Port Of Indiana

The 145s (one forty-fives) are four Chicago-area musicians who got together in 2022 when they decided to combine their love of bluegrass music and its various styles and form a band. Led by Andy Miller (mandolin), the group includes Laird Patten (banjo), Elizabeth Loring (bass), and John Huber (guitar). Also on this project are guest vocalists Rita Ruby and Annalee Koehn.

This debut project consists of mostly original material written or co-written by the band members. Songs by Elizabeth Loring include “Some Other Day,” “A Truer Heart,” “The Coldest Night,” and the title cut “Port Of Indiana.” Loring and Andy Miller co-wrote “Goodbye Gets Harder Every Time,” and “I Think You Could Learn,” and Miller wrote “Next to Nothing.”

Laird Patten contributed two banjo instrumentals, “Locked and Loaded” and “Starting Again.” The band also offers a nice version of the traditional “Rain and Snow.” Loring and Miller share the lead vocals, and the group’s harmonies are very pleasant. Miller’s excellent mandolin playing is featured on most tunes with great support from the other musicians.

Overall, the songs cover the many differences of life and love, and the band’s sound tries to stay very close to the bluegrass basics. This is a very good new effort from Andy Miller & the 145s.