that the Wildwood Valley Boys are excellent guides to that powerful, universal space.
