Drivin’ The Blue
While the band is based in the Washington, DC area, the members are from Northern Virginia, Rhode Island, North Carolina and Pennsylvania. They include Wally Hughes (guitar, fiddle, resonator guitar, vocals), Lisa Kay Howard Hughes (mandolin, vocals), James Field (guitar, vocals). Joe Hannabach (bass), and Ed Lick (banjo, steel, mandolin). Individually they have performed with such artists as Bill Emerson, Mike Auldridge, Valerie Smith, Joe Val, Lou Reid, Terry Baucom, and Nigh Noon.
This is the third project for the group and features a seven-song selection include six covers and one original from banjo player Ed Lick which is the title cut “Divin’ The Blue.” Other selections include A.P. Carters’ “Ain’t Gonna Work Tomorrow,” the Buck Owens classic “Streets of Bakersfield,” Jimmie Rodgers’ “California Blues,” Tammy Wynette’s “Til I Can Make It On My Own,” Robin and Linda Williams’ “While I’m Waiting For You,” and the traditional “Good Morning Mr. Railroad Man.” Their vocals and harmonies are pleasantly tight and the instrumental performances are superb. The band is on their “level best” to produce a very enjoyable new project.
