by Frank Matheis
Readers of thecountryblues.com usually swing in many ways musically. There are those who stay strictly close to the blues and dig into the wide spectrum up to rocking Chicago blues and blues rock. Then, there are those who prefer to generally stay close to acoustic roots music, widening their appreciation-net to related forms of American acoustic roots music, including an amalgam of elements of folk, blues, bluegrass, and Appalachian mountain music. For the lack of a better descriptive term, some people like calling it Americana, that place where traditions meet. A better explanatory term might be “contemporary American traditional string music” as silly as that sounds.
For folks who plain out love acoustic roots music of all forms, which includes this writer, much excitement is found in the new generation of current players making a name for themselves, some already well known, others emerging.
In this Christmas 2018 edition, let’s highlight a few wonderful new voices, with “new” of course being relative. These artists have arrived after years of paying their dues, and they are deserving of attention, recognition and, yes, a bit of respect. You might not know them yet, but one listen will convince that these are joyous musicians making lovey music.
About 20 years ago, I touted newcomers Gillian Welch/David Rawlings and Iris Dement when they were first getting out the gate. On the Americana/roots music scene, there is no shortage of new talent and these are among the finest. Let’s meet a few remarkable young voices that are likely to bring you musical happiness and whose time has come:
The Lowest Pair
The exciting duo of multi-instrumentalists Kendl Winter and Palmer T. Lee with the clever name also carries that wit over to their original songs. Their 2016 album was called “Uncertain as it is Uneven” which sounds like a critical punch by a mean critic. In actuality, the infectious album exudes even consistency. Lovely harmonies, smart songs and superb songwriting. Kendl Winter, originally from Arkansas is simply a lovely singer, with a sweet voice that will penetrate even the coldest heart. The pair from Washington state fits together intrinsically and when they play they look at each other adoringly with sparkles in their eyes. They exude joy, which comes across vividly. Both play guitar and banjo and interchange them constantly in various constellations. Sometimes he sings lead, sometimes she does and around it goes, two young musicians who love what they do, passionately, with swift instrumentation and clever songs. This young couple packs a powerful musical punch and they rank among the best of the new crop of roots musicians in large part because they are so sincere in their sound with expressive artistry. Already great, they are on the cusp of well-deserved fame. They carry a certain ethereal hillbilly beatnik hipster vibe, but these folks are musically refined and lyrically profound yet unpretentious. Like all good traditionally based folk music, there is an underlying tension, a balance between sadness and joy. They will twang your soul. You got to love them.
The Honey Dewdrops
Another fine duo, the Honey Dewdrops, are two Virginians now living in Baltimore, Laura Wortman and Kagey Parrish. They harmonize angelically and perform on clawhammer banjo, guitar and mandolin. Their style reflects distinctive Appalachian mountain roots, with pre-bluegrass and bluegrass coming through. Wortman is a virtual canary of a singer, bright, lovely and embracing. Parrish is an excellent guitarist and he showcases an element of David Rawlings influence. Appalachian rooted music tells stories about the hard life, hard work, hard times hard places and the good people of that region. So much of what is American, in literature and music, derives from that poor, misunderstood and maligned corner of America where the Irish, Scots, Welch, Germans and Austrians met to toil in the coal mines and small mountain farms. Here the Celtic fiddlers and harpists met the German yodlers with their zithers, and the mountain dulcimer, hammered dulcimer and autoharp was born. Relatively isolated in small communities deep in the hills and hollers, they gave birth to what was to become one of the primary roots of popular American music. This remarkable duo digs into bluegrass, folk, white gospel, and country music in general, with performances that dig into John Prine, Hank Williams and more. If you listen carefully to the Honey Dewdrops you can still hear traces of the true, old Celtic musical traditions, and also Alpine mountain music. They carry on those traditions with their excellent original songs combining primitive sensibilities with melodic sophistication, rich in spirituality and expressionistic storytelling. Simple, stark, and veiled in the white gospel, the hillbilly tradition is carried on proudly throughout – sentimental and melancholy, and with great fun.
