Random (but not really)

Monday, November 1, 2004

Mountainstage

Mountainstage came to the CAC Sunday night. As with last time, it was primarily a bluegrass show, and we had a great time.

Started out with the Old Crow Medicine Show, which made me think of Charles deLint. Oddly enough their sound did remind me a bit of the music he describes in some of his stories, although whether that’s his intention or not, I couldn’t say.

Diana Jones was next. She had what I heard someone on the way out describe as “an old time voice.” Very strong. I particularly liked her a cappella tune.

I really liked Jonathan Byrd and Dromedary. Dromedary played a strange variety of instruments, including a strange instrument that looked like a banjo with too many strings and a marvelous sound. I think that I would like one of their albums.

The biggest surprise to me Kris Delmhorst, who had fantastic voice. Once she started singing I remembered having heard her on Mountainstage previously, but she didn’t like old enough and careworn enough to have such an incredible voice.

Dwight Miller & John Morris (I hope I got those names correct) were the old time musicians of the evening. Two old men sitting on chairs playing banjo and fiddle and telling tales between songs. They looked like they belonged sitting on a porch, leaning back, fiddling and picking and telling tales. I was pleased and surprised by how much the audience appreciated them–they received a standing ovation when they were done. Absolutely lovely.

Finishing up the night was the Nashville Bluegrass Band. Very good, very polished group. Their a cappella tune was just amazing–what I liked best of what they did. Oddly enough, I think they were a bit too polished at what they did for me to really love them. Don’t get me wrong, they were good–even great–but something about them just didn’t seem right to men, and I can’t really put my finger on what precisely it was, other than it seemed perhaps too polished. But as I said, they were very very good.

If you were looking to buy me some music from the evening, I think I’d really like something from Old Crow Medicine Show or Dromedary. But everything was very good.

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