Author: John Curtis Goad

John Goad is a graduate of the East Tennessee State University Bluegrass, Old Time & Country Music program, with a Masters degree in both History and Appalachian Studies from ETSU.

Nail By Nail – Nu-Blu

When most bluegrass fans think of husband and wife teams, the names Kenny and Amanda Smith or Darin and Brooke Aldridge spring to mind. However, another couple is quickly making a name for themselves in the bluegrass world, as leaders of the band Nu-Blu. Daniel and Carolyn Routh, along with their North Carolina-based group, have recently released their third album, a Gospel project entitled Nail By Nail.

This is the first all-Gospel record for the Rouths, who founded Nu-Blu in 2003. Following the recent bluegrass trend of releasing mini-albums, Nail By Nail contains only seven tracks. However, the band has packed a nice-selection of songs which share the story of Jesus and salvation into this small collection, offering a mixture of bluegrass and acoustic country sounds.

The album’s lead single, Martha and Mary, is an enjoyable, upbeat tune which draws from the Biblical story of two sisters who served Jesus in different ways –Martha through more practical actions and Mary by simply spending time listening to Him. This song, which was written by Becky Buller and Nancy Cardwell, is one of the more bluegrass-sounding on the album and features nice lead vocals from Carolyn Routh. The Abyss, a plea for the Lord to help a person who is close to “the edge of the deep, dark abyss,” has a completely different feel. It begins with a very stripped down sound, then brings in urgent, dark-sounding instrumental solos.

You See Jesus is a peaceful sounding song with a country feel which shares how God looks past a person’s outer problems and loves them regardless. Where Did You Get That Water, written by Tim Stafford and Jon Weisberger, has a cheerful, laidback vibe and includes bluesy guitar from Daniel Routh.

Carolyn (bass) and Daniel (guitar) are joined in the band by Levi Austin (banjo) and Austin Koerner (mandolin). In addition, Greg Luck provides fiddle for this album. Overall, the band offers a nice sampler of contemporary bluegrass Gospel, giving fans a taste of their brand of music.

For more information on Nu-Blu and their new album, visit their website at www.nu-blu.com.

Nail By Nail is out now from Pinecastle Records and can be purchased from the band’s website as well as various online music retailers.

Indescribable – Todd Taylor

Who’s the world record setting banjoist with 5 Grammy nominations that you may have never heard of? That’s Spartanburg, South Carolina native Todd Taylor. Having established the Guinness World Record for “fastest banjo player” at 210 beats per minute with the song Dueling Banjos in 2007, and having been awarded the honor of the Order of the Palmetto by SC Governor Nikki Haley earlier this year for his philanthropy and musical contribution to his home state, Todd Taylor is most certainly moving forward.

With the release of Indescribable, a collection of eleven songs from all sorts of directions, including classical, rock, and of course, traditional bluegrass, Taylor is back to spreading the good word of the banjo again, by surging into new areas of music where one might not expect the instrument. With versions of classic rock anthems like Crazy Train, Stairway to Heaven, and his own 5:03 version of Free Bird, it’s easy to say that this is anything but your ordinary banjo album. In fact, listeners might find that Indescribable has the potential to serve well as the soundtrack to a classic tragedy or scary movie – perhaps “Beethoven’s Nightmare” or “Night of the Living Banjo.”

From the very beginning, this album is set apart from other banjo records. Instead of hard-hitting, “1-4-5 drive” numbers, the opening licks to this set are much more rock influenced than anything else. The album’s opening track Six Gun’s (a Taylor original) perfectly demonstrates his desire for musical experimentation, while a much gentler side is shown through Taylor’s second self-penned contribution, Waterfall, the soothing feel of which seems like a good fit for an elevator scene or sleep machine. Other standout tracks include the lighthearted Spanish-themed piece El Cancion del Mariachi and another original, a classical piece appropriately titled Beethoven’s Nightmare.

While it is likely that people who have become aware of Taylor’s work within recent years have done so through his setting of a world record, there’s much more to be found on this album than just fast picking. In fact, Taylor’s performing skills and thoughtfulness as a musician show through in his musical arrangements. Coming from an area which has produced several noteworthy banjo players, Taylor certainly stands out.

He is joined on this album by Mike Moody (bass), Thornton Kline (cello, violin), John Rogers and Frank Griffith (drums), T Bone Johnson (guitars), and Duane Evans (piano). If you’re interested in finding out more about Todd Taylor and his musical work, visit his website at www.toddtaylorbanjo.com.

