Jeffrey Halford & the Healers - Soul Crusade review

In contrast to Halford's last release, which was a best of album with older material from previous albums, "Soul Crusade" contains eleven new tracks recorded by Halford and his band, the Healers.

The album features an authentic and lively sound, something that was also typical for Halford's earlier records. The album starts with "Another Skyline", a soulful, calm, and enjoyable song. It is followed by "Take It Slow", featuring humorous lyrics at a slightly faster pace. But it doesn't gets much faster on the rest of the album, many of the songs are pleasant but you're waiting for the real highlight. If there's something that comes close to being a highlight, it's "Devil", featuring a dirty, electrified slide guitar intro that also keeps the song moving. 

"Soul Crusade" is top quality in terms of performance and recording but lacks the definitive song here. Though, recommended to Americana/alternative country music fans.

Chris Murphy - Two Rivers Crossing review

Chris Murphy is not what you would call a southern fiddler or a pure bluegrass musician. He has been influenced by different music styles, ranging from country to pop, from classic to folk and has released more than 20 records so far.

Among his many recorded works and collaboration, his new EP “Two Rivers Crossing” has to be one of his most down to earth and sparse productions. Listening to it, it often reminded me of the early 1920s and 1930s string band recordings, sometimes even featuring only Murphy’s singing and violin (he’s not calling it fiddle but violin). The opening track “Early Grave” as well as the track “The Wolves of Laredo” are reminiscent of Fiddlin‘ John Carson’s early recordings. However, modern touches are present everywhere on the record (“Long Ago” for instance) – Murphy combines southern fiddling with modern lyrics. The record closes with “Shantallow”, an instrumental with maritime flair that comes along more like a shanty than an old-time fiddle tune.

This will go for both traditional listeners and open-minded folk and world music fans. Nice melodies and sparse but pleasant arrangements with violin to the fore.

Hezekiah Goode - Humansville review

 

Hezekiah Goode released “Humansville” in 2021. The singer with the strange sounding name has grown on nothing but Americana music in its finest forms. He comes from an Ozarks based musical family and old-timey, country, and blues were the main influences on him. Goode is active as a musician ever since but his first album came not until 2011.

“Humansville” is his third studio album and a mixture of old-time, bluegrass, and traditional country music with influences from other genres audible here and there. If you expect a down-home folk album a la Black Twig Pickers, you’re wrong (although it gets really down-home). If you expect something like The Country Side of Harmonica Sam, you’re wrong either. It’s something in between and yet very different.

The album kicks off with “Rocky Mountain Line”, an enjoyable bluegrass song with guitar, dobro, mandolin and fiddle. It is followed by a slow ballad, “Ozark Valentine”, and the piano is surprising here. “Son in Law Yodel” and “Big Taters” are more of traditional nature with the former being clearly Jimmie Rodgers inspired and the latter representing a great fiddle tune. On “Laramie County Jail” and “Your Weary Bones”, Goode heads more towards traditional 50s and 60s country music. And the title track is another fun number in the old-time music style.

Goode is surely criss-crossing the musical influences of his youth and does this in an appealing style. The traditional numbers on this album are better in my opinion. However, it should work for both modern bluegrass and country music fans alike.

Jeffrey Halford & the Healers – Beware of Worthless Imitations, Volume 1 review

„Beware of Worthless Imitations, Volume 1“ is not a exactly a new release. First of all because it was already released in 2020 (we received a promo copy not until recently) and secondly because it is a compilation of old material, spanning the years 1999 until 2019. Jeffrey Halford is a Texas born but California raised singer, musician, and songwriter who has criss-crossed the United States with his band, the Healers, for more than 20 years now. This “Best of” album not only promises to include “songs that had the magic” – it does have the magic.

