Lonesome River Band
Still Learning
The Lonesome
River Band has been around for 30 years. And while he wasn't a founding
member, banjo player Sammy Shelor is the defacto leader of the band by virtue of
the length of his tenure. On their latest album, Still
Learning, The Lonesome River Band pushes forward with the same
driving sound that has made them longtime fan favorites.
The Lonesome River Band's roster has included
such bluegrass luminaries as Ronnie Bowman, Dan Tyminski, Adam Steffey, Kenny
Smith, Ron Stewart and Rickie Simpkins. The current line-up includes Brandon
Rickman on guitar and lead vocals, Andy Ball on mandolin and vocals, Mike Anglin
on bass, Mark Hargrove on fiddle and Shelor on banjo and harmony vocals. As its
oldest member Shelor serves as the lynchpin of the group. His right-hand
precision infuses every song with a solid rhythmic pocket. Shelor's ability to
be ever so slightly in front of the beat without speeding up marks his playing
as unique.
Young Brandon Rickman already has two solo albums
under his belt. He's a fine songwriter, and on Still
Learning adds four new songs to the mix, including the title tune.
His blues tune, "Forty Days in The Desert," combines pentatonic licks with
an Old Testament narrative. On "As Wild As I Get," Rickman weaves a tale of
youthful hi-jinx with adult love. The melody is hauntingly delicate with perfect
harmonies and gently restrained mandolin fills from Andy Ball. Lonesome
River's cover of Ashby Frank's "I've Seen the Blues" combines
carefully crafted vocal harmonies with hot solos to form a nearly perfect
bluegrass song.
If you are a longtime Lonesome River fan, (and
what bluegrass fan isn't a Lonesome River Fan?) you won't be disappointed by
Still Learning. If you don't
have any Lonesome River albums in your possession, it's time to start now.
Enjoyment:
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