Darrell Brothers Archives - Bluegrass Today

Darrell Brothers Roadshow video trailer released

Bluegrass music has generated its share of truly clever comedy over the years. From the earliest days, it was common to include a comedian on stage shows by Bill Monroe, Flatt & Scruggs, and The Stanley Brothers. Anyone who saw Melvin Goins doing his Big Wilbur routine back in the day is bound to chuckle at the thought, and the ’80s brought us Red Knuckles & The Trailblazers as a Hot Rize alter ego.

And don’t forget the hilarious ride that Wichita Rutherford had in the aughts.

Here in 2020, we can enjoy The Cleverly’s – whenever live concerts begin again – along with several bluegrass groups that feature comedy segments.

But surely the wittiest and most deeply, riotously funny act I have ever seen emerging from our world has been The Darrell Brothers, conceived and executed by a pair of Nashville grassers, Ashby Frank and Brandon Bostic. Posing as a pair of hillbilly brothers, acting out nearly every stereotype ever assigned to rural and mountain folks, they turned the cliches into comedy gold in a series of music videos and podcasts.

Inside humor to be sure, they invited a number of other bluegrass personalities known for their drollery to serve as additional characters, and if you are not aware of the work of The Darrell Brothers, do yourself a favor and have a look.

The response to their videos online generated enough notice that Frank and Bostic began work on a pilot for a potential television series. Working with producer/director Clint Keller, they shot a substantial amount of footage at several locations, which were in the process of being edited into episode form.

But those plans have been on hold since Brandon was seriously injured in an auto accident earlier this year. While he heals, however, Keller has put together this short video as a trailer of sorts. It opens a window into the absurdity and playful facetiousness that makes the Brothers so appealing.

Ashby tells us that they received a cease and desist letter from Dinosaur World while they were filming.

On a more serious note, he also reports that Brandon is doing OK, and is set to begin physical therapy as soon as the virus panic is over. Friends and family are still raising money for Bostic online, as he has been unable to work this past two months.

Be sure to check out the various prior escapades of The Darrell Brothers which we have covered here at Bluegrass Today.

New podcast episode from The Darrell Brothers

Oh my word… they’re back again. Those radio rascals from Bitter End, TN are back with another episode of The Darrell Brothers Podcast!

It’s been many months since we’ve heard the wit and wisdom of Darrell, and his co-host, Darrell, so be sure to download the podcast to your favorite device and have a chuckle along with the regular cast of characters on WMJ 1500 AM in Methjaw County.

You may think it’s all fun and games, but in all seriousness, this is some fairly sophisticated hillbilly humor, fashioned by the bluegrass team of Ashby Frank and Brandon Bostic, assisted by a number of other familiar faces – and voices – from contemporary bluegrass. See who else you recognize in this newest episode.

All your favorite features are there: the Swap & Shop, Willard’s Wicker World, a visit with Granny, Ed’s Pond-Raised Catfish, a song from Uncle Burly Girth, and even more.

Here’s a brief sample from the podcast, the opening traffic report for the Kmartian Valley.

Darrell and Darrell have expanded on the concept originated by The Statler Brothers in the 1970s with their brilliant sendup featuring Lester Roadhog Moran and the Cadillac Cowboys. It’s mildly risqué, so you might not want to share it with the kiddies, but you can be guaranteed a couple of deep belly laughs any time you set a spell with The Darrell Brothers.

Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes to be sure and get each new episode as it is released.

Darrell Brothers podcast now available online

You know that feeling when you discover something that you really need, but didn’t even know it even existed a moment earlier? Yeah… it’s like that.

The Darrell Brothers have released the first episode of what they hope will be a monthly podcast. Titled 1500 AM WMJ, it comes to you from The Voice of Methjaw County, featuring our heroes hosting their own small town radio show. Darrell is there, and Darrell of course, along with a host of hilarious characters played by prominent bluegrass personalities. Can you guess them all?

This first episode is called Tent Meetins’ & Door Knockins’, which introduces us to some of the colorful characters there in Methjaw County. You’ll meet both candidates for the county road commissioner job, and several of the regulars on the Swap N Shop segment, plus Preacher Grundy who saves souls on Sunday morning, and saves you money the rest of the week at his used car emporium.

It may not be the first bluegrass comedy podcast, but it’s a good’n, brilliantly conceived and executed by Ashby Frank and Brandon Bostic. If you were raised in a small town or ever lived in a largely rural area, this satire of low powered regional radio will have you rolling in the aisles – or wherever you might listen to podcasts. But anyone who is tuned in to the bluegrass scene or enjoys country humor will find many a chuckle and quite a few guffaws here.

There is no charge to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, which will deliver each new episode ready to enjoy to the device of your choice, whenever a new one is released.

Subscribe online. You’ll be glad you did.

New Darrell Brothers single debuts today

Internet sensations, The Darrell Brothers are proud to announce that they will be debuting their new single today (8/11) on the Classic Country Radio network. Entitled You Ain’t My Aunt No More, the song is said to touch on relying on “family, love, and loving family.”

Some have called The Darrell Brothers “the biggest thing to hit country music since Stonewall Jackson” while others have called them names not fit for print. They claim to be music royalty and call Billy Ray Cyrus their cousin, but he has never called them back. Natives of Methjaw County, The Darrell Brothers are excited to be debuting their new single through an exclusive world premiere on Xenia, OH’s Classic Country Radio.

