Showcase Review: CornFed Dogs

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The monthly HVBA Showcase Series is an under appreciated gem. Those of you who heard about this event, and didn’t attend, certainly missed an awesome concert.

CornFed Dogs’ performance on Friday evening was something special. We first heard this group perform at one of Joe Val’s basement shows last year. That was back in February and it was the best concert of the whole weekend; their performance in Poughkeepsie last night, however, was even better. We think it was the most enjoyable bluegrass event that we’ve attended in 2012.

Front Porch String Band featuring Claire Lynch

While Hills of Alabam is a new release, the material all dates from the early 1980s or thereabouts—it’s a compilation of material from two Front Porch String Band albums, the only ones that were ever released, with the one exception being “The Day that Lester Died” which comes from Mark Newton’s album Follow Me Back to the Fold.

For fans of Claire Lynch—and frankly, who isn’t—this album is a  delight. The instrumentation sparkles, as does the quiet energy of the material. Yet, despite the extremely tight and tasteful instrumentalists, Lynch’s voice steals the show pretty much throughout.

Review: Byron Berline – Jammin' with Byron

Byron Berline has released a great new CD of fiddle standards and original instrumentals. The title of the CD is Jammin' With Byron. According to my Bryon detection meter, that's two releases in two years after a bit of an absence from the recording studio. I like this cadence!

This CD harkens back to Byron's earliest music influences and recordings (though with some contemporary arrangements). It has the relaxed feel of a jam session but clearly we are treated to some of the very best texas-style fiddling and bluegrass instrumental playing.

Review: Lonesome River Band Concert

Last Saturday (November 17, 2012) night’s Lonesome River Band concert at Christ Church in Poughkeepsie provided a vivid reminder of why people go to live performances rather than just sitting at home with CD’s or the radio. The evening was filled with great harmonies, spectacular solo and ensemble instrumentals and fresh interpretations of old tunes. In the words of Lynn Lipton, “it was back-to-back great, toe-tapping music!”