Reviews

It’s not often that bands go on a 10-year hiatus and decide to give things another go.  Traditional bluegrass fans should be glad an old gravestone inspired Maine-based Breakin’ Strings to make the trek to Nashville to produce Hangovers & Heartaches. Cliff Gelena, a third generation bluegrass performer, heads up the group with lead vocals,…

Based in the New York area, the band is led by Ed Krizni (guitar), and is joined on this project by Ron Trotta (banjo), Bill Turner (resonator guitar), Travis Wetzel (fiddle, mandolin), Alice Harmon (dulcimer), Larry Greybill (bass), Joe Fili (fiddle), and Justin Sitler (banjo, guitar).    This release is a 2-CD 40-song collection of…

Daniel Crabtree, a gifted and divinely inspired songwriter with an engaging roughhewn vocal style, is a man on a mission.  As he explains in the press material accompanying his fifth album: “I believe a spiritual battle is going on inside man and the world …. As Christians, we should be willing to take on the…

North Carolina’s Gospel Plowboys are a group seriously dedicated to spreading the word of Christ through music. The group is Michael Jenkins (guitar, vocals), Kris Miller (vocals), Andrew Brown (bass, mandolin, vocals), Alec McCallister (fiddle), David Brown (bass, vocals), and Peden Williams (banjo). Joining the band on this project is guest Chris Burton (banjo).  The…

The Fiction Twins is a fictitious duo formed by Japanese musician Toshio Watanabe who overdubs himself on the songs. He learned the skill of overdubbing using two tape recorders early in his career. Over the years he honed his skills using newer and newer recording techniques, backing himself up on guitar and mandolin.  On this…

In the fall of 2020, Hawktail did a livestream concert at the Amqui Station, a historical site in Madison, Tennessee, famously beloved by Johnny Cash. Lit by the copper sunset coming through the trees, they played through their set. They sat in a half circle, with a minimal set up, framed by the backdrop of…