Mountain Heart has announced that their next album, a 7-song EP, will be released on October 12. Entitled That Just Happened, this short form CD showcases the two sides of this virtuosic, genre-bending outfit.
On one side is a modern bluegrass band, with the expected banjo-guitar-mandolin-fiddle-bass rhythm section. This camp is cemented by the Quicksilver-approved singing voice of banjo picker and founding member Barry Abernathy. Here he is on a new Josh Shilling/Jon Weisberger “go to h-e-double-hockey-sticks song.
Just Get Up And Go: [http://traffic.libsyn.com/thegrasscast/get_up_go.mp3]
The other side is Mountain Heart’s blues-inflected, jam band vibe, anchored by Josh Shilling as a lead singer and occasional keyboardist. The group had released recordings over the past six years that stretched well beyond the bluegrass norm, but that trend has accelerated since the departure of former members Steve Gulley and Adam Steffey, and Shilling’s entry into the band.
Here’s another Shilling/Weisberger composition with Josh at the helm.
Same Old Heartache: [http://traffic.libsyn.com/thegrasscast/same_old_heartache.mp3]
The remainder of the project continues on this dual-track format. Mandolin man Aaron Ramsey offers up a very traditional version of Little Sadie, in his distinctive baritone voice, while the title track features Shilling in an amped up, electrified, drums-and-keyboard fueled romp. If you’ve caught Mountain Heart on stage this year, you’ll be familiar with this song, and how powerfully if affects a live audience – just as does Josh’s cover of The Allman Brothers anthem Whipping Post.
Pre-orders for That Just Happened are being accepted now online from the band’s web site for $10, with delivery on October 12.
One other Mountain Heart note… We told you back in June about the guys being featured as part of the Vietti Vinyl program, sponsored by Choice Food of America. Not only do they have their music featured on Vietti’s web site, they are also pictured on can’s of of their all-natural Vietti Chili.
Choice Food distributes in the southeatern US, and the Mountain Heart chili cans can be found at the following participating grocers:
- Alabama: Associated Food Centers, Food Center, Food Giant, Food Lion, Piggly Wiggly
- Georgia: Kroger, Piggly Wiggly
- Kentucky: Houchens Stores, IGA Stores, Kroger, Wal-Mart Super Stores
- Mississippi: Piggly Wiggly
- Tennessee: Bi-Lo, Food City, Food Giant, H.G. Hills, Kroger, Piggly Wiggly, Shop Rite, Wal-Mart Super Centers, Sam’s Wholesale Clubs
Red hot, and ready to pick. Get you some!
