Where The Bluegrass Grows
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10/19/2007 Go, Merle! Country music legend Merle Haggard racked up his highest first-week sales for a new release since 2000 following the Oct. 2 release of The Bluegrass Sessions. Released on bluegrass legend Del McCoury’s McCoury Music label, the album logged more than twice the sales of the bluegrass chart’s second-place release and entered Bllboard’s Independent Albums chart at No. 34. It also debuted at No. 43 on the country album chart. Happy New Year! On January 8, 2008, Rounder will release Good Thing Going, the latest album from Rhonda Vincent and the Rage. Rhonda penned five of the album’s 12 tracks, saying she has to be inspired to write a song and “there’s been no shortage of inspiration lately.” More IBMA Memories… While Oct. 23 is shaping up to be another “Super Tuesday” of CD releases in country music (Carrie Underwood, Dwight Yoakam, Gary Allan, and Shooter Jennings – not to mention indie acts Rissi Palmer and Lisa O’Kane), there’s one bluegrass release coming that MUST be on your shopping list. It’s Road That Never Ends (The Live Album), the latest from Mountain Heart, on Rural Rhythm Records. The album was, as the title says, recorded live, and features the band’s extraordinary new lead singer/guitarist Josh Shilling. Having heard the guys live in the small, very unplugged setting of the Rural Rhythm suite at IBMA, I can tell you they remain of bluegrass music’s true supergroups, and the addition of Josh as lead singer adds a bluesy, soulful element that’s as thrilling on record as it is in person. If they’re coming anywhere near you any time soon (and again, the CD’s title would suggest that is quite likely!), do whatever you can to get there! First the Volvo, Then ABBA, Now… One of my favorite discoveries at IBMA this year was the G2 Bluegrass Band . Just a glance at their names should tell you this isn’t your average American bluegrass band: Christoffer Olsson (guitar/vocals); Erik Igelström (mandolin); Tobias Strömberg (Dobro/vocals); Jimmy Sunnebrandt (acoustic bass/vocals); Jens Koch (banjo). They are, in fact, from Sweden and not only do they put the "I" in "IBMA," they offer proof positive that music is indeed a universal language. There’s not the least bit of a language barrier once these guys kick into full gear. Their music is refreshing, exciting, and sweet. No wonder they were voted the No. 1 European Bluegrass Band of 2007. Check out their MySpace page, and treat yourself to their wonderful album, Where the Tall Grass Grows.
