"We live the music we sing about," says Brad Folk, lead singer and songwriter for Open Road. The well-dressed performers of hard-edged, gritty bluegrass music have been touring across North America steadily for more than two years, since the group's first Rounder release, 2002's Cold Wind, created a buzz among traditional music lovers, festival audiences of all ages, and young fans of authentic music performances. Last year's successful ...in the life appeared on the Billboard bluegrass charts and received radio play and critical praise across the roots music world. In the title cut on Lucky Drive, the band's third release on Rounder, Brad addresses the American ideals of happiness and wealth from an outsider's view, inspired by the band's trips to Los Angeles in the past year. And Brad's "Wanderin' Blues" ponders the heart of a traveler who longs for a conventional home, wrestling with his own restless nature. No Depression has recognized Brad's "uncanny knack for crafting timeless tunes on timeless subjects." Brad's songs go straight to the soul of listeners, and the band's original instrumentals thrill audiences with an ancient fire.In addition to originals, Open Road finds little-known bluegrass gems and brings them to the light for today's listeners. "Our knowledge of these songs comes from many late nights in the barn spinning old records because we love 'em," says Brad. "Some songs stick out for us to borrow, but thousands go untouched."The band took some time off at the end of 2004 to record in Denver, working again with producer Sally Van Meter. "Because a lot of these songs were fairly new to us, and we hadn't been performing them night after night, the CD has a spontaneous feel to it," says mandolinist Caleb Roberts, a South Carolinian who founded Open Road with Brad, originally from Missouri, in 1999.Open Road was honored to have one of the band's living heroes, Vern Williams, sing with Brad on "I'm Lonesome," a track on Lucky Drive that the band learned from a Larry and Happy Smith recording on the Blueridge label. Open Road plays bluegrass with a gritty soul that communicates an authentic, real-life emotion that touches audiences. This has a lot to do with Brad's unusual, raw, vocal twang and his stage presence. Some people can't tell if this unpolished approach to bluegrass is for real. Those who grew up with bluegrass and those who have never heard it before sometimes react with equal fascination to Brad's voice. The Missoulian described it this way: "If bluegrass is all about that high-lonesome sound, this guy's camping solo atop Everest. But give him two or three songs, and you may just become convinced that everybody should sing this way. "There is something oddly quite warm and affecting about his voice, something that makes you know he'd be a fascinating guy to sit around a campfire with, swapping stories. That unpretentious charm pervades the music of Open Road, from the tasty underpinnings provided by bassist Eric Thorin, to the lazy virtuosity of mandolinist Caleb Roberts." For the past two Rounder projects, Brad and Caleb have been working with bassist Eric Thorin and banjo player Keith Reed, both talented and versatile musicians who share Brad and Caleb's passion for using traditional bluegrass as a language for innovation. Eric, a Colorado native, is a sought-after musician for session work and as a sideman for everything from salsa and jazz to rock and Americana. Keith has a degree from South Plains College, known for its bluegrass program, and a classical music degree. He teaches banjo and classical guitar at Colorado College in Colorado Springs. The five-piece acoustic band from Colorado, named after a style of Stetson hat, performs bluegrass around one microphone; banjo, mandolin and fiddle dance around to play leads, similar to how bluegrass musicians performed decades ago, when country music included its acoustic cousin, bluegrass, sometimes called "hillbilly" music. Open Road has proved that bluegrass bands don't need to change the language to ignite the excitement of young audiences; neither do they have to feel restrained in order to please the so-called purists. A tide is turning in American music as more young people recognize a hunger for pure music like Open Road's, and older audiences are pleased to see someone carrying on traditional music with reverence, excitement, and originality. "I think the hard-edged traditional side of this music is to my ears the most exciting and the most thrilling and the most moving," Brad says. Caleb agrees: "There's a lot of power, a lot of feeling in that music that's really inspiring to me, and it's my favorite kind of music."