His music can be purchased from various online music retailers, including CDBaby, Amazon, and iTunes.

Daylight – John Driskell Hopkins & Balsam Range

Numerous country musicians have made the short leap to bluegrass in recent years, perhaps most notably Marty Raybon and Joe Diffie. These artists had already established careers as vocalists, and simply adjusted their sound for a new audience.

Now, another country musician has released a bluegrass project, but in a slightly different manner. Zac Brown Band member John Driskell Hopkins has stepped out of his usual sideman roles as bass player, songwriter, and producer to collaborate with award-winning bluegrass group Balsam Range on Daylight, a unique album filled with bluegrass, country, southern rock, and roots music.

A veteran of the Atlanta rock music scene, Hopkins shows his musical background on several of the album’s tracks. The opening song, Runaway Train, is a southern rock-influenced tune with a nice groove and bluesy dobro work from Jerry Douglas. The Devil Lives in a Mason Jar has an almost tortured sound, reflecting the lyrics’ story of the evils of alcohol. On these and a few other songs, Hopkins’ vocals are raspy, the lyrics sung in almost a growl, bringing to mind songs from The Steeldrivers.

Hopkins does a 180 on several other tracks, offering smooth vocals, an acoustic country sound, and lyrics turning to thoughts of love. How Could I? is a tender love song featuring guest vocals and fiddle from singer-songwriter Levi Lowrey, in which the singer offers assurances that he could never do anything to hurt the one he loves. Bye Baby Goodbye, a sweet duet with country singer Joey Martin of Joey + Rory, shares a story that many musicians will be familiar with – that of struggling to leave behind loved ones to go out on the road. Be My Girl features the feelings of a man falling in love and realizing that he can’t live without that one certain woman.

Contemporary bluegrass fans will enjoy I Will Lay Me Down, a cheerful-sounding tune featuring Hopkins’ band-mate Zac Brown, and the humorous She Don’t Love Me Today, in which the singer relates a series of missteps in his relationship with his wife. The Grass Don’t Get No Greener combines elements of a smooth, western swing tune with uptempo, banjo-fueled bluegrass, while Shady Bald Breakdown, an instrumental composed by Hopkins and the members of Balsam Range, allows the group to show off their bluegrass talent.

Hopkins has written or cowritten all of the songs on this album, creating a well-rounded collection of original tunes which cover a wide spectrum of acoustic music. In addition to lead vocals, Hopkins also plays guitar on the album, joining Balsam Range members Buddy Melton (fiddle), Darren Nicholson (mandolin), Marc Pruett (banjo), Caleb Smith (guitar), and Tim Surrett (bass and dobro).

Balsam Range serves as much more than just a studio backing band for this project. Their skills and experience in contemporary bluegrass and acoustic music are showcased throughout the record, allowing them to help direct the sound of the album. Fans of both Balsam Range and the Zac Brown Band, as well as those who enjoy southern roots music, are sure to enjoy this project, which is available today (January 22).

For more information on this album, visit www.johndriskellhopkins.com.

Daylight is available from the website or from a variety of online music retailers.

Bluegrass Weather Report for January 18, 2013

Today’s Bluegrass Weather Report runs from sunny California all the way down to the Bahamas, which beats the heck out of the cold, snowy weather we have here in the Blue Ridge. In fact, our Special Bluegrass Correspondent was snowed in, stuck in a hotel in Johnson City, TN and had to call in our Special Assistant Bluegrass Correspondent to complete this report.

 

The Dark is Barking – Rawhide

When you think about bluegrass music, Belgium is probably not one of the first locations which come to mind. However, with their latest album The Dark is Barking, Belgian group Rawhide has shown that bluegrass can be created just as easily in Europe as it can in Kentucky or Tennessee. The band has compiled a collection of tunes from an extremely wide variety of influences, keeping some of the original sound of the songs while giving many a contemporary bluegrass treatment.

Many of the songs on The Dark is Barking were originally recorded by rock bands, ranging from Kiss to Creedence Clearwater Revival. The opening track is a driving, banjo-fueled version of the 1979 Kiss hit I Was Made for Loving You that the band fills with urgency. A cover of the Men at Work song Down Under is very faithful to the original, with somewhat of a Celtic feel. The Creedence Clearwater Revival song Looking Out My Backdoor is also included, with a fun, upbeat sound and nice instrumental solos.

