AMANDA ANNE PLATT & THE HONEYCUTTERS

AMANDA ANNE PLATT & THE HONEYCUTTERS
LIVE AT THE GREY EAGLE

Organic Records OR18242

   This is the fifth CD from Platt and The Honeycutters. This is grassroots country—the kind you don’t hear much on commercial radio, but the kind most of us would rather hear. Platt’s songwriting pulls from personal experience. She sings, plays guitar, and makes her point while the band ties it up pretty and puts a bow on it. When she does cover a song, it’s unexpected, like The Bee Gees “To Love Somebody,” or when she ties her song “Diamond In The Rough” with the Rolling Stones’ “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” in the finale for this live performance.

The band lineup is straight country with Matt Smith on electric and steel guitars, Evan Martin on keys, Andrew Platt on electric guitar, and Josh Milligan on drums and harmony vocals. Platt plays guitar and can hold the audience with just her voice and guitar as she does on “Holy Wall.” Her song about the state of the world, “Low Road,” is poignant. Her father, Mark Platt, appears on “Irene.” “The Road” is an insightful reflection on this journey we call life.

The songs are about traveling, trucks, love, opportunities lost, and what’s found in living a real life. The band jams along nicely living in the live vibe of the project. Between-song banter is short, but salient. The energy between the audience and the band is palpable. This is a fine live recording by a well-rehearsed band playing some mighty fine songs from Platt, who is a talent to be reckoned with. (www.organic-records.com)RCB