The Gibson Brothers Go To Ground There’s no more solid live bluegrass show than the Gibson Brothers. They play with great technical skill, and with crispness. Their harmonies are just what a brother act should be: sweet, true and never forced. The brothers, Leigh and Eric Gibson, surround themselves with outstanding sidemen with impeccable bluegrass […]
Tag: vocals
Rod Picott: “Fortune”
Rod Picott “Fortune” Welding Records Rod Picott was born and raised in the Northeast, but these days he is all about the road. Now based in Nashville, Picott has carved up a tasty slice of Americana for himself, and his appetites display starkly on “Fortune”, his new release from Welding Records. ”Fortune” is honest, solid […]
Rhonda Vincent and The Rage: “All The Rage”
Rhonda Vincent and The Rage “All The Rage” Upper Management Records Rhonda Vincent has been a solid voice of bluegrass music since the 1970’s. She first performed with a family band (The Sally Mountain Show), before setting out on her own. Her career took a country turn for a few years, but she’s mostly a […]
The Infamous Stringdusters: “Undercover” EP
The Infamous Stringdusters “Undercover” EP Lumenhouse Recordings Known for their live shows, The Infamous Stringdusters constantly search to capture the delirium of their stage fusillades on record releases. The Stringdusters’ challenge flows, in part, from their conscious choice to stream virtually every live show for free (via Mixlr ) and to generously post, for little […]
Mandolin Orange: “Blindfaller”
Mandolin Orange “Blindfaller” Yep Roc Records Emily Frantz and Andrew Marlin comprise Mandolin Orange, who have steadily travelled the country, building a following and delivering a spare, but true, sound with a great melodic appeal. Since Mandolin Orange’s debut album in 2010, the band has done a lot with their bare arrangements. Marlin carries the […]
Interview: Kristin Scott Benson
The Grascals Check In The Grascals are a well-established collection of players, featuring a six-piece mix of some of the most talented musicians in bluegrass. What happens when there’s some turnover in the lineup of an established band? It either gets better or goes home. With their new release “And Then There’s This…” on Mountain […]
Irene Kelley: “These Hills”
Irene Kelley “These Hills” Mountain Fever Records Irene Kelley has created a bluegrass record which seems just right- well-conceived, with outstanding songwriting, singing and powerful musicianship. From the trickle down banjo run which introduces “Carolina Wind” to the soulful mountain vibe which exemplifies the final cut, “Before You Call Me Home”, Kelly makes a case for […]
Mandolin Orange In Concert
Mandolin Orange In Concert One Longfellow Square Portland, Maine August 16, 2015 Mandolin Orange presents a simple picture: two members, sharing fiddle, mandolin and guitar and two powerful voices. As Mandolin Orange, Emily Franz and Andrew Marlin command the room. The duo formed in Carrboro, North Carolina a few years back, and have released an […]
Lindsay Lou and The Flatbellys: “Ionia”
Lindsay Lou and The Flatbellys “Ionia” Earthwork Music Lindsay Lou and The Flatbellys lie in wait, in the amorphous, ill-defined genre of “Americana” or “Roots” music, ready to win you over. This four-piece band, most of who are originally from Michigan, plays spare arrangements within a bluegrass structure. The listener may be forgiven for thinking […]
Greg Blake: “Songs of Heart and Home”
Greg Blake “Songs of Heart and Home” Self-released Greg Blake is blessed with a powerful voice and a smart ear for country and bluegrass music. His latest, self-released CD is “Songs of Heart and Home”, an ambitious project in which he displays these talents to great effect. Foremost, Mr. Blake has collected a startlingly stout […]