DIRTY RIVER RAMBLERS
Ramble On
Red Bird Stomp – Copper Coil Daydream – Take
It Easy With My Heart – Wally The Hound Dog – Hippy Girl – Carp Skin
Boots – Eliza Mae – Lost Weekend – Armadillo Shuffle – Equal Parts
Pleasure
It Easy With My Heart – Wally The Hound Dog – Hippy Girl – Carp Skin
Boots – Eliza Mae – Lost Weekend – Armadillo Shuffle – Equal Parts
Pleasure
This is without a doubt one of our better acoustic old-time
music maker bands in the upper Midwest. I’ve heard these same
musicians in other groups, not the least being the very good Southpaw
Bluegrass Band. Music, however, does not stay static very long
especially in the hands of players who are not only unique, but original
in their compositions. All of these songs are written by the band
members with Josh Krohn making the most contributions. All of the
songs, at least to my ear, are quite good, some mountain style sounding,
some directly from the dance floor of western Nebraska, some from the
very heart of early country music roots. Members include Josh Krohn on
vocals, fiddle (exceptionally good on all songs), banjo (even uses a
frailing style occasionally, especially well done on the instrumental
“Wally The Hound Dog”) and acoustic guitar; Justin Kephart (from the
very very famous Kephart Family of music makers originally from Iowa) on
vocals and super good mandolin; Mace Hathaway on vocals, guitar,
harmonica, and baritone Ukelele; Chris Hunke on acoustic bass. I’m
really picky when it comes to the ‘mix’ of acoustic music. I didn’t get
to record six albums for the Smithsonian Institution without that ‘ear’
and I’d have to say this mix is as good as it gets. I like the way the
bass holds it’s own throughout, but doesn’t become isolated. I like
the way the mandolin comes in on heavy leads and then backs off into the
accompaniment mode, and I like the way the vocals are blended with the
instruments. Two, very well written, ‘romantic’ songs are composed by
M. Hathaway. “Hippy Girl” and “Eliza Mae” are pure traditional country,
plain and simple. “Carp Skin Boots” is another voyage into
instrumental expertise, tempo change and all. Excellent acoustic guitar
leads here. The closing song “Equal Parts Pleasure” is a ‘lost love
romantic’ song by Josh Krohn that includes his harmonica playing.
Recorded at Alaska House Studios, good job well done. Josh Krohn, Dirty
River Ramblers, 2719 N 65th St., Omaha, NE 68104
music maker bands in the upper Midwest. I’ve heard these same
musicians in other groups, not the least being the very good Southpaw
Bluegrass Band. Music, however, does not stay static very long
especially in the hands of players who are not only unique, but original
in their compositions. All of these songs are written by the band
members with Josh Krohn making the most contributions. All of the
songs, at least to my ear, are quite good, some mountain style sounding,
some directly from the dance floor of western Nebraska, some from the
very heart of early country music roots. Members include Josh Krohn on
vocals, fiddle (exceptionally good on all songs), banjo (even uses a
frailing style occasionally, especially well done on the instrumental
“Wally The Hound Dog”) and acoustic guitar; Justin Kephart (from the
very very famous Kephart Family of music makers originally from Iowa) on
vocals and super good mandolin; Mace Hathaway on vocals, guitar,
harmonica, and baritone Ukelele; Chris Hunke on acoustic bass. I’m
really picky when it comes to the ‘mix’ of acoustic music. I didn’t get
to record six albums for the Smithsonian Institution without that ‘ear’
and I’d have to say this mix is as good as it gets. I like the way the
bass holds it’s own throughout, but doesn’t become isolated. I like
the way the mandolin comes in on heavy leads and then backs off into the
accompaniment mode, and I like the way the vocals are blended with the
instruments. Two, very well written, ‘romantic’ songs are composed by
M. Hathaway. “Hippy Girl” and “Eliza Mae” are pure traditional country,
plain and simple. “Carp Skin Boots” is another voyage into
instrumental expertise, tempo change and all. Excellent acoustic guitar
leads here. The closing song “Equal Parts Pleasure” is a ‘lost love
romantic’ song by Josh Krohn that includes his harmonica playing.
Recorded at Alaska House Studios, good job well done. Josh Krohn, Dirty
River Ramblers, 2719 N 65th St., Omaha, NE 68104
Review by Bob
Everhart www.ntcma.net
Everhart www.ntcma.net
for Country Music News International