Hook, Live & Sinker from Chesapeake

Hook, Live & Sinker - ChesapeakeJust as focus has been on Seldom Scene this week with their first new project in seven years, here comes a live album from another DC-based group with roots in the Scene.

Chesapeake got its start when Mike Auldridge, T. Michael Coleman and Moondi Klein, all members of Seldom Scene in 1994, decided to create a side project to play more regularly than was the norm for the Scene. They were joined by Jimmy Gaudreau, who was touring at the time with Tony Rice. Recording three albums for Sugar Hill during their five years together, they were on the forefront of what is now known commonly as Americana, mixing folk, bluegrass, country and rock.

Coleman tells us that Chesapeake was in the habit of recording almost all of their live shows when they were on the road. Many bands have done so, some to critique their shows, others for posterity.

Whatever the reason for these guys, they have compiled a live album from these archives, released as Hook, Live & Sinker. All twenty tracks feature live performances of the band, with some stellar guests, none of which were contained on the three previous Chesapeake CDs.

Complete track listing follows:

  • Georgia
  • Train Of Love
  • Song For A Winter’s Night
  • By The Side Of The Road
  • Ginseng Sullivan
  • Treasures Untold
  • Coleen Malone
  • Song or The Life
  • California Earthquake
  • White Dove
  • Red Georgia Clay
  • Like I Used To Do
  • My Window Faces The South
  • I’m Working On A Building
  • Bartender’s Blues
  • The Soul Of Man Never Dies
  • Cypress Jam
  • Bill Cheatham’s Tasteless Walk On The Wild Side Of Mission Impossible
  • Soldier’s Joy
  • John Hardy

In addition to primary band members (Klein on guitar, Gaudreau on mandolin, Coleman on bass, Auldridge on reso-guitar), guests include Tony Rice, Doc Watson, Sammy Shelor, Sam Bush, John Cowan, Rickie Simpkins, Jeff Little and Larry Atamanuik.

T. Michael says that this project is very special to him.

“I was inspired to put this together after the last time Chesapeake got together to play with Mike. That was not long before he left us, so it’s partly a tribute to Mike, and of course to Doc.”

Hook, Live & Sinker can be purchased online from Chesterbury Records. It will be available soon from CD Baby, iTunes and other digital resellers.

Radio programmers can download 15 of the 20 tracks for broadcast now at Airplay Direct.

Look for Chesapeake to do so touring in support, with various guests standing in for Mike Auldridge.

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About the Author

John Lawless

John had served as primary author and editor for The Bluegrass Blog from its launch in 2006 until being folded into Bluegrass Today in September of 2011. He continues in that capacity here, managing a strong team of columnists and correspondents.