With a voice reminiscent of Hank Williams III and a style that is a cross-over between Williams and Shooter Jennings, Halford is right on point with his Americana, country-rock style. The opening track “Bad Luck” is a killer and sets the right tone for the album. “Creole Moon” and “Radio Flyer” (the latter featuring Chuck Prophet) are of more staid nature but quite enjoyable. Noteworthy, the music sounds authentic and “live” on all tracks.

More highlights on the 20 track CD include the bluesy “Satchel’s Fastball” (a collaboration with the Gospel Hummingbird), “Watching the Trains” featuring great electric steel guitar work, “In a Dream” (dominated by an organ played by no other than Augie Meyers of Sir Douglas Quintet and Texas Tornados fame), “Rainmaker” with an Doors-like intro, “North Beach” or the western-flavored “Deeper Than Hell”.

This is a great album for Americana fans and highly recommended!

Stash - Walk the Walk review

Hiding behind the band name “Stash” are no others than Ted Russell Kamp, Rich McCulley, and Joey Peters. All of them are well-known figures in Los Angeles’ Americana scene and have worked with big names in the business. So this is a bit of a super group for west coast Americana terms. We recently reviewed Ted Russell Kamps’ solo album “Solitaire”, which saw release earlier this year. But “Walk the Walk” comes along fast, though not on every track, tighter, different.

The first track “Smoke and Mirrors” is a mid-paced number, though this remains an acoustic atmosphere due to the presence of acoustic guitars and a banjo. “Catch Me If You Can” is of a total different approach. It certainly rocks and features a nice harmonica solo. Its follow-up, “Queen of the Highway”, is again different altogether. A great country song that easily could have been from a 1970s Waylon Jennings album.

“One Step Ahead of the Law” is a nod to Kamps’ old band mate Shooter Jennings in parts and another great track. Other highlights include “One Track Mind”, “What I Need” and “By Your Side”. The “Hey, Hey, Hey” song’s intro sounds like Katrina & the Waves’ big hit “Walking on Sunshine” and is likely what the band describes as “power pop”.

This is another high-class outing from Ted Russell Kamp’s portfolio. Recommended for Americana and outlaw country fans.

Joe Vestich - Steal the Wind review

American born singer-songwriter Joe Vestich has been active in music since the 1960s. Coming from a Croatian family, he began playing music at age nine and formed a duo with his brother Mark in the 1960s. In 1986, Vestich relocated to Finland, which has been his home base ever since. He was and still is an appreciated performer and recording artist there and has recorded his new album “Steal the Wind”, which was released in August 2021.

Judging from the front cover, Joe Vestich with a stetson hat and a guitar in front of a beautiful mountain view, one might expect an album a la John Fogerty’s Blue Ridge Rangers project. In addition, the opening track in fact underlines this expectation. “Paradise” is a Eagles-type song and comes along nicely, although Vestich’s voice trembles at times a bit.

Next up is “The Darkest Night”, which has a very different approach with its bluesy, dark feeling. An organ and a horn section support Vestich’s band. The title track “Steal the Wind” is another Eagles soundalike but a very good one. The album continues with one enjoyable country song after another. At times, Vestich’s voice has shades of oversubscription (heard on such titles as “Razor Red Sky”) and you can hear Verstich’s age in his voice.

This might go for 1970s country music fans as well as lovers of John Fogerty or the Eagles.

Josephine Johnson - Double High Five

Singer-songwriter Josephine Johnson has produced her EP “Double High Five” during the pandemic year of 2020. She is a full-time musician only since 2018 but has released three albums so far. This EP is her newest release.

The six songs on “Double High Five” are mostly slow ones, dominated by Johnson’s sweet voice and tenderly arrangements. The title track, not even two minutes long, features an enjoyable pop styled melody. “Sister Rosetta Goes Before Us” is a cover of the Sam Phillips song (no, not THE Sam Phillips of Sun Records fame) and has also been recorded by Robert Plant and Allison Krauss. The highlight on the record, however, is “Feather Song,” a mid-paced country rock number.

Visit her website for more information.

