songs:illinois

I should probably have a “Bluegrass Tuesday” to go along with my occasional honky-tonk Friday, but I won’t. The truth is I’m not a huge fan of traditional bluegrass, although I do love what all these new groups are doing with its bones. Dime Box Band is an all woman bluegrass inspired outfit led by singer Kristi Callan.

“Betsy” is one of the 10 originals off of the bands upcoming record Five and Dime Waltz. “Betsy” features Kristi’s great vocals and some beautiful harmony vocals from the rest of the band. The music is sparse with the mandolin being the most noteworthy instrument in the mix. The band has a record release show at Taix in L.A. on April 5.

Betsy

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Kathy Mattea is the type/kind/caliber of country star that I usually wouldn’t write about on Songs:Illinois. But as the recording industry collapses all around us some country artists seem to have eschewed the Nashville sound and embraced the sound of real country; country rooted in the sounds of bluegrass, the Appalachian Mountains, and the hills of Virginia. I’m sure there are plenty of examples of this, but what comes to mind first is Patty Loveless’ excellent 1991 record Mountain Soul.

On Coal, Kathy Mattea’s new concept record written about both the personal and environmental costs of the rise and now fall of the coal mining industry, she embraces her bluegrass and celtic music roots. These songs about a destructive and dangerous industry are balanced by the fact that so many generations of families worked in and in some cases prospered from working the mines. There’s a bittersweet tug of war going on here, between the modern sense that this industry destroyed the environment (and the lungs of it’s workers) and the fact that the coal mines were a huge part of many people’s lives.

I think the song “The L&N Don’t Stop Here Anymore” is both a good example of this theme, as well as a great bluegrass inspired workout. Kathy Mattea will be playing the Old Town School Of Folk Music on April 19. Her new record is available as a pre-order here.

The L&N Don’t Stop Here Anymore

Chatham County Line have made a great record. It’s one I wasn’t going to mention just because I assumed so many other music blogs would have written about it by now. But so far nothing. Out on March 4 on Yep Roc, IV continues the bluegrass based americana that the band is known for except that on the single “Chip Of A Star” the band sounds more like the roots pop of The Avett Brothers than the traditional bluegrass of Bill Monroe, Ralph Stanley et al.

It’s a beautiful song that wouldn’t be out of place on an Avett Brothers record or an acoustic side project by Wilco. The band plays SXSW on Thursday night March 13 at 11pm at The Continental Club (a perfect venue for the band; not always the case at SXSW). This will be where I’m heading the moment I get in to Austin (luggage and all!). Pre-order IV here.

Chip Of A Star

Official (cute) video for “Let It Rock” from IV

I’m a big fan of Michael Holland. I’m not conversant on all of his releases (or those of his former band Jennyandkind) or on his different musical influences but when I hear his music I’m immediately impressed. His song 2005 song “Crystal Meth Freak From California” somehow married a topical story of a life gone bad via drugs with bluegrass-inspired, modern mountain music. It’s not such a stretch really if you acknowledge that in the south Meth is the new moonshine.

I don’t hear anything as shockingly immediate as “Crystal Meth Freak” in the songs from the new record, Simple Truths and Pleasures, but the songs I’ve heard are in a way more immediate. Some of the musical backing is provided once again by The Big Fat Gap Bluegrass Band from NC and the bulk of the record was recorded live in the studio. “Life of Ease” is a personal take on the desire for a simpler, better life. A life that, with the oncoming recession, just isn’t possible for many people anymore.

Find out more about the new record and buy it here through Forced Exposure.

Life Of Ease

Well OK, since you asked so nicely…here’s “Crystal Meth Freak From California” from 2005′s Tomorrows American Treasures on Sit-N-Spin records.

Crystal Meth Freak

Bonus song from Tomorrows American Treasure

Hungry Days