A Masterclass in Modern Traditionalism: The Shannon Slaughter Band Digs Deep with Plowin’ It To The Fence
By Christian Lamitschka for Country Music News International Magazine
In the world of bluegrass, there is a fine line between honoring the “high lonesome” traditions of the past and forging a path that feels relevant today. With their latest fifteen-track powerhouse, Plowin’ It To The Fence, released on Elite Circuit Records, The Shannon Slaughter Band hasn’t just walked that line—they’ve claimed it.
Produced by Wes Easter and Shannon Slaughter, the album is a sprawling, heartfelt collection that reinforces Slaughter’s reputation as one of the genre’s most consistent and evocative songwriters.
The Artist & The Band
Shannon Slaughter is a veteran of the bluegrass scene, known for his resonant vocals and a songwriting pen that finds the profound in the everyday. However, this album is a celebration of a unit. Recorded primarily at Eastwood Studios in Cana, Virginia, the record features a rock-solid tracking band:
-
Shannon Slaughter: Guitar & Lead Vocals
-
Ron Inscore: Mandolin
-
Trevor Watson: Banjo
-
Cliff Bailey: Acoustic Bass
This continuity of personnel shines through in the tight, intuitive arrangements. As Slaughter puts it, “This project really highlights the talents of all of those guys.”
Track-by-Track Review
1. The Lonesome Blues
The album opens with a high-energy nod to tradition. This chart-topping single sets the pace with driving banjo work and a vocal performance that captures the quintessential bluegrass ache.
2. Silent As The Grave
Co-written with the legendary Tim Stafford, this track is a masterclass in atmosphere. It’s haunting and lyrical, proving why it found a comfortable home on the Bluegrass Today Top 30.
3. Dreamer
One of Slaughter’s solo-written tracks, “Dreamer” offers a more introspective look at the human condition. It’s melodic, hopeful, and showcases the band’s ability to pull back and let the story breathe.
4. I’d Be A Cowboy
The only track recorded at The Colemine in Nashville, this Mark Brinkman/David Stewart composition provides a classic Western-flair narrative. It’s a standout for its storytelling and rhythmic “gallop.”
5. Wheat Before the Sickle
Another Slaughter/Stafford collaboration, this track leans into the pastoral imagery that defines the best of the genre. The instrumental interplay here is particularly crisp.
6. Georgia Bound
A Ronnie Stewart penned track that brings a blistering tempo to the mid-section of the album. It’s a road song through and through, highlighting Trevor Watson’s technical prowess on the banjo.
7. Fly Away On A Song
This fan favorite serves as an anthem for the power of music. It’s an uplifting, mid-tempo piece that highlights the vocal harmonies Slaughter is so proud of.
8. Lonely On the Mountain
Slaughter returns to solo writing duties here. This track feels like a modern standard—stark, emotional, and deeply rooted in the Appalachian landscape.
9. Lost In A Memory
Written by Wes Golden, this song explores the bittersweet nature of nostalgia. The band handles the sentimental subject matter with grace, avoiding melodrama in favor of genuine feeling.
10. Nature’s Altar
Co-written with Rick Lang, this is a beautiful spiritual meditation. It celebrates the divine in the natural world, featuring some of the album’s most delicate mandolin work from Ron Inscore.
11. Graveyard Gone
A gritty, driving number written by Stafford and Starnes. It brings a bit of edge to the record’s back half, keeping the energy levels high as we approach the finale.
12. Stranger In Our Town
Another Slaughter/Lang collaboration. This song tackles themes of change and the passage of time in rural America, a subject Slaughter handles with characteristic “lyrical depth.”
13. Rock And An Antler
A John Clark composition that provides a unique, rhythmic diversion. It’s a fun, engaging track that allows the rhythm section of Bailey and Slaughter to lock in a tight groove.
14. Plow It To The Fence
The title track is the heart of the album. Co-written with Shawn Lane and Ronny Vines, it’s a blue-collar anthem about perseverance and giving your all—a fitting metaphor for the band’s work ethic.
15. Friend In California
The album closes with a Freddy Powers cover. It’s a soulful, relaxed finish that lets the listener down easy after fourteen tracks of high-intensity bluegrass, leaving a lingering sense of warmth.
The Verdict
Plowin’ It To The Fence is a triumph of consistency. By utilizing the same core band for nearly every track, Slaughter has created a cohesive, “live” feel that many modern studio projects lack. With nine original credits, Slaughter’s songwriting is the North Star of the project, but the chemistry of the band is its engine.
Whether you are looking for chart-topping singles or deep-cut instrumental brilliance, this album delivers. It is a mandatory listen for anyone who appreciates bluegrass played with heart, soul, and a little bit of dirt under the fingernails.