TRICKY BRITCHES, GOOD COMPANY

TRICKY BRITCHES
GOOD COMPANY

No Label
No Number

Just because you don’t know what to call something doesn’t mean you can’t like it. And so it goes with Good Company, the second offering from the band Tricky Britches. There might be a subtle hint there as to what segment this group wants to place itself squarely inside—the Avett Brothers, Old Crow Medicine Show, Mumford & Sons, et al. Not a bad place to be, exposure or audience-wise, but clearly not in a specific genre. But, that’s okay.

The group from Portland, Me., styles itself as “rooted in old-time country, with a bluegrass kick and the bounce of a street corner jug band.” I’m not sure about all that. Maybe there’s a whiff of the Steep Canyon Rangers on a tune or two and maybe some of the foot-tapping that you can’t resist when you listen to the Carolina Chocolate Drops. At some point, the listener just has to give up and enjoy listening to these young men make music. You’ve been warned.

The listener will find that for a band without a label, the organization of the music is well done. Arguably the best cut is the first with “Leave My Troubles Behind,” with a nice fiddle lick intro from Tyler Lienhardt who later on the CD provides vocals and washboard. It’s a short tune, but sets the tone and leads right into “Long Day,” another toe-tapper. Other nice takes are “Brackett Street,” “Ain’t Got Much,” and “Sugarcane.” Another nice touch is the variety of vocals. In addition to Lienhardt, Jed Bressette (guitar/bass), Seth Doyle (mandolin, guitar, harmonica) and Ryan Wilkinson (tenor banjo, guitar, bass) all take turns at the mic.

This CD is a prime candidate for sliding into the car’s player and letting the miles roll by. Just keep an eye on the speedometer. (Tricky Britches, 856 Riverside St., Portland, ME 04103, www.trickybritches.com.)MKB