11 Jul 14

Town Mountain

 

Bluegrass/country music comes to the big city, blogspot readers!

 

And this rock chick had one swingin' fun time!

 

Tonight at Chicago's City Winery, the back venue was at full capacity as city folks were treated to some fancy fiddlin' and pickin' when Dr. Ralph Stanley and His Clinch Mountain Boys featuring an opening set by Town Mountain performed here. And what a rockin' jamboree of lively bluegrass/Americana music it was when these city folks were instantly transported to the backwoods of the mountainous Appalachian country!

 

Hailing from Ashville, North Carolina, Town Mountain open the lineup with a lively performance full of rhythmic country/bluegrass (and at time rockabilly tunes), fancy feats of yodeling and witty storytelling not only in the songs but also in between songs by Robert (front man on guitar). There was such an instant energetic spirit felt from this band, blogspot readers, that made you want to kick up your heels and promenade around the square at a barn dance all night long. They thrilled the packed house with their harmonious three-part vocal talents during songs like new one "Long Time Coming"  and "Looking In the Mirror (Getting Better Everyday)" as well as during the instrumental bridges which featured plenty of crowd-pleasing fiddlin' and pickin'. Also not to be outdone by the band's famous bluegrass sound, Phil during one particular song demonstrated his amazing yodeling technique which garnered more praise from this enthused crowd, blogspot readers.

 

Yet the highlights for this reviewer came both at the beginning and ending of the set when they turned the Bruce Springteen hit "I'm On Fire" into a stringed country/bluegrass cover. This version amidst this genre took on a more subtle romantic tone with Robert's raspy vocal tone on lead rather than its original downtempo ballad rhythm. Then at the end, Town Mountain once again thrilled the crowd with a rousing bootleggin' tune "Dead Man's Curve" featuring more of that mighty fast fiddlin' and lively bluegrass country sound to get your heart racing, blogspot readers. It was one totally hot rockin' tune as the band closed out their opening set. SouthSide only wished it wasn't such of a short performance ...she was barely getting into Town Mountain's bluegrass sound just as it was wrapping up so soon. Hopefully, Robert and the guys return to Chicago for another country/bluegrass night in the big city, blogspot readers. They were a hoot!

 

SouthSide highly recommends checking out this bluegrass band while they're currently on tour. Blogspot readers can find Town Mountain rockin' Pittsburgh, PA on July 15 at Thunderbird Café ...Fort Collins, CO at Avogadro's Number on July 24 or Lyons, CO at Rockygrass on July 26. Visit Town Mountain at http://www.townmountain.net. for tour details, music and more, blogspot readers.

 

Until next time, support your local scene,

SouthSide