Reviews

BARRY ABERNATHY AND DARRELL WEBB APPALACHIAN ROAD SHOW Billy Blue Records BBR0760    Barry Abernathy has been away from the bluegrass mainstream since leaving Mountain Heart. He makes a strong return teaming up with traditional bluegrass stalwart Darrell Webb on the Appalachian Road Showproject.    Abernathy’s soulful vocals are featured on an old-time rendition of the gospel song “Little…

THE KING JAMES BOYS TIME TO GO HOME Pinecastle Records PRC1220 This new album from the band named after the famous translation in The Bible will be of interest to bluegrass gospel fans and those looking for new material from the genre. The group honed their skills playing at their home church every weekend. They’re…

CHICKEN WIRE EMPIRE WHAT MOVES MOUNTAINS No Label No Number It all began back in 2014 when Jordan Kroeger and Ryan Ogburn teamed up at Wisconsin’s jamband scene. Ironically, they decided to form a traditional band and were soon joined by Jon Peik (banjo), Greg Brundage (guitar), and Ernest Brusubardis (fiddle). Their high-energy approach gained…

DOC & DAWG LIVE AT ACOUSTIC STAGE, 10/10/97 Acoustic Disc ACD-CD-50055    A few minutes into “Blue Grass Stomp,” the third cut on disc one (of two discs) of this marvelous, powerful, live recording of Doc Watson and David Grisman from October 1997, Doc says to David (after a Monroe-esque mandolin break), “I think Bill would…

ROLAND WHITE & FRIENDS A TRIBUTE TO THE KENTUCKY COLONELS Mountain Home MH17242 Before the introduction of CDs, much of the music of the Kentucky Colonels was difficult to acquire. Now over the last couple of decades, just about everything the band recorded, including some live performances, is available. Roland has his own band, but…

FRANK SOLIVAN & DIRTY KITCHEN IF YOU CAN’T STAND THE HEAT Compass Records 747202 Bands don’t come much tighter than Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen. Anchored by Solivan’s soaring, emotive tenor and brilliant mandolin chops, the band handles all manner of complex melodies, sophisticated syncopation, and turn-on-a-dime rhythmic shifts with acrobatic ease. As the ten…