JEFF MOSIER
electric banjo, acoustic banjo, vocals
OWEN SAUNDERS
fiddle,mandolin
JOHNNY MOSIER
electric guitar, acoustic guitar and vocals
MARK VAN ALLEN
pedal steel, lap steel, dobro and vocals
VIC STAFFORD
drums
KYLE SPARK
bass
(THIS LINE-UP STARTING BACK MARCH 27TH @ SUWANNEE SPRINGFEST !!)(SEE WWW.MAGMUSIC.COM FOR DETAILS)
Influences
Col. Bruce Hampton (ret.),The Newgrass Revival, Grateful Dead, Vassar Clements, Dell's Den, El Buho, Phish, Wilco, Uncle Tupelo, Son Volt, Flatt and Scruggs, Bill Monroe, Steve Forbert, Nanci Griffith, Hot Rize, Tim o'Brien, Guy Clark, Jay Farrar, Nels Cline, Mike Watt, Richard Shindall, Elton John, Bruce Hornsby, Sun Ra, David Earle Johnson (drummer), Hugo Fattoruso, Alex Fattoruso, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Elise Witt, Dire Straits, Jerry Douglas, Sam Bush, John Hartford, Thelonius Monk, Bela Fleck, Edgar Meyer, Craig Smith (banjo), Eddie Blackwell (drummer), Otiel Burbridge, Jimmy Herring, Eugene Chadbourne, THE LATE GREAT RICKY KELLER, Joe Zambi, Tony Ellis (banjo),
Ralph Stanley, Alison Krauss, Mike Marshall, Daryl Anger, Jerry Garcia, Jerry Reed, Buddy Emmons, Elise Witt, Freda Epstien, Beryl Marriott (morris dance piano and more), Richard Thompson, The Horse Flies, Leftover Salmon, Byron Berline, The Seldom Scene, The Country Gentlemen, Doc Boggs, Elvis Presley, The Beatles, The Band, Neil Young, WEEN, Keb Mo, Jaco Pastorius, The Dixie Dregs,
Salif Keita, Bobby Blue Bland, Jethro Burns, Scott Vestal, Tony Rice, Peter Rowan, Gamble Rogers, Stringbean, Jeanette Carter, Jethro Tull, Michel Camillo, Bird, John Coltrane, Ed Snodderly, The Brother Boys, The Carter Family, Johnny Cash, The Weavers, Little Feat, The Nashville Bluegrass Band, Chris Thile and Nickel Creek
Sounds Like
Hopefully it sounds like BLUEGROUND UNDERGRASS !!
But if you need help....Sounds like Boom and Twang ! Sonic but not loud. Rocks and Rolls, banjo rolls in particular. Cosmic Americana at its core, song driven, yet jazz and folk sensible with psychedelic tendencies in its improvisational bent. Jams but doesn't jamband noodle. Many variations in style ranging from bluegrass to rock bordering on hard at times, but never "prog rocky". Accessible and played with a smiling groove. (No punk vibe, tortured shoe gazing, or "Service Master" janitorial uniforms ever utilized in vain efforts to indicate percieved social blue collar class rankings of band members.)
Pop sensible but not lip synced. Indy rock vibe mixed with folk rock and laced with jazz fusion, bluegrass, funk, blues, swing, boogie rock. Country at times, but not this country. Sometimes called "HicK Hop" by early or hardcore BGUG fans. (The term "Hick-Hop" was first used by BGUG as a in 1998 before anybody else. They are the pioneers of that sound) Many variations of beats and styles from the bass player and drummer. Band tends to "urbanize" ideas from rural music and "ruralize" urban genres from many musical traditions and musical cultures including Afro-Cuban, African and Celtic. Very danceable and always moving. The sound of BGUG music change many times in one night and can turn on a dime and usually does. Three of the five band members have played with or performed with Phish, Col. Bruce Hampton and the Aquarium Rescue Unit, Widespread Panic, Leftover Salmon, Jerry Reed, Allman Brothers Band, Normaltown Flyers, Kevn Kinney, Emma Gibbs Band, Salif Keita and Glenn Phillips.
By successfully parlaying an extensive knowledge of bluegrass music with major elements of jazz and Southern rock, Blueground Undergrass has forged a unique, new listening experience, one rooted in the essentials of great American genres. Their Landslide Records debut, Faces, represents a strong culmination of the bands lengthy musical experience as well as its legendary live shows.
