The Hackensaw Boys have been sneaking around the edges of several acoustic/Americana genres since their formation in Charlottesville, VA seven years ago. Their sound is raw and raucous, frenetic and unfocused, and bursting with energy and passion. It’s part jug band, part vaudeville, part old time string band – not unlike the sort of sound popularized of late by The Old Crow Medicine Show.
The name is derived from two slang expressions that are not always used in a complimentary fashion about string musicians – hack and saw. It does, however, nicely capture the irreverent approach they take to the music, and their sound – plus the look and the vibe – has won them a loyal audience.
Look Out is the name of their newest CD, due for a June 19 release on Nettwerk Records. It’s their fifth full length CD, and their second with Nettwerk. The instrumentation is as varied as the Hacks’ sound – accordion, banjo, harmonica, guitar, fiddle, spoons, and of course, saw.
Members perform with colorful stage names, and include Jesse Fiske (Baby J.), Jimmy Stelling (The Kooky-Eyed Fox), Robert Bullington (Mahlon), Ferd Lionel Moyse, IV (Four), Ward Harrison (Cousin Spits) and Justin Neuhardt (Salvage).
Two tracks from the new CD are available on the band’s MySpace page.
