Dusty Roads and Deep Roots: East Nash Grass Delivers Authenticity with ‘Bend in the Road’
By Christian Lamitschka for Country Music News International Magazine
In the ever-evolving landscape of contemporary bluegrass, where tradition often grapples with innovation, East Nash Grass consistently carves out a space that feels both deeply rooted and refreshingly unpretentious. Their latest offering, “Bend in the Road,” is a testament to this delicate balance, a track that isn’t just heard but felt, echoing with the kind of lived experience that defines truly compelling songwriting. It’s a song that eschews polished pretense for the grit and grace of genuine narrative, delivered with the band’s signature blend of tight musicianship and laid-back charm.
“Bend in the Road” isn’t a slick, manufactured hit; it’s a slow-cooked story, born from the kind of patient collaboration that allows ideas to simmer and evolve. Co-written by Harry Clark and Cory Walker, the genesis of the song speaks volumes about its eventual character. Clark recounts a process that began with disparate fragments – a verse here, a notion there, perhaps even a chuckle about “Granny Women and Worm Dirt.” This isn’t the stuff of formulaic songwriting camps; it’s the organic unfolding of a creative conversation, punctuated by humor and a shared history.
The true breakthrough, as Clark amusingly describes, came not in a moment of grand inspiration, but in a state of “pure bloated bliss” after an overindulgence in “shortening bread and turtle soup.” It was in this delightfully unconventional setting that a trove of tucked-away verses, particularly those detailing his grandmother’s arduous journey from Arkansas to California in the mid-1940s, found their rightful home. This personal, almost ancestral, connection imbues “Bend in the Road” with a profound sense of authenticity. It’s not just a song about a journey; it’s a song about their journey, woven into the fabric of family lore and the very soil of Madison, TN, which becomes an almost character in itself within the “dirty ditty.”
What emerges is a track that, while seemingly loose in its narrative structure, is remarkably purposeful in its delivery. East Nash Grass has cultivated a sound that is instantly recognizable: a collective of pickers whose individual prowess is always in service of the whole. There’s an undeniable synergy in their playing, a sharp-eared precision that never sacrifices soul for technicality. They embody a love for bluegrass that is deep and abiding, yet refreshingly free from the genre’s occasional tendency towards excessive solemnity. “Bend in the Road” perfectly encapsulates this ethos, inviting listeners to lean in, listen closely, and perhaps even crack a smile at the relatable imperfections and triumphs of life on the road.
As the second single from their forthcoming album, All God’s Children, set to drop on August 22, “Bend in the Road” serves as an enticing preview of what’s to come. If this track is any indication, the album promises to be a collection that continues East Nash Grass’s tradition of delivering music that is both technically impressive and profoundly human. It’s a reminder that the best bluegrass isn’t always about breakneck solos or pristine harmonies; sometimes, it’s about the quiet wisdom found at a “bend in the road,” shared by a band that understands the heart of the matter.