Formed originally in 1998 by Jeff Mosier, Blueground Undergrass has developed a solid reputation and nationwide following by playing its multi-faceted music mix coast-to-coast. The band has always been known for exciting performances and eclectic arrangements. Its sonic wall of twang type sound pleases the whole spectrum of fans from hippies to cloggers to rockers, taking Blueground Undergrass to the brink of almost moshpit energy, yet guiding each show with song-driven clarity along the way.
"Faces", the band's fourth album, showcases its high-energy bluegrass hybrid style, which leaves plenty of room for improvisation. Special guests include Col. Bruce Hampton (Aquarium Rescue Unit) on pedal steel, Jimmy Herring (Phil Lesh & Friends, Allman Brothers Band) on guitar and Gary El Buho Gazaway on trumpet. In addition to eight scintillating originals, Faces serves up first rate cover songs by Guy Clark (Dublin Blues), Ralph Stanley (Clinch Mountain Backstep), Bill Danoff (Potters Wheel) and Jerry Garcia/Robert Hunter (Black Muddy River).
A veteran of the jam band scene, Jeff Mosier has consistently remained on the cutting edge of experimental music. He was a founding member of Col. Bruce Hampton's original Aquarium Rescue Unit, and over the years, has performed on stage with Widespread Panic, The Allman Brothers Band, Leftover Salmon and Phish. In 2002, he played banjo on Leftover Salmon's first tour after the tragic loss of banjoist Mark Vann. Mosier toured with Phish in 1994, prompting The Phish Companion to state: Perhaps no guest artist has had as great an influence on the band's history as the Reverend Jeff Mosier.
David Blackmon's world-class fiddle playing has also been recognized by a number of notable bands, including Widespread Panic, who utilized his talents on the groups Space Wrangler and Aint Life Grand albums.
The CDs title track, a plaintive, thought provoking Mosier composition, sets the albums opening tone, which leads into a virtually definitive version of Guy Clarks classic Dublin Blues. Williams exuberant In This Life and funky Our Feet follow as the bands knack for cranking out infectious, and occasionally surprising, grooves takes hold. Mosier shows prodigious vocal chops on the almost symphonic sounding Clock Goes On, which is sandwiched between the mood altering Williams tunes, Feel At Home and Like Discovering The Ocean. Two highly distinctive covers, Potters Wheel and the foot stomping Clinch Mountain Backstep, flow into a mind-bending Ole Love Ole Tune, featuring Mosiers former bandmates, Herring and Hampton. Coming back together with Col. Bruce and Jimmy was wonderful. Hopefully, we found that old love and old tune which kept us wanting more in the ARU days, Mosier commented. The CD closes with a poignant version of the Grateful Dead standard, Black Muddy River.
Faces was produced by Jeff Mosier and co-produced by Ben Holst, who also added lap steel, Hammond organ, and harmony vocals.
Speaking recently of Blueground's sound Mosier said, I never want our music to lose the tradition of the porch no matter how much remodeling was done to the house over time. The band will continue in that spirit and tradition by re-creating old Blueground Undergrass originals, rocking out bluegrass standards, and by introducing new songs and sounds to their live shows.
For sure, Blueground Undergrass will be doing what they have always done best, which is to provide every audience with an energetic and unforgettable live show of great music. And with the superb studio offering that is Faces, the band is poised to take on a whole new set of devoted listeners.
BLUEGROUND UNDERGRASS
"Faces" - Release Date: March 21, 2006
Website: www.bluegroundundergrass.com
RECORD LABEL
Contact: Michael Rothschild at
Landslide Records
www.landsliderecords.com
Can y'all say HOOOOOOOOTENANNY!!! I sure am glad y'all are going to be a part come 8/16 - we are going to throwdown the ol' fashioned HarvestFest way...ah yeahhhh!!!
Ok guys. The song "Blackheaded Woman" has been stuck inside my head for a week. Would one of you come by and get it out so I can get some sleep?...Russ
It’s finally here the official U.S. trailer for my Movie. Here’s the link to check It out and don't forget to leave a comment about what you think about the trailer on the blog. Official Trailer
Hey y'all! My "BGUG reunion moment" at Decatur Earth Day was pure bliss... you sound as great as ever, even better, and it fills me with joy to see smiles all around. I still can't get over Allison Anne's love-at-first-sight reaction to Vic... thanks for the sticks, you made her day, completely! I'll be sharing photos soon.
We look forward to seeing you at the French Broad River Festival... all aboard!
