Reviews
Heading South
Jason Hannan is originally from Mississippi, but resides in Frederick, Maryland, where he is a singer, songwriter and instrumentalist, and has played with several D.C. area groups like Clear Spring, Crop Dusters, and others. He plays guitar, mandolin, and bass, and he is joined on this project by his wife, Michelle Hannan (vocals, harmonica), Howard…
Good Measure
Buncombe Turnpike gets their band name from the old 19th century road that ran from Tennessee to Greenville, South Carolina as it passed through Ashville, North Carolina, the town the band calls home. The group includes founder Tom Godleski (bass, harmonica), George Buckner (banjo), Don Lewis (fiddle), David Hyatt (guitar, banjo), Korey Warren (bass, mandolin,…
Birdsongs Of The American West
This is the fourth project from this Southwestern Colorado group, and is a collection of original material that reflects the feeling and sounds of the San Juan Mountains near where the band lives. The Birds are Anneke Dean (violin, guitar), Alex Paul (guitar, resonator guitar, bass), Eric Shedd (bass, guitar, mandolin), and Jack Tolan (mandolin,…
The Winning Hand
Established over forty years ago, The Lonesome River Band is known for its consistent sound and song presentation. The band has gone through many member changes over the years, but both Sammy Shelor (banjo) and Mike Hargrove (fiddle) have been there for most of those years. Current member Jesse Smathers (vocal, guitar, mandolin) joined when…
A Norman Rockwell Time
Based in Parkersburg, West Virginia, Buck McCumbers heads a band called “Buck and Company,” but for this release he gathered together some different players and renamed the band “The Hillbillies.” Included in the studio are McCumbers (mandolin, vocals), Eric Chichester (guitar, vocals), Dodd Walker (bass, vocals), Rick Ellis (banjo, guitar), Hunter Lemon (fiddle), and brother…
The Set
A short while I ago, I interviewed Jerry Douglas for BU about his induction into the IBMA Hall of Fame and in a side conversation that did not make the article, we talked about one of the things he tried to bring to the genre other than musicianship, and that was the desire to produce…