Lucky Drive,Open Road,Rounder / Pgd,Bluegrass,Contemporary Bluegrass,Country,Pop,Traditional Bluegrass
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Lucky Drive
Open Road Manufacturer: Rounder / Umgd ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD  General
| Country
| Styles
| Music
General
| Traditional Country
| Country
| Styles
| Music
General
| Bluegrass
| Country
| Styles
| Music
Contemporary
| Bluegrass
| Country
| Styles
| Music
Traditional
| Bluegrass
| Country
| Styles
| Music
General
| Contemporary Folk
| Folk
| Styles
| Music
General
| Folk
| Styles
| Music
Traditional Folk
| Folk
| Styles
| Music
Rounder Records
| Specialty Stores
| Music
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ASIN: B0009MAOH8 Release Date: 2005-06-28 |
Tracks:
- Lucky Drive
- It's Blowing Away
- Take My Hand And Tell Me
- Shotgun
- Wanderin' Blues
- Roustabout
- Rollin' On
- If I Never Have Anything Else
- I'm Lonesome
- Tater Patch
- Little Rabbit
- After Dark
- Mule Train
About the Artists
"We live the music we sing about," says Brad Folk, lead singer and songwriter for Open Road. The well-dressed performers of hard-edged, gritty bluegrass music have been touring across North America steadily for more than two years, since the group's first Rounder release, 2002's Cold Wind, created a buzz among traditional music lovers, festival audiences of all ages, and young fans of authentic music performances. Last year's successful ...in the life appeared on the Billboard bluegrass charts and received radio play and critical praise across the roots music world. In the title cut on Lucky Drive, the band's third release on Rounder, Brad addresses the American ideals of happiness and wealth from an outsider's view, inspired by the band's trips to Los Angeles in the past year. And Brad's "Wanderin' Blues" ponders the heart of a traveler who longs for a conventional home, wrestling with his own restless nature. No Depression has recognized Brad's "uncanny knack for crafting timeless tunes on timeless subjects." Brad's songs go straight to the soul of listeners, and the band's original instrumentals thrill audiences with an ancient fire. In addition to originals, Open Road finds little-known bluegrass gems and brings them to the light for today's listeners. "Our knowledge of these songs comes from many late nights in the barn spinning old records because we love 'em," says Brad. "Some songs stick out for us to borrow, but thousands go untouched." The band took some time off at the end of 2004 to record in Denver, working again with producer Sally Van Meter. "Because a lot of these songs were fairly new to us, and we hadn't been performing them night after night, the CD has a spontaneous feel to it," says mandolinist Caleb Roberts, a South Carolinian who founded Open Road with Brad, originally from Missouri, in 1999. Open Road was honored to have one of the band's living heroes, Vern Williams, sing with Brad on "I'm Lonesome," a track on Lucky Drive that the band learned from a Larry and Happy Smith recording on the Blueridge label. Open Road plays bluegrass with a gritty soul that communicates an authentic, real-life emotion that touches audiences. This has a lot to do with Brad's unusual, raw, vocal twang and his stage presence. Some people can't tell if this unpolished approach to bluegrass is for real. Those who grew up with bluegrass and those who have never heard it before sometimes react with equal fascination to Brad's voice. The Missoulian described it this way: "If bluegrass is all about that high-lonesome sound, this guy's camping solo atop Everest. But give him two or three songs, and you may just become convinced that everybody should sing this way. "There is something oddly quite warm and affecting about his voice, something that makes you know he'd be a fascinating guy to sit around a campfire with, swapping stories. That unpretentious charm pervades the music of Open Road, from the tasty underpinnings provided by bassist Eric Thorin, to the lazy virtuosity of mandolinist Caleb Roberts." For the past two Rounder projects, Brad and Caleb have been working with bassist Eric Thorin and banjo player Keith Reed, both talented and versatile musicians who share Brad and Caleb's passion for using traditional bluegrass as a language for innovation. Eric, a Colorado native, is a sought-after musician for session work and as a sideman for everything from salsa and jazz to rock and Americana. Keith has a degree from South Plains College, known for its bluegrass program, and a classical music degree. He teaches banjo and classical guitar at Colorado College in Colorado Springs. The five-piece acoustic band from Colorado, named after a style of Stetson hat, performs bluegrass around one microphone; banjo, mandolin and fiddle dance around to play leads, similar to how bluegrass musicians performed decades ago, when country music included its acoustic cousin, bluegrass, sometimes called "hillbilly" music. Open Road has proved that bluegrass bands don't need to change the language to ignite the excitement of young audiences; neither do they have to feel restrained in order to please the so-called purists. A tide is turning in American music as more young people recognize a hunger for pure music like Open Road's, and older audiences are pleased to see someone carrying on traditional music with reverence, excitement, and originality. "I think the hard-edged traditional side of this music is to my ears the most exciting and the most thrilling and the most moving," Brad says. Caleb agrees: "There's a lot of power, a lot of feeling in that music that's really inspiring to me, and it's my favorite kind of music."Customer Reviews:
Good Music But Mostly Cover Tunes.......2006-01-22
To some degree my expectations were confirmed, I especially enjoyed Caleb Robert's mandolin playing. But I was disappointed that only two songs were originals - "Lucky Drive" and "Wanderin' Blues". These songs show vocalist and guitarist Bradford Lee Folk to be a talented songwriter. So why he chose to write only these two numbers I have no idea. On the plus side, the band does have good taste in covers, including many relatively obscure tunes which were fresh to my ear. Perhaps once the band begins to write more original songs they can vault themselves into 5 star territory. Still worth listening to though.
