O Bluegrass, Where Art Thou Headed? Without the aid of radio play, a music revolution has taken root

USA Weekend ^ | January 13, 2002 | By Jennifer Mendelsohn

[Brookhaven]

Patty Loveless starts her show at The Birchmere, a music hall in Alexandria, Va., by performing contemporary hits like "I'm That Kind of Girl" and "Lonely Too Long" -- the kinds of songs that have made her a country radio staple. But midway through her set, Loveless and her musicians unplug and regroup. They cluster around a single microphone and break into the old-time, knee-slapping ditties from Loveless' most recent CD, "Mountain Soul", a celebration of the mountain music on which the Kentucky coal miner's daughter was raised. The audience jumps to its feet and begins to cheer and scream as if Loveless were doing magic tricks or acrobatics.

[Brookhaven]

So what's going on here?

People are getting tired of hearing the same music from a handfull of "artists" that all look and sound alike. I think the next decade will see a comeback for a lot of musical styles (blues, jazz, big band) in their more rawer forms. People are hungry for music that is about music, not about making a flashy video.

[gcruse]

The greatest ever = The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's Orange Blossom Special

[Brookhaven]

b

[Don Myers]

bttt

[Slyfox]

I remember hearing one of Leann Womack first hits once where someone had thrown the bluegrass instrumental back in that her record producers had removed because, "it sounded too hillbilly". Well, it literally made the song with the bluegrass put back in. They may have had an even bigger hit on their hands had they left it in.

[sheltonmac]

I remember leaving the theater after seeing "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" and driving straight to the store to buy the soundtrack.

[parsifal]

And tired of the big music companies who "market" talent and "make" stars. Another reason I am all for pirating music and driving the big labels under. It is our patriotic duty.

BTW, if you liked O Brother, try the Nitty Gritty's "Will the Circle Be Unbroken" cd and the second one also. parsy.

[sheltonmac]

Southern music BUMP

[M.K. Borders]

Actually the greatest was the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's original "Circle" album, with Mother Maybel Carter, Roy Acuff, Earl Scruggs, and all.

[Justa]

Well, I fired-up the ole mp3 dredger, I'll have to see what this is about. Now if they could only bring back the sea shanties...

[zarf]

The movie was overrated. The Cohen brothers are the most annoying, self conscious filmakers around.

The bluegrass "revolution" is another media inspired attempted to elevate the "obscure into the mainstream" creating this weeks flavor.

This to shall pass.

[shuckmaster]

yeehaaa!

[Brookhaven]

try the Nitty Gritty's "Will the Circle Be Unbroken"

I bought the album about 25 years ago. Great introduction to bluegrass and traditional music.

For something more recent try some of the recordings by Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder. Ricky has gone back to his bluegrass roots and is doing a great job.

Also look for the last couple of recordings by Rhonda Vincent. You probably will have trouble finding her in your local record store, but she is becomings something of an underground super-star in the bluegrass world.

[Brookhaven]

Try this link to hear a Rhonda Vincent sample:

http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/307/rhonda_vincent.html

This is a great example of an artist that is making an impact in the music industry without a lot of support from the major record labels.

[riley1992]

What, exactly, is "obscure" about Bluegrass? Which bands bother you the most?

[parsifal]

"The bluegrass "revolution" is another media inspired attempted to elevate the "obscure into the mainstream" creating this weeks flavor."

I heartily disagree. No doubt the labels will start churning out bluegrass and old country music like crazy, but some of the music really does have legs. It is certainly better than Mariah Carey, the rap-crap (excepting K-7 and a few others), and all the angry white boy music on MTV.

I think that all the shock music we have been exposed to since late 60's is maybe running its course and people are genuinely hungry for music that just sounds nice. For example, people are actually buying Jeri Southern CDs again. Movie soundtracks with Jimmy Durante songs even sell. I feel your cynicism, but oh let us hope and pray you are wrong. If bluegrass comes, come Sigmond Romberg be far behind? parsy.

[Common Tator]

As they say in Nashville, if you can't make it in country, try Blue Grass, and if you fail at Blue Grass go to Gospel. Almost anyone can make a living in Gospel.

Blue Grass is easier than Country. You only have to pick Blue Grass, Country players have to pick and grin.

[UpstateNYRouser]

Do you mean, "This too shall pass."?
Don't you just hate know it alls?

[parsifal]

And yo, "Another Country" - Skaggs with the Irish Chieftains. Break out a bottle of St. Brendans and leave this world behind for a while. parsy. (ps-thanks for link. heading there now.)

[RippleFire]

BUMP