Videos Archive - Page 7 of 34 - The Bluegrass Situation

WATCH: Twisted Pine, “Come Along Jody” (BGS + Sixthman Sessions at Sea: Cayamo Edition)

This year’s Cayamo cruise made a stop in the British Virgin Islands, and caught Twisted Pine rolling through “Come Along Jody” on the shores of Jost Van Dyke’s White Bay. Says the group of the song, “We wanted to feature Anh Phung on a ripping bluegrass tune, and this is a particularly gnarly one that we’ve always loved. It comes from the amazing bluegrass fiddler Tex Logan who wrote it for his daughter Jody.” Twisted Pine is Kathleen Parks on fiddle, Dan Bui on mandolin, Anh Phung on flute, and Chris Sartori on bass.

Keep an eye out for more Sixthman Sessions from the 15th edition of Cayamo: A Journey Through Song being released exclusively by BGS in the coming weeks – we have plenty more moments like these to share! Cayamo has also announced their initial lineup for 2024, which includes folks like Lyle Lovett, Lucius, Nikki Lane, the Mavericks, and Sunny War. You can sign up for the pre-sale here (open until Feb. 26th at 11:59pm ET) and check out the full lineup (so far!) at cayamo.com.

WATCH: Ben Garnett, “The House on Wisteria” (Feat. Brittany Haas)

Artist: Ben Garnett
Hometown: Arlington, Texas
Song: “The House on Wisteria” (Feat. Brittany Haas)
Album: Imitation Fields
Release Date: March 17, 2023
Label: Padiddle Records

In Their Words: “‘The House on Wisteria’ is a tune that took me a long time (several years) to write, as is often the case with pieces that I know are going to be important to me. Distantly inspired by various forms of Scandinavian folk music, I wanted to funnel the serious, haunting temperament often found in that music into a personal catharsis of a time come and gone. A time of formation and growth that can only be valued and loved by looking back in time. I couldn’t think of anyone better to help with this vision than Brittany Haas, with her vast knowledge of different folk musics, and who can so effortlessly craft an immense amount of life and spirit in each musical space she’s a part of. The album recording features a slightly different ensemble, with Paul Kowert on bass, Brittany Haas on fiddle, and my old friend Matt Young on snare drum/glockenspiel, all of whom I think inhabit the space of this piece beautifully.” — Ben Garnett

LISTEN: Wood Box Heroes, “Made Up My Mind”

Artist: Wood Box Heroes (Barry Bales, Jenee Fleenor, Seth Taylor, Matt Menefee, Josh Martin)
Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee
Song: “Made Up My Mind”
Release Date: February 2, 2023

In Their Words: “Most of our population’s minds are made up, closed off, and sealed shut by opinions dictated by the popularly held beliefs of the day. This song is for those of us who dare to question and willingly wander, all alone, far from the beaten path, into the forests, up the rocky heights, through the raging rivers… free from the social metallurgists whose chains of unlimited limits are tailored specifically for breaking our spirits. Out there, in the great unknown, away from the guidance of the ‘wise,’ impossibilities turn into miracles, and we may even start to see that, like the song suggests, most of the things of this world that we believe are helping us along are, in reality, stealing our joy and making up our minds for us! From there, once we have realized we’ve got to unlearn to truly learn, then we can ‘set our eyes on that blue sky, breaking up ahead’ and make up our minds, to make up our own minds.” — Josh Martin, Wood Box Heroes

Photo Credit: C-Shelz Photography

LISTEN: John Fizer, “Lady Lying Lovely”

Artist: John Fizer
Hometown: Berkeley, California
Song: “Lady Lying Lovely”
Album: Treasure Man
Release Date: January 20, 2023
Label: Scissor Tail Records

In Their Words: “John Fizer is a stellar songwriter, singer and acoustic guitarist. Often compared to Dylan, I hear a little Willie, but John is very, very much himself. I love this track. It was recorded in 1977 at the legendary Mountain Ears Studio in Boulder and captures John’s true spirit, in his prime, a hopeless romantic smitten by life. It’s a crack band. Ray Bonneville on harmonica is simply the one you want. Erik Johnson killed it on Fender fretless bass, an instrument this world needs more of. Brad Hayes is on electric guitar, everything he touches turns to gold. Brian Brown’s powerful drums and Elin and Judy on background vocals complete the dream. John Fizer is the dreamer.

“He is brilliant (he does the Sunday NYT crossword in 20 minutes) and has a fascinating story. I learned he started out playing the same Lower East Side folk scene as Dylan in the ’60s and has a song out on the Smithsonian Folkways CD Original Folk. When John learned that I am an immersive audio pioneer, with credits including a 3D sound remix of Jimi Hendrix and 3D sound designer for the LA production of the musical The Who’s Tommy, he handed me an old third-generation audio cassette tape and asked if I could make it sound better. When I listened, I was blown away. Such amazing songs, singing and guitar playing.

