As a followup to signing last summer with Mountain Fever Records, the curiously named band, Throwdown Thursday, has just released a polished and confident debut album with that same curious title. Four singles have built the anticipation, and with the album release, the song Next Big Thing is popping up again in the Bluegrass Today Weekly Chart, after reaching the #2 spot on its first run.
The Central Kentucky-based band’s powerhouse lineup showcases the considerable talents of fiddler and vocalist Kati Penn and banjo player Justin Jenkins, both most recently with Alan Bibey and Grasstowne. Justin also played in American Drive, formed by members of J.D. Crowe & the New South after their legendary leader’s retirement. Another veteran of that band, Kyle Perkins, deftly handles the bass for Throwdown Thursday.
Completing the ensemble is mandolinist Evan Maynard, who shares lead vocals with Kati, and contributes two original songs to the album, and groove-anchoring guitarist Ronald Mosely, who has worked with Dale Ann Bradley and David Parmley. The entire band displays their considerable chops throughout the album, while still maintaining a tight band sound.
The first ringing notes of the album’s banjo kickoff signal that these folks came to play. Jenkins is solidly in the Crowe/Baucom tradition, and the rest of the band keeps the hammer down all the way.
In addition to the two originals and a few good songs from other writers, the band revisits a range of country music, from the late ’60s Jerry Reed hit, A Thing Called Love, to Friday Night Blues, a 1980s single for John Conlee. The album begins with an excellent version of Harry Stinson and Marty Stuart’s Fool For You.
Along with her excellent fiddling, Kati turns in strong vocal performances throughout, including on the catchy My Love Will Not Change, written by Shawn Camp and Billy Burnette and recorded by the Del McCoury Band. The band tears up the Sonny Osborne/Dale Sledd instrumental Side Saddle, and the album closes with the traditional Jesus is All I Need.
The recording sounds great, with Rickey Wasson taking on the engineer role, and Aaron Ramsey handling the mixing and mastering.
Finally, about that band name: back at the start of the pandemic, the group were all members of other touring bands. Unable to travel, they started getting together on Thursdays to jam, soon realizing they had hit on a great combination. The band developed into a cohesive, integrated unit, but hung on to their informal original name, and with this new release they prove they are ready to throw down any day of the week.
