|
Post by Bingo on Aug 27, 2008 20:29:14 GMT -8
I caught this song recently, and I thought it might interest some of you. It's by Ben Sollee, who's a member of the Sparrow Quartet, with Bella Fleck and Abigail Washburn. He's released it as a single, as a taster for his solo album. (He does have a banjo backing though, so I'd guess Abigail is still helping out)
If you're gonna lead my country If you're gonna say it's free You're gonna need a little honesty. Just a few honest words It shouldn't be that hard Just a few honest words Is all I need.
I don't need no handshake No fine look in the eye Don't tell me what you think I oughta hear Don't need no highlights No fancy premiere Just tell me what you really think Without fear
Love is a bitter fruit You learn to eat But we still don't know Where it grows And our love of freedom Holds a veil over our eyes Rights that are given Can be taken away
We don't choose our leaders They choose themselves Tell me again about democracy"
|
|
|
Post by Bingo on Aug 28, 2008 20:12:49 GMT -8
I've been wondering what others might think of the Sparrow Quartet's music - they tend to divide opinion among Festival fans. Some find their intricate, Progressive string band music (which often includes jazz and classical elements) very worthwhile and intriguing. Others find them too avant-garde and pretentious - and too much of a departure from their Bluegrass roots. (Actually Bela's always been Progressive, and Abigail's roots are much more Old Time than Bluegrass. The same probably applies to Casey Driessen, on fiddle, who can play in all those styles.
If anyone has ten minutes to spare, here are two examples from a Blue Plate session they did in Knoxville (These are free lunchtime concerts that the WDVX radio station put on most days - a big boon to live string band music)
The first one shows the Old Time Mountain influence most strongly.
The second example emphasises the more avant-garde elements
My own view is that the scene is richer for including work like this. Country Music has always been a mixture of old and new. To a greater extent than some other genres, the older styles never die out. You can still hear faithful performance of the earlier music - right back to the a capella ballads of artists like Sheila Kay Adams and Donna Ray Norton. But at the same time you always have other artists blending influences and pushing the envelope. The different schools exist on the scene, side by side. Old styles don't die out; new styles don't stand still. Bluegrass was itself an innovation - so again we must expect traditional Bluegrass to share the scene with Progressive Bluegrass.
|
|
|
Post by james on Aug 28, 2008 20:16:37 GMT -8
Clinton had Dont stop by Fleetwood Mac one time.
|
|
|
Post by samfan6 on Aug 30, 2008 19:05:41 GMT -8
I heard "life is a Highway" by RF and "Only in America" by Brooks and Dunn on Thursday night..
|
|
|
Post by Bingo on Aug 31, 2008 17:02:53 GMT -8
If I'd been running, I'd have picked Alecia Nugent ;D
"Changes are coming no doubt It's been a too long time, with no peace of mind And I'm ready for the times to get better" ~~~(wr by Allen Reynolds)
|
|