Mountain Men

(Jesse McReynolds photo from www.thebluegrassblog.com)

Before I get to the string-band subject at hand, here's a indie rock update: Tuesday night's show at The NorVa was wonderful. I got to hear most of Thao and the Get Down Stay Down. (I was impressed with her guitar chops and energy even if a friend of mine dismissed her off as "Vietnamese Cat Power"). And Rilo Kiley had a bit more fire in their playing compared to the last time I saw them at The NorVa. Fun stuff.
But the night's most memorable moment came from an unbilled performance by Gillian Welch and David Rawlings. My wife Patty and I were flabbergasted. Holy crap! They played five songs. I think all of them were new. It was hard to hear details because most of the Rilo Kiley crowd talked straight through Gillian and David's performance. But wow, what a treat.

Moving on to today's news, I was happy to read about an excellent bluegrass festival happening June 26-28 in Rural Retreat, Virginia -- outside Wytheville. It's called the Song of the Mountains festival and it's notable for its general high quality, but also for a Saturday night that features Jesse McReynolds -- of Jim & Jesse fame -- as well as bluegrass cutups Special Ed & The Shortbus. Here's the whole lineup:

Thursday June 26
Goose Creek Symphony
Larry Sparks and The Lonesome Ramblers
Pine Mountain Railroad
Lou Reid and Carolina
Mac Puckett and the Good Company Band

Friday June 27
Rhonda Vincent & The Rage
Fescue
Michael Reno Harrell
Appalachian Trail
The Larkins

Saturday June 28
Jesse McReynolds and The Virginia Boys
No Speed Limit
Nuthin' Fancy
Jeanette Williams Band
Big Country Bluegrass
Special Ed & The Shortbus


Here is a nice YouTube video of one of Appalachian Trail playing live.