Reviews

THE STEELDRIVERS BAD FOR YOU Rounder Records 1166100808 In their 15-year career, The SteelDrivers have forged a vital, unique voice in the sometimes predictable world of bluegrass. Starting from their early days with superstar songwriter and lead singer Chris Stapleton, the band has successfully merged a stubborn streak of Southern roots rock into the traditional…

HINDSIGHT BLUEGRASS 2020 No Label No Number The North Carolina band Hindsight Bluegrass has self-produced and released its first recording, 2020. The band is comprised of bluegrass veterans and former bandmates. Banjo player and vocalist Stan Brown played with spouse Julie Brown (bass player) in a prior band. Stan also played in a college band with…

AMERICAN ANTEBELLUM FIDDLING BY CHRIS GOERTZEN Univ. Press of Miss. 9781496827289. Paperback, 250 pp., 14 b&w illustrations, $21. (www.upress.state.ms.us) This is the author’s third volume covering traditional fiddling in the United States. A professor of musical history, Goertzen digs into the past to reveal not only the tunes, but also the means of conveyance of…

DUKE WEDDINGTON AND HIGHER GROUND BLUEGRASS AUBURN SKY No Label No Number This latest project from Weddington and company provides us with another helping of progressive bluegrass with some fine Celtic touches. When you get west of the Mississippi, new rules tend to apply to the genre. You still have to be a good picker,…

SHANNON SLAUGHTER HOLD ON TO YOUR HEART Elite Circuit Records No Number Slaughter is a singer-songwriter and a force to be reckoned with—his talents are obvious from the first listen. His band County Clare is reinforced with some serious horsepower by some of the very best pickers and singers found. This fifth project (third solo…

TROUT STEAK REVIVAL THE LIGHT WE BRING TS Records No Number This is the fifth release from this Colorado-based quintet. They are Bevin Foley (fiddle, violin, viola), Steve Foltz (mandolin, guitar), Casey Houlihan (bass), William Koster (resonator guitar, guitar), and Travis McNamara (banjo, piano, Wurlitzer). The band has produced a musical journey through roots music,…