A few songs are performed a capella, allowing the band to show off their harmony skills. Teenager in Love, a pop hit originally released by Dion and the Belmonts in 1959, has a fun fifties sound. Monday Monday from The Mamas & the Papas is given a soulful feel, as is the Gospel song Jesus Gave Me Water. While this song was originally recorded by soul singer Sam Cooke, it was also recorded on the first Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver Gospel record in 1981.

Rawhide does feature several bluegrass covers on this record. A calm, country-flaired version of Wait a Minute is one of the standout tracks, along with an enjoyable, fast-paced version of the Peter Wernick composition Leaving Town. Boone Creek’s One Way Track has been slowed down slightly, and both it and Raining in LA feature nice banjo work.

Rawhide lets their musical skills shine on the album’s instrumentals, with fine performances from Dirk Peeraer (dobro), Bert Van Bortel (guitar), Thierry Schoysman (banjo), Jeff Cardey (mandolin), Dirk Fonteyn (fiddle), and Dimi Laveren (bass). Bill Monroe’s Sugar Loaf Mountain is one of the more traditional sounding songs on the album and allows mandolin player Cardey to show off his talents. Cardey has also contributed an original mandolin tune, Cardey’s Breakdown.

While most of the songs on this album did not originate in the bluegrass genre, Rawhide has added in instrumental work, particularly on banjo and mandolin, which give the tracks an interesting modern bluegrass feel. Fans of early rock and pop music will particularly enjoy this album’s sampling of those genres.

For more information on Rawhide, visit their website at www.rawhide.be.

The Dark is Barking can be purchased from various online music retailers, including CDBaby, Amazon, and iTunes.

Echoes of the Blue Ridge and ACMA

Due in part to the pivotal town of Bristol, northeast Tennessee and southwest Virginia have long been known as one of the locations where traditional country music was founded. Bristol, the location of the 1927 recording sessions which put The Carter Family, Jimmie Rodgers, and others on the map, has been honored with the name “Birthplace of Country Music,” and multiple organizations throughout the region continually work to support this heritage. One of those organizations is the Appalachian Cultural Music Association, or ACMA. This group has recently been the subject of a documentary film, Echoes of the Blue Ridge, which relates the history of both the organization and the region’s music.

Echoes of the Blue Ridge offers a mixture of interviews, musical clips, and images detailing important musical figures and venues from the region, as well as the ACMA’s role in promoting traditional music. A wide array of musicians were interviewed from the project, including Clinch Mountain Boy James Alan Shelton, Hunter Berry of Rhonda Vincent and the Rage, and Larry Sparks, in addition to regional groups such as the New Ballard’s Branch Bogtrotters and Appalachian Trail. It is interesting to see just how many artists either hail from or have been influenced by this region.

The documentary also provides viewers with information about the ACMA’s numerous contributions to the musical community of the Tri-Cities, such as the weekly Pickin’ Porch show, which features both local and nationally touring musicians, and the Mountain Music Museum, which offers visitors a chance to see photographs, clothing, instruments, and more from many historic figures in traditional Appalachian music. Also included is an interesting look at the Carter Family Fold, with interview clips from Rita Forrester, the granddaughter of AP and Sara Carter who now organizes the weekly concerts at the Fold.

While the documentary shows clips from the Pickin’ Porch and Mountain Music Museum at their longtime location at the Bristol Mall, they have now moved just down the road to Bristol’s State Street. The Pickin’ Porch will have a new home in the Foundation Event Facility at 620 State Street, while the Mountain Music Museum will open next door at 626 State Street. The Pickin’ Porch will also move from Thursday to Monday nights, with the first concert being held January 14, 2013.

The DVD includes two cuts of the documentary: 40-minute and 90-minute. The longer version offers somewhat more in-depth interviews which viewers who are especially interested in the role the ACMA has played in the music scene of the Tri-Cities and surrounding area may want to check out. Echoes of the Blue Ridge was produced by Chris Rector, a Kingsport, TN-based photographer and videographer. Music for the film was provided by regional old-time favorites the Whitetop Mountain Band.

For more information on the Appalachian Cultural Music Association and their new DVD, visit their website.

DVDs can be purchased by contacting the ACMA, with schools and libraries having the option to receive a free copy.

