Last week I caught the all-female string band collective Uncle Earl at the Gravity Lounge (a really cool little music room) in Charlottesville.
When the foursome started singing their pre-bluegrass, front-porch story songs, it made the atmosphere feel pastoral and simple. Their angelic harmonies had the crowd in awe; voices you don't often find in the burgeoning contemporary old-time movement. Each gal took a turn in the spotlight, offering sweetly authoritative, yet distinctly different rotating vocals that float gracefully over the musical mix of the old Celtic world of fiddle reels with post-modernly sheened original songwriting.
Before the show I reviewed their new CD, "Waterloo, Tennessee," for a local paper. The disc was produced by of all people former Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones. I confess I had no idea JPJ had any interest in string bands, but he certainly touched this one up in all the right places, adding hints of folk rock and blues to the equation.
They'll be back in the region for Merlefest at the end of April. If you're into the new school, old-time thing, I recommend checking them out.
Happy Trails,
J.F.
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