Mighty powerful bluegrass medicine.......2005-08-04
Some of their covered songs from the likes of Charlie Monroe, Buck Graves/Jake Lambert, Bill Grant/Delia Bell, and Kitty Wells can be traced back to a classic era in the bluegrass and country genres. However, on this CD, their third on Rounder, Open Road isn't shy either about including some new originals, such as guitarist Bradford Lee Folk's title track and "Wanderin' Blues." Did you know that Folk is a "real" cowboy? Banjo-player Keith Reed penned the high-stepping instrumental "Shotgun," a little ditty that incorporates plenty of string bends and even some Scruggs tuner action. Original Open Road banjo-player Jim Rummels has apparently moved on to other endeavors.
The rest of the band includes Caleb Roberts (mandolin), Eric Thorin (bass), and Paul Lee (fiddle). All five band members sing, although lead vocals are predominantly sung by Folk whose vocalizing has a rustic purity at the heart of bluegrass. Roberts doesn't have the best of singing voices, but his rendition of "After Dark" is delivered with earnest effort. Vern Williams makes a cameo appearance, singing with Folk on "I'm Lonesome," a song learned from a Larry and Happy Smith recording. And what would a set like this be with a novelty tune like "Tater Patch" with its cute hook...or an upbeat traditional fiddle tune like "Little Rabbit."
Dressing the part, these showmen also understand the need to entertain. Besides their suits, the guys wear Stetson hats, perhaps some are even of the "open road" style. Produced by Sally Van Meter, "Lucky Drive" has a spontaneous feel to it because many of the songs had not been overplayed and their thrills worn down by the band before they set out to record them.
Folk claims to "live the music we sing about," and this fact may allow them to deliver the gritty goods with plenty of personality and credibility. This album is one for all who enjoy a visceral brand of bluegrass. Open Road strives for music that is both explosive and emotional, and they successfully impart a traditional stamp on a mix of classic and contemporary material. It makes for mighty powerful bluegrass medicine. (Joe Ross, staff writer, Bluegrass Now)
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Slim's Jam - Rare Recordings Never Before on Cd
Slim Galliard Manufacturer: Drive Archive ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General
| Blues
| Styles
| Music
General
| Jazz
| Styles
| Music
ASIN: B000B67YLG |
Product Description
Slim Gaillard - Slim's Jam - Rare Recordings Never Before On CD// Featuring: Slim Galliard guitar, Bam Brown bass, Charlie Parker sax, Dizzy Gillespie trumpet, Jack McVea sax, Dodo Marmarosa piano, Zutty Singleton drums, Wini Beatty piano/vocals, Howard McGhee trumpet, Lucky Thompson sax, Marshall Royal clarinet, 1. Flat Foot Floogie 2. Dizzy Boogie 3. Poppity Pop 4. Slim's Jam 5. Mean Mama Blues 6. Riff City 7. Chicken Rythm 8. Santa Monica Jump 9. Mean Pretty Mama 10. School Kid's Jump 11. That Ain't Right Baby 12. Early Morning Boogie
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Destination: Home
Amberly Drive Manufacturer: Lucky Penny Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B000NQIPSA |
Product Description
Song list: 1. Jetlag 2. Don't Count Me Out 3. Me Not You 4. It's Been Two Days, Isn't It Time For A Hurricane? 5. ...And Miles To Go Before We Sleep 6. This Is Our Time (Bonus Acoustic Track)|
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Lucky Drive
Hugh Manufacturer: Mafia Money Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General
| Folk
| Styles
| Music
General
| Rock
| Styles
| Music
ASIN: B000005BDM Release Date: 1996-04-09 |
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Goodbye Kirkwood Drive
The Bennett Cale Project Manufacturer: How Lucky Are We? Music ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Southern Rock
| Classic Rock
| Styles
| Music
Pop Rock
| Pop
| Styles
| Music
Folk Rock
| Folk
| Indie Music
| Stores
| Music
ASIN: B0001Q3THE Release Date: 2004-02-04 |
Tracks:
- Kirkwood Drive
- Groove With You
- Green Chair
- As My Love (Getting Over You)
- Stride
- But I Do
- Between You and Me
- I Know I'm Right
- This Time Around
- California
- Built This Road
- Crazy Love
Album Description