Banty Holler - Journeyman Songs

To define Banty Holler’s style simply as „country music” would not do their style justice. The music this duo is playing mixes elements of bluegrass, blues, country music, and even rock’n’roll. The songs often feature tentative dobro sounds but can also push forward with banjo, drums, or electric guitar. The duo is made up of Neile H. Coe, originally from the Chicago area, and Gijsbert Diteweg from the Netherlands and the duo has already put out four EPs since 2016. “Journeyman Songs” is their first, self-produced, full-fledged album.

The record starts with a calm and tender “Clementine” with fine dobro playing. “Hit This Chord” is of much more energy, adding banjo and electric guitar to the line-up. “Alright”, the third track, is a fine, mid-paced, acoustic blues based song.

Another highlight on the album is the instrumental “Journeyman Reel,” an acoustic guitar number that reminds the listener of the everlasting classic “Wildwood Flower”. “Sons of Outrage” is quite the opposite and, although a dobro is present again, has a rock’n’roll feel to it. They chose a similar style for “Grass”. The LP concludes with “Constantine”, a slow ditty that features a breeze of electric steel guitar and – for the bluegrass feeling – a gingerly played mandolin.

“Journeyman Songs” has its fine moments. Americana and roots music lovers will go for this album.

Visit their website for more information.

Ted Russell Kamp - Solitair review

 

Ted Russell Kamp – Solitaire
Continental Song City CSCCD 1183
May 2021

Total playing time: 52:03

When I first learned of Ted Russell Kamp’s new album “Solitaire,” it dawned on me that I had to have this album. I was familiar with Kamp’s name through my fondness of Shooter Jennings, for whom Kamp played bass for years. However, Kamp has been active as a solo artist as well as producer and has released several albums over the years.

In May 2021, his new work “Solitaire” was released on Continental Song City. To be honest, I expected it to be something different. I have been familiar with all of Shooter Jennings’ work and thought, Kamp would deliver something in the same manner but it turned out to be quite different. “Solitaire” is calm, quite, soft and seldom the songs are pushers. This might be because Kamp recorded it mostly at his home during the pandemic months. It is an album to sit down, settle down, and listen.

To my ears, highlights of the 14 tracks strong record include the opening track “My Girl Now,” “You Can Go to Hell, I’m Going to Texas,” “As Far As the Eye Can See,” “Western Wind” and the great “Lightning Strikes Twice.” Kamp himself performed many of the instruments, although he also assembled a group of musicians that support him on different tracks. The sound is acoustic in its best sense, it’s pure and it’s grounded. In my very personal opinion, a few faster paced songs would have enhanced the track selection but the judgement is probably up to each individual.

Nevertheless, Kamp delivers an extremely well-produced and coherent album and I surely will occupy myself with more Ted Russell Kamp material. 

track listing:

1. My Girl Now (3:16)
2. Path of Least Resistance (2:52)
3. You Can Go to Hell, I’m Going To Texas (4:17)
4. Birds That Sing At Dawn (3:35)
5. As Far As the Eye Can See (3:37)
6. The Hardest Road to Find – (3:48)
7. Solitaire (3:14)
8. Western Wind – (3:51)
9. Be Your Man – (3:37)
10. A Rose or Two (4:11)
11. The Spark – (4:19)
12. Only a Broken Heart (3:04)
13. Exception to the Rule (4:43
14. Lightning Strikes Twice (3:32)

Broken Lines review

It has been five years since Hank Becker, John Oaks, and Todd Wilson, better known as "The Rubber Knife Gang," have released their last album "Drivin' On." Now, in 2015, the group is about to complete their third album "Broken Lines." Not officially issued yet, I was able to check it out last week as one of the first apart from the band itself.

"Broken Lines" has essentially everything that made "Drivin' On" so fascinating: catchy and beautiful melodies, clever lyrics and, last but not least, the unique harmony singing. There are songs to sing along with, songs to dance to, songs to dream to. And although the Rubber Knife Gang stays true to its sound, the three musicians nevertheless have added a couple of new elements to their music. This time for example, there are several calm songs, more striking chord patterns and riffs.

