Nickel Creek and Yonder Mountain String Band: Mixing Bluegrass With Different Genres

Yonder Mountain String Band
                                                           Nickel Creek

22. Yonder Mountain String Band: Angel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERjlLEHlltQ
Yonder Mountain String Band began playing in 1998. Much like the New Grass Revival and other bands of the progressive movement, they have a very different sound than traditional bluegrass. In this selection we hear a slower rhythm and weaker harmonies. The voices of the artist are much less distinct and pronounced than traditional bluegrass groups. We also hear the banjo solo in this song that seems more like a-freestyle than a planned banjo rife. Despite these flaws the band still holds the key elements of a bluegrass group and is thus widely accredited in this community.

23. Yonder Mountain String Band: Half Moon Rising
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3Yeum4AaDw&feature=related
This selection demonstrates how the Yonder Mountain String Band often does more closely reflect traditional bluegrass music than other progressive bands. In this selection we hear the familiar interplay of string instruments, different instruments leading, and a very smooth and simple quartets that follow soft solos. The selection is taking from a February 2006 show in an outdoor venue. The band’s tendency for playing outdoor venues is very much reflective of the new grass movement.

24. Nickel Creek: Lighthouse’s Tale
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTAyMt3ldSU
Nickel Creek has arguably the most unique sound on this entire list. The group mixes folk, pop, and bluegrass. This song shows how the use of violin, mandolin, and guitar reflect bluegrass roots. However, the lyrics and the quiet and smooth sound of the selection makes one immediately tie the lyrics to pop. For the most part the selection is sung by the guitarist with short harmonizing sections. This song truly reflects a new approach to bluegrass that seems to have a strong ability to attract new pop and soft rock listeners.

Crooked Still, Shady Grove Band, and Railroad Earth: The Future of Bluegrass Music

                                              Railroad Earth

                                                 Shady Grove Band

                                             Crooked Still

25. Railroad Earth: Long Way to Go
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vp7MkRyRUIQ
Out of all the songs from the progressive bluegrass segment this song does the best job of incorporating traditional bluegrass with hints of new trends. This performance from 2004 is centered around jiving banjo picking and violin solos. However, one can also hear a solo voice that is accompanied only for the harmony by soft background vocals. It also reflects tradition in terms of its lyrics, which are about traveling and life experiences. Both of these themes are at the heart of traditional bluegrass music.


26. Shady Grove Band: Streamline Canonball
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9dPnJ0i0lI
The Shady Grove Band is evidence that traditional bluegrass bands still exist in the age of progressive bluegrass. Through all of these selections it is clear that there have been many transformations in the genre. However, this group uses banjo, bass, mandolin, and guitar in a simple classic four-piece set. The group also utilizes the quartet for all of the harmonies.


27. Crooked Still: Railroad Bill
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fh5zmCcrRAA
This song by Crooked Still is taken from a performance in July 2007. The selection is notable for multiple reasons. First of all, the group takes the cello and it puts it at the forefront of the bluegrass formula. Although the banjo has many solos in this song, the cello dominates with fast-paced and creative solos that including stroking and plucking. Another unique element of this band is that the vocals are all left to the female singer. The vocals also take on a much bigger role in this song than they usually do in other bluegrass tracks.

Discography and Resources

Playlist
1. Monroe Brothers, Sinner You Better Get Ready. JSP. All The Classic Releases 1937-1949. (1937)
2. Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys, Bluegrass Breakdown. Music of Bill Monroe 1936-1994. MCA. 11048. (1994).
3. Bill Monroe, I’ve Found a Hiding Place. I Saw the Light. Decca DL-78769 (1958)
4. Blue Grass Boys, Roanoke, Banjo Newsletter, BNL, Ser (1973-)(1975/04,-10b.
5. Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs and the Foggy Mountain Band, Blue Ridge Cabin Home. Hills and Home; Thirty Years of Bluegrass, New World NW 225, LP (1976).
6. Lester Flatts and Earl Scruggs and the Foggy Mountain Band, Songs of the Famous Carter Family. Columbia CS 8464, LP (1961), trk# 2.
7. The Nashville Grass, You’re Gonna Miss Me When I’m Gone. Wabash Cannonball. Harmony H 30932, LP (198?)
8. Earl Scruggs and Lester Flatt: Ballad of Jed Clampett. Peer International, Bk (1968).
9. David Grisman and Jerry Garcia: Shady Grove. Acoustic Disc ACD 21, CD (1996).
10. Jerry Garcia and David Grisman: Walking Boss. Acoustic Disc ACD 2. GDCD-39032. (1991).
11. Old and In the Way: Pig in a Pen. Old and In The Way. Sugar Hill SH 3746, LP (1975).
12. Old and In The Way: Wild Horses. Old and In The Way. Sugar Hill SH 3746, LP (1975).
13. The Country Gentlemen: Dark as a Dungeon. Smithsonian Folkways Recordings. 40175. (1973).
14. The Dillards. There is a Time. There is a Time. Vanguard. 131/32. (1991)
15. Nashville Bluegrass Band. Gospel Plow. The Stained Glass Hour. Rounder Select. 11563. (1992).
16. New Grass Revival: White Freightener. When the storm is over/fly through the country. Flying Fish. 70032. (1977).
17. Bela Fleck with New Grass Revival, Deviation. Best of New Grass Revival. Rounder. 610196. (1984).
18. The Country Gazette, Don’t Let Nobody Tie You Down. I Like Good Bluegrass. EMI Gold. 218345. (2008).
19. String Cheese Incident, Texas. Born on the wrong planet. Sci Fidelity. 1001. (1997).
20. String Cheese Incident, Half Moon Rising. On The Road. Sci Fidelity. 1033. (2006).
21. Greensky Bluegrass, Get No Better. Live At Bells. Greensky Bluegrass. 122957. (2008).
22. Yonder Mountain String Band. Angel. Yonder Mountain String Band CD. Vanguard. 79801. (2006).
23. Yonder Mountain String Band, Half Moon Rising. Elevation CD. Frog Pad. 73506. (1999).
24. Nickel Creek, Lighthouse’s Tale. Nickel Creek CD. Sugar Hill. 3909. (2000).
25. Railroad Earth, Long Way To Go. Elko. Vivid Sound Japan. 3881. (2007).
26. Shady Grove Band, Streamlined Cannonball. Columbia Historic Edition. 39998. (1985).
27. Crooked Still, Railroad Bill. Shaken By a Low Sound. 2000. (2006).

Resources
http://www.jstor.org/pss/538358
http://books.google.com/books?id=ea6a_sgdRH0C&dq=%22Bluegrass-A+History%22&printsec=frontcover&source=bl&ots=BOydwznJfp&sig=e2kWB_5bS-WZIqd2sCLJkvzCXrQ&hl=en&ei=DwfZSf-BGIHuMpnTiIQP&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4#PPR9,M1
http://www.ibma.org/about.bluegrass/history/index.asp
http://www.billmonroe.com/
http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=6741
http://www.charliewaller.net/2007_memorial_website/site_index.htm
http://www.flatt-and-scruggs.com/lesterbio.html
http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=77:100