Caney Creek Archives - Bluegrass Today

The Tale of Willie Tackett – Caney Creek

Given their confidence and obvious assurance, it’s somewhat surprising that The Tale of Willie Tackett marks only the second time that the Ohio-based band Caney Creek has opted to release a record. However as the saying goes, good things are worth waiting for, and indeed, this outfit offers a decidedly serious sound.

The band originated in 2008 with a jam at a place called the Greenwich Coon Hunters Club, and if the venue’s name doesn’t exactly procure all that much promise, the music that resulted proved far more fortuitous. Having expanded from a trio to a four-piece, the group currently consists of banjo player and bass vocalist Stacy Wilcox, lead and tenor singer and mandolin player Mitch Meadors, bassist and baritone vocalist Joe Robinson, and guitarist and lead and tenor singer Chris Smith.

It’s worth noting that though they come across as an unassuming combo — one with a decided reverence for their roots as well as a strong spiritual sensibility — the sound they make is infectious and impressive, a rich musical mix encompassing bluegrass, ballads, harmony, and happenstance, all of it sung with earnest intent. There are any number of standouts — Home on the Highway, Lead Me To That City, and Still on the Blue Ridge among them — and while there’s only minimal change in tone or tempo or tone — See You in My Dreams and Appalachian Rain are the album’s actual slow songs — the eagerness and enthusiasm they demonstrate overall become both captivating and contagious. The musicians meld their instruments with such fluidity and finesse that the results becomes fully gelled. Wilcox’s fretwork is especially pronounced, but no one player dominates the sound. As an ensemble they share the spotlight, which makes the music markedly cohesive as a result.

That said, several guests mingle in the mix, including the amazing Junior Sisk, who takes a down-home lead vocal on Other Side of Lonesome. Guitarist Clay Hess and a pair of fine fiddlers, Stephen Burwell and Tim Crouch, make cameo appearances as well. They enhance the effort but don’t necessarily make for essential additives. Chalk that up to the fact that Caney Creek flows very well all on its own.

The Tale of Willie Tackett drops for Caney Creek

Caney Creek has released a new single, the title track from their upcoming CD, The Tale of Willie Tackett. It’s a new song about an old story in the venerable ‘killin’ song’ tradition.

Written and sung by guitar player Chris Smith, it tells a haunting tale of a double murder inspired by passion.

“I wrote the song a few years ago based on a true story. My father in law, Pearl Hamilton, had told me a story one time about a cousin of his that murdered a relative over a woman. On the afternoon of September 16, 1928, Henry Willie Tackett killed his cousin, Bob Jones, on Frasure Creek in Floyd County, Kentucky. That area of Kentucky was full of Hamiltons, Tuttles, and Tacketts.

I had wanted to write a Stanley-style murder mountain ballad, and this was the perfect story to fit it.”

In addition to Chris on guitar, Caney Creek is Mitch Meadors on mandolin, Stacy Wilcox on banjo, and Joe Robinson on bass.

The Tale of Willie Tackett is available to radio programmers today at AirPlay Direct. It will be offered to consumers through all the popular download and streaming sites starting on March 11.

Mitch Meadors to Caney Creek

Ohio based Caney Creek has had a change in the lineup as long-time mandolin player, Dave Prater, has announced he will be retiring from the band.

Dave had this to say on his Facebook page:

“I have come to the decision, after 40 plus years playing, I am joining my brother Mike in retirement. I want to thank everyone for the great memories and everyone’s friendship. I’ve had a wonderful time and made many, many, friends. I wish everyone the best. I’m going to just enjoy life. I love you guys very much. Thank you for everything.”

Dave, and his brothers Mike and Troy, played for many years as the Prater Brothers. Their style of hard driving, Stanley-style bluegrass was legendary in Ohio.

Caney Creek lead singer, Chris Smith, had this to say on Dave’s announcement:

“Dave has been one of my best friends for as long as I can remember. A lot of memories and some great music were made. When I was a young boy. The Prater Brothers bluegrass band could not be beat. Their music touched my soul, and many other souls in our area. When those boys stepped on the stage, you had better hang on to your seat. We in the band wish Dave all the best!”

Mitch Meadors Jr. is the son of well-known banjo man Mitch Meadors. Mitch Sr. has his own line of banjo’s, which Joe Dean of Doyle Lawson is playing, and also the famous Platemate for guitars. He also has a line of tone rings that are top notch.

Mitch Jr is an accomplished mandolin, banjo, and guitar picker. Mitch played with his family’s Gospel band, then went on to play on and off with various bands in the Northeast Ohio area.

“We’re all excited to pick with Mitch, he’s a powerhouse picker” Smith says.

Everyone can see Caney Creek in January at Larry Efaw’s Bluegrass in Super Class bluegrass show in Perrysburg, OH January 12-13, 2018, as Mitch plays his second show with the boys. Caney Creek’s long-awaited CD, Cool Kentucky Rain, will be released and available to the public the weekend of Bluegrass in Super Class. A CD release party is being planned for Saturday, January 13th, 2018 at The Holiday Inn French Quarter, Perrysburg, OH.

Dave will still play a few shows with Dana Cupp and the Barstool Boys on December 16th, 2017 at the historic Huron Valley Eagles in Flat Rock, MI, and at next year’s Mansfield Jamfest.

More photos from Norwalk 2016

The Friday stage show at the Norwalk Music Festival was kicked off by a local band, Vertical Limit, playing strong, traditional bluegrass. They were followed by Columbus, Ohio’s Out of Mind Bluegrass Band. Co-promoter Kurt Hickman brought his band, Harbourtown to the stage next. Newly formed Mitch Jr. and Drivin’ Time along with Kyle Estep brought their great sound to the Norwalk stage. Indiana’s Blue Mafia has rapidly become a festival circuit favorite. Junior Sisk and Rambler’s Choice were the final band on stage for the day. They were joined by co-promoter Chris Smith and did a rousing Ralph Stanley tribute.

Saturday morning brought a special show to the stage. Chris Smith and Kurt Hickman brought out a group of youngsters to showcase the next generation of bluegrass musicians. Chris and Kurt are great supporters of young pickers. Norwalk festival favorites Ottawa County followed the youngsters. Then Ohio/West Virginia band Idletymes gave the crowd a generous helping of traditional bluegrass music. The Wayfarers take festival goers back to the traditional string band sounds that are the roots of bluegrass music.

Co-promoter Chris Smith’s band Caney Creek gave the audience of fine traditional bluegrass music. During their evening set they were joined by special guest Mike Prater. Mike and his brother Dave sang a couple tunes from their days as the Prater Brothers Band. Their passionate rendition of The Pilgrim brought a standing ovation. Don Rigsby joined the band for a couple of tunes also.

Acoustic Edge is a band that is a throwback to the country, rock-a-billy bands of the ’70s and ’80s. They had many in the audience dancing during their evening set. The Band of Ruhks highlighted the day with some of the best harmony singing one ever gets to hear. They showcase Ronnie Bowman’s songwriting, Don Rigsby’s unmatched tenor singing, and the very best guitar picking of Kenny Smith. John Meyer has joined the band and is one of the finest young banjo pickers around.

The Norwalk Bluegrass Festival supports Alzheimer’s research and also provides college scholarships to two Norwalk City High School students. One is for a student going into the medical field and one for music education.

Next year’s festival dates are July 13-15, 2017.