In contrast to "Drivin' On," the tracks on "Broken Lines" have a deeper, melancholic feeling to it. Though, the band is able to catch the "feel good" mood on their songs, for example on "Draw the Line." One of the album's hightlights is "House of Fire," on which banjo and guitar seem to rise in higher spheres. The listener feels like being transfered into another age. Possibly into the times of the ancient Egypt? Or perhaps to the hills of Tennessee? I don't know for sure, which doesn't matter at all. The easy and cushy sound of the band is also well presented with "Siren Serenade." On a couple of tracks, for exaple "Damn You December," also percussion is used, which adds much to the sound. On "Gone Away, " the group sounds a little bit like the bluegrass version of JD Wilkes' Dirt Daubers and suprised me with long and virtous instrumental passages.

My conclusion: "Broken Lines" is a worthy follower to "Drivin' On" and an advancement of the Gang's music to be sure. My conclusion is as precise and clear as the band's music: I'll recommend this album to every Americana fan out there!

Folk & Camp Fire Songs review

The three Lewis brothers from Ohio coupled with drummer Dennis Foreman recently released their second album. More a tribute to their musicial roots than containing new or original song material, the band puts old songs in a new style much of their own. Jeff Lewis previously performed with the Bluegrass group Big Scioto, Richard played with a pop band and Foreman collected his musical experiences with Jakob Freely. Only Russell Lewis wasn't a member of a band yet, the Lewis Brothers is his first act he appears with.

Although three of the four band members are real brothers, they come from very different musicial backgrounds and as varied as their personal influences are, so is the track list of their second album "Folk & Camp Fire Songs." Many recordings are traditional folk tunes and the musical style on all tracks is something between Country, Bluegrass, and Folk, but I won't label them as any of them. You can hear Bluegrass guitar picking, old Folk banjo strumming, beautiful harmony singing and the drums add a very special effect.

The album kicks of with the light-minded "It's a Lie," which immediatly spreads a happy atmosphere, presented with a sense of humor. "Old Joe Clark" is another hillbilly tune with a nice mandolin picking, "Froggy Went a-Courtin'" is the band's rendition of the well-known folk song that has so many other names and lyrical variations. "Poison Ivy" certainly takes the band into the popular music direction and they do a nice job on this Coasters' hit from 1959.

This is recommended to all of you who need a good portion of happyness and sing-a-long feeling. It is also recommended to all the people who like good ol' folk music. And it is also recommended to all others out there!

Visit the Lewis Brothers' website

Volume 3 review

A rockabilly trio from Canada, the Royal Crowns present their third studio album "Volume 3." Their first two releases were highly acclaimed and their debut album "32 Miles from Memphis" even reached the "National Post's Top Canadian Albums of All Time," a success not many rockabilly bands achieved. The Royal Crowns are Jason Adams on bass and vocals, Danny Bartley on lead guitar and vocals, as well as Teddy Fury on drums and vocals. All of the featured songs on "Volume 3" are original compositions by the band members.

The disc kicks off with the powerful performance of a song called "You Sure Know What You're Doin'," followed by a couple of more solid rockabilly ouings. "Could It Be" and "Please Stop" head more into a pop-rock'n'roll sound direction, the latter being reminiscent of Elvis Presley's late 1950s and early 1960s soft pop songs. Probably the best song is "Pill Poppin' Papa," a raw and stomping number with a great lead guitar.

"Volume 3" is a rockabilly album full of power, energy, and rhythm. Highly recommended to every rockabilly enthusiast. In my opinion, there could have been a bit more variety in the instrumentation and arrangements. A piano here or an acoustic guitar there would have completed the album but that's my personal taste. However, all songs are solid and at least good performances with Danny Bartley playing always an agressive and outstanding lead guitar. "Volume 3" - an exemplar of modern rockabilly.


