Reviews

GRASSTOWNE KICKIN’ UP DUST Rural Rhythm RUR-1076 Grasstowne enters a new era with its third release. Two of the band’s original members—resonator guitarist Phil Leadbetter and banjoist Jason Davis—have left the band. For the first time, there will be no resonator guitar player, and long-time fans may find themselves waiting for breaks that never appear….

MICHAEL CLEVELAND AND FLAMEKEEPER FIRED UP Rounder Records 11-681 0659-2 It’s always a treat to kick back and put on a new Michael Cleveland album. He’s a multiple award winner that lives up to the bill and then some, a unique fiddler who even plays rhythm his own way with the traditional, polite fiddle rhythm…

NEWFOUND ROAD LIVE AT THE DOWN HOME Rounder Records 661 9106 In the past several years, NewFound Road has garnered a fair amount of attention and with good reason. The cause for all the excitement is on full display on Live At The Down Home. This recording captures a tight, strong band at the height…

RANDY WALLER & THE COUNTRY GENTLEMEN ONE MILE EAST OF HAZEL GREEN Lendel Records LR5611 Since taking over his father Charlie’s illustrious band seven or eight years ago, Randy Waller has faithfully carried on the adventurous and, at times, even urbane eclecticism that has informed the Country Gentlemen since the elder Waller co-founded the band…

VW BOYS RETROACTIVE Mountain Roads Records MRR-1011 The VW Boys continue releasing recordings that everyone, even if they won’t admit it, would find pleasing. That’s because The Boys get it. They understand that fun is a huge segment of entertaining, and that a big part of creating that fun is connecting with the audience through…

SIERRA HULL DAYBREAK Rounder Records 11661-0652-8 I first witnessed Sierra Hull’s talent at the IBMA’s World Of Bluegrass in Louisville, Ky., back when she was all of 11 years old. While she was truly a child prodigy and that will always be a part of her story, she is grown up now, folks. Hull will…