"Goodbye Kirkwood Drive" is an autobiographical album - a perfect musical representation of lead singer Bennett Cale's metamorphosis from heartbreak to redemption. It unfolds like a novel you cuddle up to read and don't put down until the last page is turned. "Goodbye Kirkwood Drive" is a unique blend of originality and familiarity. Using graceful melodies melded with classic storytelling lyrics, Cale transports the listener back in time. In the tradition of great albums from the sixties and seventies, "Goodbye Kirkwood Drive" offers an uncensored look into the life of an artist. With impeccable musicianship, Cale shares himself in an honest, unaffected way. From the breakdown of his relationship, "saw your ghost out in the hall, staring down at me watching me fall" ("Green Chair") to healing, "but now there's light where it was dark inside" ("This Time Around"), Cale tells his story of redemption with delicate ballads and memorable rock anthems. A final and hidden treasure on the album is the sound of Cale's actual footsteps on the barren hardwood floors as he walks out of his house for the last time.Customer Reviews:
Bennett Rocks!.......2004-09-15
Bennetts musics is phenominal! I cant say enough about it. I hadn't heard of them until I saw them live... right there and then they hooked me in (which it will do to anyone who sees them live!). There is so much of Bennett in this music, but at the same time, its something that can reach to a variety of people. The "extras" in the cd are great as well. "Notions of Gold"(which is an extra) is one of my favorite songs on the CD... the harmony and sound in this song is absolutley amazing. But the harmony and music in all the songs are great and so wonderful! This is a defanet addition to any library, especially for a music lover like me!
Very good listen - nice addition to your collection.......2004-08-21
I live in Los Angeles, CA, and you see lots of bands come and go, but these guys really stand out, and prompted my purchase. I hope to see more of them and more albums to come!
Original sound, full of passion, depth, and range.
Let me describe some of the songs
Song 1, "Kirkland Drive" -- It will be their hit, kind of sounds like a mix between Lennon/Beatles, with lyrics that stick in your head; an anthem that sets the tone.
"Groove with You" - can someone say, chill and hang.
The next couple songs I feel are like 3 song mediation. "Green Chair" - poetic and lyrics that bring you sullen images of lonely, yearning thoughts, bringing you down into another space. Have you ever lost someone? The next song, "As my Love", kind of explains it and brings you through the discourse -- sad song and as the song says, "It ain't so easy in this empty room...".
"Stride" full of courage and triumph. "But I do", I don't know why, but reminds me of Velvet Underground.
When I heard the woman singing on "I know I'm Right", I had to know her name. Angelic voice in such a fun song. (She wasn't at the concert I went to) ah shucks. My favorite morning song!
"This Time Around" - Flange sound, dark, mysterious, vicious -- I remembered this from the concert. Crank it up! Excellent!
"California" - Mellow, nice song -- reminds me of the Eagles.
I don't know what else to say. It's just a great listen altogether. I recommend it.
Such a great sound!.......2004-08-14
The pulse of "Kirkwood Drive" is fun, and the lyrics are so memorable. The music is "I-want-to-sing-along-with-you-every-time-I-hear-it" music. That's just what everyone will do with they hear this one. I also hear as a soundtrack song for film or a TV show theme song, even a commercial.
"Groove with You" and "I Know I'm Right" remind me of Al Green and the Spinners because of the guitar, piano, organ and drums. It'll have you rockin' your head and
dancing in your seat.
The song "Green Chair" starts out like a folk song with the vocal and guitar, and then breaks into a rock-edge backdrop. It was like being on a highway riding as the sun comes up breaking into your world, brightening your world and you.
"As My Love" reminds me of Prince and that sound from that time. His vocals fully express what the song is saying. Bennett has a real honesty in his vocals and guitar playing that comes through with each song.
"But I Do" has got a sound that is a mix of Steely Dan, George Benson and Bennett and friends. I like the groove and the words.
"Between You and Me," "This Time Around" and "California" are really good songs also. They have that "Hotel California" feel to them and we all know how big that song was and that it is still being played and covered.
"Built This Road" is so powerful, expressing how hard it is to let go, as does "As My Love" and "Green Chair," but each song is different. What are appealing are the many ways and reasons for letting go and how. The words are fresh and moving. The guitar and vocals are so good.
I love the ending song - it makes you want more, like, "Hey wait! Is that it? Is there more? I want to hear more!!"
Music Album:
- Lucky Man
- Man of Constant Sorrow
- Mayhem Aforethought - August 19, 1973 - You Are There
- Mixed Bag
- Music for All Occasions
- No Other [Import] [Original recording remastered]
- Now Hear This
- Old Enough to Know Better
- Old-Time Christmas
- Old-Time Fiddle Tunes And Songs From North Georgia