Visit the band's official website

Barn Dance review

If Charlie Poole or Fiddlin' Doc Roberts would have used recording equipment by today's standards, listen to this album and you know what it would have sounded like. "Barn Dance" by Little Black Train is an album full of authentic, traditional old-time music right from the mountains. In the same category as the Black Twig Pickers, Little Black Train covered a lot of old tunes by familiar rural mountain artists.

The album kicks off with a rendition of Dick Justice's "Don't Let Your Deal Go Down" variation entitled "Old Black Dog," a lively and well-sounding track which surely let the listener expect more. "Satan Your Kingdom Must Come Down" is a rough and rural Southern gospel song, while the title track "Barn Dance" takes you into an old barn to enjoy the music of a string band playing on an old fashioned barn dance. The track list includes more gems. On "California Blues," Little Black Train replaces the jazzy accompanimen of the original Jimmie Rodgers recording with a more traditional Bluegrass arrangement. Another highlight is their version of the Carter Family's beautiful "Ain't Gonna Work Tomorrow." Reading the track list will offer you versions of some of old-time music's most influential and successful artists' songs. It presents American music's roots.

"Barn Dance" is definitely an album with great titles. Listening to this album will take you into the deep South of the 1920s. A band to watch and an album to recommend.


Visit the official website

Classic review

An awesome album which is almost on the same level as the Rubber Knife Gang's "Drivin' On" and the Black Twig Pickers' "Ironto Special." In fact, I thought Larry Keel & Natural Bridge's new CD "Classic" is going into the same direction as the Pickers when I spotted such titles as "Fishin' Reel" and "Country Blues" in the track list but actually this is more in the vein of Cincinnati's Rubber Knife Gang or Steve Martin.

Larry Keel & Natural Bridge consist of Keel on guitar, Jenny Keel on bass, Mark Schimick on mandolin, and Will Lee on banjo. The absence of a fiddle does not stand out much. Instead, here and there the steely sound of a dobro is added to the line-up and fits really good into the band's style. A fiddle would have made a much more traditional oriented sound, which is not the case here. "Classic" sound fresh, new, and modern.

Vocal tracks as well as instrumentals are great. Listening to "Back Up on the Mountain" makes me wish to have a warm summer evening and being at a calm lake, just sitting and thinking. "Country Blues" goes more into the traditional direction and is a great rendition of Dock Boggs' old favorite. The rough vocals by Keel are great here. Another outstanding track is the instrumental "Fishin' Reel," presenting not only Keel's guitar playing but also his talented band. The band is joining all in to support the singer on "How Can It Be Wrong," a beautiful mid-tempo song. Another track worth mentioning here is Bob Marley's "Put It On," what an effort to turn a Reggae song into an equally good Bluegrass track.

To describe it best, this is high-class Bluegrass music with dreamy melodies. Fast guitar and mandolin solos showcase the great musicianship this band has. Mixing Appalachian music traditions with modern elements, Larry Keel & Natural Bridge recorded one of the best Bluegrass/Folk albums this year so far. A band to watch and a CD I can highly recommend.

Visit larrykeel.com here.

Christmas with Karling

The Christmas time and the Holiday season is coming nearer and nearer and it is the same procedure as every year. Artists releasing albums, recording the 1000th version of "Jingle Bells" trying to cash in. One of South California's leading rockabilly singers, Karling Abbeygate, is no exception here. She also recently released her Christmas longplayer "Christmas with Karling." Many of the songs she presents on this album were written by herself.

A voice more comparable to rockabilly queen Wanda Jackson and a band like fire on many tracks, I couldn't imagine her singing sweet christmas songs. I have to admit that I was not very excited after listening to the first two songs on the record. "What's in the Box" is definitely not my taste of music at all and in my opinion, it doesn't fit to the spirit of christmas. Her cover of "Jingle Bells" is at the average, not an outstanding performance. The backing band is nice here. Track three, "Christmas Party," however, is a really rocking performance with the Christmas theme. Abbeygate is in good form here and the band supports here with a great backing. Another good song is the up-tempo "Honey's Coming Home for Christmas" with a typical slap bass. Abbeygate has the chance to present her good voice on the track "The First Noel," which is a really good performance. "Deck the Halls" features a nice electric guitar and pleasant piano work, while the album closes with two okay versions of "Silent Night" and "Auld Lang Syne."