They Called Him Jesus – Jeff Clair

Many of today’s younger generation of bluegrass musicians grew up with the artists of the ’80s and ’90s as their major influences. Contemporary groups such as the Lonesome River Band, IIIrd Tyme Out, and Alison Krauss and Union Station were their main sources of inspiration, and helped to form the sounds those musicians are creating today.

Southeastern Kentucky resident Jeff Clair has looked a little father back for inspiration, however. Although he is in his early thirties, Clair has obviously spent time listening to some of the “old-timers.” His new album, They Called Him Jesus, is a straight-ahead traditional bluegrass Gospel record which brings to mind the music of Larry Sparks and Ralph Stanley.

They Called Him Jesus is filled with lively, up-tempo numbers as well as moving, thoughtful pieces. Sparks’ influence is featured prominently on the album, with Clair covering several of his classic Gospel selections. I Just Want to Thank You Lord shares the gratitude of someone who knows how much the Lord has helped him throughout his life, and Clair offers heartfelt vocals to match the lyrics. Somebody Touched Me and What Kind of Man are both energetic, driving tunes with solid instrumental solos, including Sparks-style guitar breaks from Clair.

Clair’s traditional influences are also evident in the title track, an original which showcases his rich lead vocals ,and shares stories of Jesus’ life and miracles. He Took Your Place is an enjoyable mid-tempo Flatt and Scruggs tune, while Little One Room School House compares a simpler time when churches met in buildings which were used as schools during the week, to today’s society where school and religion are often exclusive of one another. The Bible and the TV Guide takes the same point of view, making a statement about those who seemingly place more importance on entertainment than on the Lord.

Clair takes lead vocals on each of the songs here, as well as contributing acoustic guitar. He is joined by John Risgby (mandolin and fiddle), Rex Patrick (banjo), Mitch Bentley (bass), Rick Prater (baritone vocal), and Jeff Brown (tenor vocal). The musicians all seem to have the traditional sound down pat, and have come together to create a record which fans of this time-honored style will surely appreciate.

They Called Him Jesus can be downloaded from various online music retailers, including iTunes, Amazon, and CDBaby.

The Colored Pencil Factory – Astrograss

With bluegrass music programs at high schools and universities across the country, initiatives such as the Foundation for Bluegrass Music’s Bluegrass in the Schools, and various local organizations which sponsor lessons and bands for young children, it’s no surprise that a bluegrass band has created an album specifically targeting children. Brooklyn-based group Astrograss has recently released The Colored Pencil Factory, a collection of imaginative originals and tunes from the old-time tradition.

Each of the members of Astrograss has a background in music education, and while they also perform as a regular, ‘adult’ band, the group has been presenting programs specifically for children since 2005. The Colored Pencil Factory is their second kid-oriented album, and features a wide variety of influences, including an Albanian accordion player, poet Shel Silverstein, and even some of the kids the band has played for in the past.

Throughout the album, Astrograss encourages imagination and creativity. In the opening track, Make It Up, listeners are urged to use their minds to create stories and games, while Playground shows the fun that can be had by experiencing outdoor play. The title track compares colors to making the most out of life, and includes vivid images that will appeal to kids such as “I want to see pink in a Popsicle sunrise.” Continental Geography introduces some basic geography skills and speaks of all the fun locations to visit around the globe. Grave Diagnosis is an amusing tune which features a mother and son discussing the son’s various ailments which he claims are preventing him from going to school.

A few traditional numbers are included, as well. Sawing on the Strings is upbeat and cheerful, while Shortenin’ Bread is swingy and bluesy. Fans of old-time music will enjoy Cluck Old Hen and Sail Away Ladies, which are among the most traditional sounding on the album. Fiddle player Sarah Alden offers enthusiastic, energetic lead vocals on each of these tracks.   

Overall, the band offers an upbeat mixture of folk and modern bluegrass, with catchy, sometimes humorous original lyrics with which kids can easily sing along. In listening to The Colored Pencil Factory, it’s easy to see how band members Alden (fiddle), Dennis Lichtman (mandolin), Jonah Bruno (banjo), Jordan Shapiro (guitar), and Tim Kiah (bass) make traditional music fun for children. Parents and educators who are looking for a kid-friendly way to introduce young children to bluegrass music may want to consider checking out this album and band.

The band not only performs at private events but also at schools, in which they play songs, discuss the history of bluegrass music, and invite students to write poetry which the band will then set to music. For more information on Astrograss, their music, and their children’s programs, visit their website at www.astrograssmusic.com.

Their new album can be purchased from their website, as well as several online music retailers.

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