The unrelenting and exhausting quest for this state of excellence is deeply embedded in our DNA. Since the dawn of time, we’ve sought to become, create or find things, places and others that are devoid of all flaws or defects. With the able guidance of Johnny Williams, The Churchmen, Tim O’Brien and the Perfect Strangers […]
Bluegrass Breakdown: Perfection, Part One
It’s the state or quality of being free or as free as possible from all flaws or defects. Oddly enough, it’s a condition that is often achieved in BluegrassLand. Thanks to the Del McCoury Band, the Rarely Herd and the Perfect Strangers, we’ll be learning about perfect days, perfect gifts, perfect country songs, perfect fools […]
Bluegrass Breakdown: New Releases
So many tunes, so little time. It’s monsoon season down at the new Bluegrass CD bins, making it almost impossible to give the downpour of new releases their just due. We’ll be giving it our best shot by featuring the latest from Jim Hurst, the Slocan Ramblers, Bob Minner, Laura Orsahw, Mickey Galyean, Appalachian Smoke, […]
Bluegrass Breakdown: Bluegrass Carolines, Part Two
Caroline has been a favorite girls name since the 1600’s, the 81st most popular baby name in the U.S. in 2021. Derived from a French word meaning “free woman,” it’s a moniker that has given rise to a number of nicknames that deserve our attention. With the help of the Seldom Scene, Big Country Bluegrass, […]
Bluegrass Breakdown: Bluegrass Carolines, Part One
It’s a name that is a perennial classic, ranking in the Top 100 baby names since 1994. A popular name for centuries, it’s French in origin, coming from the Latin name Carolus, meaning “free woman” or “beloved and valuable.” It’s currently at #47 on the Baby Names Popularity Chart. Women bearing this name have been […]
Bluegrass Breakdown: Revonah Records, Part One
We’ll be jumping into the rich musical legacy of a small record company located in the hamlet of Ferndale, in the town of Liberty, New York. Between 1971 and 1987, the company issued 49 LPs featuring the likes of Roger Bellow, the Shenandoah Cutups, Walter Hensley, Clinton King, and Del McCoury. We’ll be taking a […]
Bluegrass Breakdown: New Releases
What do Kristi Stanley, Authentic Unimited, Kathy Kallick, Unspoken Tradition, Mohavisoul, Laura Orshaw, Little Roy & Lizzy, Peter Rowan, and Breaking Grass all have in common? They all have thundered forth with tough-edged, hard-hitting, shot-from-guns sparkling new releases which we’ll be playing with reckless abandon.
Bluegrass Breakdown: Mistakes
They’re actions or judgments that are misguided or just flat-out wrong. We all make them and sometimes we even manage to learn from them. With Alecia Nugent, Jon Weisberger, Keith Driver, Pat Flynn, and Donna Hughes leading the way, we’ll be making one mistake after the other—from big ones to good ones and all points […]
Bluegrass Breakdown: Ribbons
They’re long narrow strips, usually made of fabric, that are used for tying, decorating, awarding, or commemorating someone or something. They also come in handy for superlative bluegrassical song subjects. Claire Lynch, Ty Gilpin, the Dry Branch Fire Squad, and Chris Jones will help us celebrate ribbons—from faded red, pretty blue and scarlet ribbons, to […]
Bluegrass Breakdown: 1982, Part Four
We’ll be whirling back to 1982 when, among other things: “Taxi” moves from ABC to NBC; the movies “E.T.” (directed by Steven Spielberg) and “Blade Runner” (starring Harrison Ford) are released; war ends in the Falkland Islands with Argentina surrendering to Great Britain; Survivor’s “Eye of the Tiger” from the “Rocky III” soundtrack stays at […]