In my opinion, this is really not one of the best Christmas albums. However, Abbeygate recorded some good tracks which can be enjoyable during the Christmas time. The album gets better with the later tracks. Abbeygate's voice is not made for pleasant Christmas songs but I really look forward to upcoming albums in the typical rockabilly style. I think she can really tear up the floor with her voice - but not during the Holiday season.

Visit Karlin Abbeygate's website

Old Banners review

When I first listened to this album, I thought that I have heard the singer's voice before. But it was not until I listened to the track "Banners and Ceiling," when I noticed: "Oh well, Andrew Bailman sounds like the Decemberists' singer!" (For all people who do not know who Andrew Beilman is: he's the singer of Old Banners.) I even believed he is the singer until I looked it up and my sharp witted conclusion was destroyed. But I don't want to compare them to the Decemberists, because I'm sure these boys from Dallas don't intend to copy anybody's music - and they don't do. They have a brand of music on their own.

Old Banners, that is Andrew Beilman (vocals/guitar/banjo), Tanner Enloe (bass/vocals), Daniel Beilman, and James McFadyen. All tracks were written by Andrew Beilman.

The first track is not longer than a minute and presents some banjo playing. This gag is repeated one more time on the album, which really starts with the second song "2nd Gnome Eats for Free."The harmony background singing adds to the soft and dreamy melody and makes this ditty a really good folk piece. If you listened to this song, you know what you can expect for the next nine tracks: dreamy, soft, slow melodies with thoughtful lyrics and typical folk instrumentation. "Banners and Ceiling," done in the Decemberists vein with banjo and harmonica, is the best song on the album in my opinion. This is really music for a cold winter evening to sit in front of the fireplace - listening to "Old Banners."

A recommandation from me: If you come home from a hard working day, throw this album in your CD player and listen to some real good folk stuff.

Visit Old Banners at reverbnation.com

Petunia & the Vipers review

I guess you know all about the "usual" modern rockabilly band: slap bass, lots of echo and songs that have been covered by hundres of bands before. No offense against those groups but when you are listening to Petunia and the Vipers' new album, you have to expect different music. Their music is a mixture between jazz, country, and rockabilly.

The opening track for their selftitled debut album is a nice country ballad with a jazzy steel guitar intro and a fine Slim Whitman styled yodel offering by vocalist Petunia. It's a waltz and you sure can imagine two sweethearts dancing to this tune out in the moonlight. The nect track, "Mercy," is a bit faster and a smocking country honky tonk song that creates a dark, dusty atmosphere. Again, steel guitarist Jimmy Roy adds some nice solos. "Maybe Baby Amy" now really kicks it off with a slappin' rockabilly song with powerful lead guitar licks by Stephen Nikleva. Other fine tracks are the swingin' "Yes Baby Yes" and "Gitterbug." I really love it when Petunia belts out "Gitterbuuuuug" with a raspy voice.

Petunia & the Vipers is an album full of different sounds and styles but all done in a remarkable way by the band. There are beautiful country songs, hot rockabilly tunes, and really great jazz tracks. It's the mixture between all threee musical direction that makes this album to an outstanding record, being not one of the "usual" rockabilly offferings.

Visit the official website

Wake Up, Sinners review

One might expect an album full of wonderful gospel songs and beautiful group harmony. But the Dirt Daubers play authentic, rough and speeded up banjo-driven folk/americana music. The group consists of J.D. Wilkes (banjo/harmonica/piano/kazoo/vocals) who has previously played with Th' Legendary Shack Shakers, his wife Jessica on mandolin and vocals, and Mark Robertson on bass. In 2009, they released their self-titled debut album. "Wake Up, Sinners," their second long-player, was released recently on September 13, 2011.

