Search - Grasstowne :: Road Headin Home

Urbane, refined, imaginative, far-sighted contemporary blueg

J. Ross | Roseburg, OR USA | 08/07/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Playing Time - 45:36 -- Grasstowne is located near Knoxville, Tennessee. While Knoxville has long been known as the "Gateway to the Smokies," Grasstowne has inviting signs at its city limits that proclaim "Welcome to Smokin' Bluegrassville." Although the town is fictitious, this band is no joke with their urbane, refined contemporary bluegrass sound that is imaginative and far-sighted. Building a town takes creative, visionary thinkers like Phil Leadbetter, Steve Gulley, Alan Bibey, Jason Davis and Lee Sawyer. Grasstowne's development plans and grids were laid out in 2006, and the quintet has now broken ground with their debut album, "The Road Headin' Home." Grasstowne's formation has generated much excitement, and the band's futurists take much pride in their chosen path. While doing their own thing, I encourage them to continue discovering fine new material from up-and-coming songwriters, and resisting any temptations to over-commercialize their sound.



Each of the band members bring either years of top-notch experience or youthful talent and exuberance to the table. Leadbetter (resonator guitar), Gulley (guitar) and Bibey (mandolin) are the seasoned vets who have toured and recorded with high quality bluegrass acts Mountain Heart, Wildfire, and BlueRidge. Banjo-player Jason Davis may be a young Virginian, but he's already appeared on albums from Michelle Nixon & Drive, as well as Kenny & Amanda Smith Band. North Carolinian Lee Sawyer performed previously with Larry Stephenson Band, but he has since moved on from Grasstowne due to work and school commitments. While he doesn't appear on "The Road Headin' Home," bassist Jamey Booher joined Grasstowne in April, 2007.



Alan Bibey has a reputation of being an influential, distinctive stylist in the bluegrass idiom. At track five, his self-penned "Grasstowne City Limits" is the best example of the mandolinist's burnished, calibrated approach. He also shares some of the lead vocal duties (with Gulley) by singing "Devil's Road" and "Love You Don't Know." Leadbetter and Gulley have been friends since the mid-1970s when they played in Knoxville-based groups as teens. While nominated in many categories for years, Phil won the IBMA "Dobro Player of the Year" in 2005. Gulley has been nominated multiple times for SPBGMA's Male Vocalist of the Year award. These facts only reinforce why this album brims with singing and playing full of freshness, vigor and clarity. The songs are a sweet set with intensely evocative ones, tearjerkers, and carefree romps. Besides Gulley's four originals and Bibey's instrumental showcase, the band's repertoire draws from solid writers. Distinct airs of blues, country and gospel creep into Grasstowne's blend.



One guest is Chris Brown (percussion) on four cuts, and we'll just have to see how deejays and fans alike take to their bluegrass with discreet drums. I personally don't mind them on certain kinds of songs and if the bluegrass instruments are always given conspicuous roles. The band also chose to include some feminine harmonies (courtesy of Dale Ann Bradley) into "Here Comes That Feeling Again" and "You're Right, I'm Wrong." Whether gimmickry or prophetic creation, it allows an album to have many moods with each song uniquely standing on its own. Guests Stuart Duncan or Tim Crouch play fiddle, and Byron House bows his bass on the reflective closer, "Patchin' it Up." I hope they'll continue to follow their collective vision, find great new songs to record, and continue to produce music consistent with the latest contemporary bluegrass trends. They're a very astute, experienced group and have all the necessary ingredients (good singers, players and songs) to yield much success. (Joe Ross, staff writer, Bluegrass Now)

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WOW

Ann | Chapel Hll, NC United States | 02/08/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It isn't very often that all cuts on a CD can be considered good let alone great. This CD is an exception. It is great!Any true Bluegrass fan will find that this is a must-have for their collection. What can you say other than Steve Gulley arguably has the best voice in Bluegrass music today and he doesn't disappoint on this CD. Alan Bibey is a great mandolin player (and vocalist) and "owns it" especially on Grasstowne City Limits. This cut should,in my opinion be nominated, if not win, the IBMA award for instrumental of the year. I was not famililar with the young banjo player and bass player before listening to the CD but they are by no means amateurs. Great job guys! Phil Ledbetter's performance on dobro is a testament as to why he has won IBMA dobro player of the year in the past. Borrowing a line from Ricky Scaggs; Country rocks, but Bluegrass (and especially this CD) rules!!!!!"