You Ain’t My Aunt No More will be debuting on The Tradin’ Post, the network’s free on-air classified ads program. (Think Craig’s List on the radio.) When we called a representative of the station to ask why the exclusive song premiere of such a prestigious roots music act was taking place between folks promoting yard sales, looking for Singer sewing machines, and selling Jackie Kennedy flower vases rather than during one of the network’s many music programs, the person on the phone mumbled something about “insurance” and swiftly hung up.

Tune in to The Tradin’ Post on Classic Country Radio today to join in the fun from 12:15 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. Eastern/11:15-Noon Central. The song premiere and preceding interview will take place around 12:45 Eastern. You can tune in live at myclassiccountry.com or on the station’s free Classic Country Radio app for smartphones or tablets.

The Darrell Brothers say You Ain’t My Aunt No More

That pair of Nashville scamps, The Darrell Brothers, are back with a new song, this time with an eye towards getting themselves featured on the NPR Tiny Desk Concerts series.

The boys gather ’round the tiny desk with their kinfolk for one about a loving family, called You Ain’t My Aunt No More.

Darrell’s on mandolin and vocals, with Darrell on guitar and vocal, Cousin Vickie on bass, Cousin Wanda Steve on fiddle, and Cousin Thomas on banjo.

Can’t you just feel the love!

Darrell Brothers descend on IBMA

As if the folks at the IBMA offices didn’t have enough on their hands…

The Darrell Brothers showed up at IBMA headquarters this week, expecting to sign an agreement to host this year’s International Bluegrass Music Awards, and I don’t think it went the way anyone expected.

To be continued?

Darrell Brothers chime in on the election

Here’s a bit of political whimsy for you as you watch tonight’s Super Tuesday election returns. It comes from those bluegrass rascals, The Darrell Brothers, who felt compelled to respond after seeing our story last week about Nathan Stanley endorsing Donald Trump.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASES: Special Statement from The Darrell Brothers

Before we make any big decisions in life, Granny always taught us to ask W.W.D.R.S.D. (What would Dr. Ralph Stanley do?) So after hearing about Doctor Ralph’s endorsement of his celebrity Granddoctor Nathan Stanley’s courageous and humble endorsement of Donald Trump in the current election, we have become compelled to make a special endorsement of our own.

We officially announce that we officially endorse Dr. Ralph’s endorsement of the endorsement, and also endorse our own endorsement of the nomination of the monster trucking legend GRAVEDIGGER to be the Vice President of the United States. He’ll be there for us when we need him like he always has been, and help us protect our Hillbilly-American way of life WHILE CRUSHING THE COMPETITION.

We intend to take this all the way to the convention and hope you will join us.

The Darrells tell us that they have reached out to Gravedigger and are still awaiting a reply.

Meanwhile, Nathan appeared yesterday with Mr. Trump in Radford, VA where he sang the national anthem before the candidate spoke to his followers.

The event made news as a photojournalist from Time magazine got into a tussle with a Secret Service agent on duty in the auditorium.

Could Donald Trump be on his way to capturing the bluegrass vote? I hope Nathan asked him, Flatt & Scruggs, Bill Monroe, or The Stanley Brothers?

Darrell Brothers challenge The Gibsons

Things are starting to heat up between two of bluegrass music’s prominent brother acts. As part of their campaign to win the coveted hosting position at the 2016 International Bluegrass Music Awards, The Darrell Bothers have taken to impugning the integrity and bluegrass street cred of The Gibson Brothers, who claimed that honor last year.

They have gone so far as to share a screen capture from Sunday’s Super Bowl halftime show that they claim shows Eric and Leigh Gibson participating in Beyoncé’s controversial halftime performance.

I’m shocked… shocked, I say.

If you want to stand behind this sort of low, dirty dealing and support the Darrells in this quest, you can sign their petition online at Change.org asking that they be considered as hosts for the awards.

More examples of The Darrell Brothers and their foolishness can be found online.

Darrell Brothers to host the IBMA Awards?

You’ve got to have some sympathy for the poor old International Bluegrass Music Association. On Sunday, their Facebook page was hacked (now back under their control), and they woke up this morning to find that The Darrell Brothers have started a petition asking that they be allowed to host the organization’s gala awards show in the Fall.

This duo of backwoods siblings has taken the notion of bluegrass parodies to the next level, with their cornpone humor set to a banjo beat. Their opening salvo was with their twerkin’ grandma in 2013 and the song Mountain Twerker, followed not long after by Waiting’ on Healthcare Dot Gov.

To celebrate the new year, the boys recently released their latest effort, Compact Car, which extolls the grief of a good ol’ boy who’s stuck puttering around in a little sipper when he should be in a big ol’ truck.

And now they’re knockin’ on IBMA’s door trying to get in.

The new petition at Change.org has reignited their long-running feud with The Gibson Brothers, the actual hosts of the 2015 IBMA Awards, especially after Darrell was caught defacing some high tone Gibson Brothers merch.

If you would like to see The Darrell Brothers hosting the 2016 Awards show, add your name to the petition, and share it in your own social network.

But don’t tell anyone who works for the City of Raleigh.

Compact Car video from The Darrell Brothers

They’re baaaaaaaaack…….

That’s right, the one and only Darrell Brothers have a new song and video, set to a bluegrass beat. It’s a sad and woeful tale of a redneck boy forced to drive a compact car, featuring a return of their heroic twerkin’ granny, and introducing a new cast of unforgettable characters.

See what you think about Compact Car.

If you think you might recognize these boys, it’s because you probably do.