When I began to listen to the album, I expected something different. Well - in fact, I did not know what to expect but I sure expected something else. The tracks on the album are often dominated by Wilkes' banjo but also borrow elements from various other southern music styles. The opening track, the traditional "Wayfaring Stranger" is a good intro to the musical world of the Dirt Daubers. I always felt fascination for this song and their version is no bad one either, a great track to begin with. Some of the songs have a "spicy" sound, for example "Devil Gets His Due," "Get Outta My Way," some sound more folkish like "Angel Along the Tracks" or "Say Darlin' Say" and some in turn sound like the devil was right in the studio ("I Can't Go to Heaven"). The Dirt Daubers also do a great job on "Single Girl," a popular tune from the 1920s recorded by such artists as Riley Puckett and Vernon Dalhart.

What strikes me most is the incredible speed of the band on almost every song. Though, none of the songs are boring or redundant. Everyone has its own charm, borrows elements from different styles and is great to listen to. Sure one of the best albums released in the folk/americana field this year.

You can obtain a copy here.

"Ironto Special" review

I have to admit that I recognized the charme and magic of "Ironto Special" by the Black Twig Pickers not until the second time listening to it. Maybe that's the way old-time music captures today's audience's ear - being unfamiliar to our ears bonded with electronic beats and pitched voices.

The Black Twig Pickers are an old-time band from Ironto, Virginia, founded in 1999. They play traditional mountain music with fiddle, banjo, guitar, and washboard. Every song on their latest album has something special and captures the attention of the listener. What I like the most are the traditional fiddle songs such as "Don't Drink Nothing But Corn", "Lay Ten Dollars Down", "Craig Street Hop", or "Bonaparte's March Into Russia". But also such pieces as "Saro O Saro" with raw vocal style, banjo, harmonica, and jew's harp are great. If you are listening to such songs, you feel like being way out in the mountains on the front porch of a log cabin, watching a bunch of musicians playing in the evening sun.

Probably the most amazing thing about "Ironto Special" is the fact that this is real authentic old-time music. Apart from the sound quality, these songs could easily have been recorded in the 1920s by string bands. You don't get such good music every day, this is really worth listening.


Visit the Black Twig Pickers' myspace site

Rubber Knife Gang - Drivin' On

The Rubber what?? This was my first thought when I learned of this promising Bluegrass/Americana/Folk trio. You may never heard of them before like me and I think that's a shame.

The Rubber Knife Gang consists of Henry Becker (guitar/banjo/bass/vocals), John Oaks (bass/guitar/banjo/vocals) and Todd Wilson (mandolin/guitar/vocals) and hails from Cincinnati, Ohio. Their second album, "Drivin' on", will be released on September 10, 2010, and when I was starting to listen to them, I first thought "okay, give 'em listen, will be an okay warble". But when I heard the first track (which is also the title track) "Drivin' On", it blew me away! I never expected such a refreshing sound. You can't call it bluegrass, can't call it old-timey or country either. Their style borrowes elements from all three forms but has a very modern attitude. The slightly bluegrass feeling is delivered by the mandolin, the banjo adds old-time elements. What is the best about the songs of the Rubber Knife Gang is that their melodies are more country-ish, sometimes even rock'n'roll elements are present (for example the vocal style on "Chasing Your Tail" or slap bass on some recordings).

Listening to "Drivin' On" really amazed me. It's a re-freshing, new sound, which did not gives you the feeling to be set back away out in the mountains (except for "Hole In Your Sole" and "Drink Up John", where you can imagine to be on an ol' barn dance) but is very modern as well as often thought-provoking and happy at the same moment. The most promising and innovative bluegrass/americana/folk album I have ever heard.

Official website
Go to the Rubber Knife Gang's myspace site