Lonesome Day Records

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Having long been a fan of Bob Seger and his music, I was delighted when this all-star bluegrass tribute to the legendary roots-rocker dropped into my lap. What grabbed me at an early age, was the immediacy of Bob Seger and his music. I could relate to it in a way, that as a budding music expert, I couldn’t relate to the complex strains of Pink Floyd and prog rock. Yet, as I listen to it now, performed bluegrass style, I recognise the elegant structure behind its freedom. All of these songs are clearly the product of careful revision and curation, polished into gems that the thirty-plus singers and musicians gathered together over several sessions, mainly in the Lonesome Day studios in Kentucky, execute with passion and style. Just to whet any doubters’ appetite, how about these, just for starters: Richard Bennett, Shawn Brock, Larry Cordle, Stephen Mougin, Gary Nichols (guitars)., Jeff Parker, Tony Robertson, Darrell Webb (mandolin). Richard Bailey, Ned Luberecki (banjo), Mike Bub, Mike Flemming, David Hood (bass), Tim Crouch, Shawn Lane, Megan Lynch, Carson Peters, Tammy Rogers (fiddle), Wayne Bridge, Phil Easterbrook, Jake Joines (Dobro). When you add in such lead vocalists as Larry Cordle, Carson Peters, Shonna Tucker, Tim Shelton, Bo Bice, Tim Stafford, Bill Taylor, Gary Nichols, Josh Shilling, Keith Garrett and then factor in such harmony vocalists as Sarah Borges, Shawn Lane, Gary Nichols, Tim Shelton and Cindy Walker, then this is indeed an ‘all-star’ collection. 

Their performances are distinct yet seamless, despite the use of varied singers taking the lead on these 13 Seger songs. Being a rock troubadour, criss-crossing the highways of America, many of his tunes are road songs, like Roll Me Away. Inspired by a motorcycle road trip that Seger took across Wyoming, it’s a song best-known from the 1985 movie Mask. Kentuckian Bill Taylor’s soulful mountain twang delivers just the right amount of tension in this mid-tempo, Dobro-fueled version, sure to appeal to bluegrass fans, as well as those of Bob Seger. It’s as though you’re driving the High Road to Yellowstone with the windows down. The ever-dependable Gary Nichols takes the lead on Turn The Page, my all-time favourite Seger song. He captures the weariness of both Seger’s original and the definitive Waylon version, with Tammy Rogers’ haunting fiddle interacting perfectly with Gary’s finely picked acoustic guitar and the subtle mandolin and banjo noodling.

Ned Luberecki’s banjo sets the tone for Hollywood Nights, with Shonna Tucker’s passionate vocals, rising powerfully above the hot picking that mirrors a poor boy’s frustrations at the glitter and gold. It’s one of those songs that’s great to hear on an album, but would be amazing live, if the studio players were ever able to show off. Against The Wind, with Tim Shelton on lead vocals, is played in a contemporary bluegrass style, heavily influenced by country music, with an abundance of wide-open sound. Main Street is an interesting choice. Essentially, it is a soul tune, and with Josh Shilling of Mountain Heart at the helm, the song is loaded with plenty of deep-felt soul. The album closes with the one and only Larry Cordle with a typically powerful reading of Night Moves. Sung magnificently by this veteran grasser, it stands out for the heavy dose of acoustic soul the musicians whip up; musically summoning a flawless union, the kind that arises from being on your third whiskey. Even in its original form, this timeless classic was given an understated, acoustic feel, perfect for a full-on, bluegrass treatment. Hopefully there’s still plenty more fuel left in the tank for another journey of this special blend of Silver Bullet Bluegrass.

www.lonesomeday.com

August 2024