“I had cleaned up John’s old cassettes, making them sound as good as possible. Over the course of a year, on four different occasions, I asked John if he had the original master tapes. Each time he said ‘No.’ But one day, out the clear blue, John showed up with a 15-inches-per-second, quarter-inch, half-track, real deal master of some of his songs he recorded with the smokin’ hot Ray Bonneville Blues Band backing him. Now I knew the world was going to hear his music the way John intended: big, fat, analog and on vinyl.” — James Johnson, album producer

LISTEN: Channing Wilson, “Sunday Morning Blues”

Artist: Channing Wilson
Hometown: Lafayette, Georgia
Song: “Sunday Morning Blues”
Release Date: January 1, 2023
Label: Ol’ Dog Records/Soundly Music

In Their Words: “Being a real country music fan, you have to love the sad, depressing, heartache songs, too. They are important to the whole spectrum of the story. Depression and anxiety have been the roots of great songs long before we knew they were. In the past they just called it the blues. This song takes place in the character’s mind during the two hours of church service they are missing for reasons only known to them. Guilt is a funny thing that never makes you smile.” — Channing Wilson

WATCH: Steve Poltz, “It’s Baseball Season” (Sixthman Sessions + BGS)

Steve Poltz shares a solo version of his ode to love and baseball, from his album Stardust and Satellites, live from the 14th edition of Cayamo. Poltz will be returning for the 15th Journey Through Song as part of a lineup including Jeff Tweedy, Andrew Bird, Trampled by Turtles, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Neko Case, Shovels & Rope and more. Cayamo sets sail to St. Maarten and Tortola on February 10, 2023. There are still a few cabins available — grab ’em while you can to join the fun! Keep an eye out for more Sixthman Sessions aboard Cayamo, coming your way soon, and browse the archives at sixthmansessions.com.

WATCH: The Del McCoury Band Brings Joy to All With “Christmas Time’s a Comin'”

We received a wonderful holiday gift from The Del McCoury Band this winter when they surprised the Bluegrass Situation with a live performance video of a longtime bluegrass favorite, “Christmas Time’s a Comin’.” We’re proud to premiere it in our new Del in December series, alongside a decade-by-decade retrospective of McCoury’s career and an exclusive interview with the Bluegrass Hall of Fame member himself. Season’s greetings from the Bluegrass Situation!

WATCH: Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams, “Turn Around” (Sixthman Sessions + BGS)

Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams included a version of this Carl Perkins-penned honky-tonk tune on their 2017 album Contraband Love, done out with a full band including Levon Helm on drums. But earlier this spring, on the 14th edition of Cayamo: A Journey Through Song, the duo shared a stripped-down, acoustic version from a quiet corner of the ship in this Sixthman Session. “Turn Around” was the B-side to Carl Perkins’ first ever single during his time at Sun Records in 1955 (side A was the rockabilly “Movie Magg”) and it’s been covered by the likes of Jerry Lee Lewis and Sammi Smith.

Campbell and Williams will be returning for the 15th Journey Through Song as part of a lineup including Jeff Tweedy, Andrew Bird, Trampled by Turtles, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Neko Case, Shovels & Rope and more, setting sail to St. Maarten and Tortola on February 10, 2023. There are still a few cabins available – grab ’em while you can to join the fun! Keep an eye out for more Sixthman Sessions aboard Cayamo, coming your way soon, and browse the archives at sixthmansessions.com.

In “Lonely at Night,” Amanda Shires & Brittney Spencer Blend Beautifully

Amanda Shires’ new record Take It Like a Man is kicking ass and taking names. The latest name taken is that of Brittney Spencer, who sings backup on the track “Lonely at Night.” In the live performance video for the song, Spencer and Shires stand dressed like royalty on rose petals in front of a beautiful flowery backdrop and deliver a magical performance that pulls on the emotions. The song is about two lovers who are “star-crossed at best” and the fine thread that binds them together. Shires’ heartfelt performance is only enhanced by Spencer’s angelic harmonies. The two find a beautiful blend that is echoed by the soulful slide guitar played by Jason Isbell throughout the track.

“Here you’ll see us at historic Columbia Studio A in Nashville, TN,” Shires wrote when the video was released this fall. “The original garden is a place I often return to in thought, so my friend Lark Foster and I set the scene with flowers and branches and things from my home and garden. Be awed by Jimbo Hart’s bass playing, Julian Dorio’s sense of time, Jason Isbell’s ability to simultaneously play slide and levitate, Peter Levin’s command of those beautiful keys, and Brittney Spencer’s incredible voice. And know that this couldn’t have been done right without my great friend Lawrence Rothman’s careful handling, support and production. Thanks to all my friends for participating and thanks y’all for listening and watching.”

WATCH: Rising Appalachia, “The Long Haul” (Live From Preservation Hall)

Artist: Rising Appalachia
Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia
Song: “The Long Haul” (Live)
Album: Live From New Orleans at Preservation Hall
Release Date: November 18, 2022

In Their Words: “‘The Long Haul’ is a song written for the sake of love lost and treasures buried. It’s that sharp kind of loss that cuts deep and lingers long. The kind only music can speak to. I wrote it while walking in City Park while living in New Orleans, and its rendition on our new live album brought the song to its fullest life. Featuring the illustrious Aurora Nealand on accordion, the song welcomes you into an almost circus-like last waltz.” — Chloe Smith, Rising Appalachia