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This mad group of string-plucking UC Davis alumni coalesced in 2003 and for the rest ensuing years honed their craft, keeping their rabidly enthusiastic Davis fans dancing to the Mad Cow brand of high energy string music. Somewhere along the way, the raw, youthful enthusiasm they poured into their music morphed into a highly skilled bluegrass sound. The band's tight instrumentation and soaring harmonies captivate the listener and conjure up images of a simpler time in acoustic music. The boys draw from influences ranging from the slick bluegrass new guards such as Hot Rize, the energetic old-timey sounds of the contemporary Old Crow Medicine Show and the Dickel Brothers and the classic high and lonesome of the Stanley/Monroe era, and even the gypsy string swing of Reinhardt and Grappelli. All multi-instrumentalist and song-writing members Tim Delaney, Alex Roth, Danny Chaves and Andy Lentz share the stage and the microphone by swapping instruments, lead vocals and solos on guitar, mandolin, upright bass, banjo and fiddle. Featured part-time member, Sean Feder (Rita Hosking and Cousin Jack), adds the fifth dimension on bass and banjo.
The band released their debut record on the Davis-based label Crossbill Records in 2006 at a sold-out show at the Palms Playhouse in Winters. Geography now prevents the all of the boys from getting together very often, but they continue to make music in different formations like Ol' Snakey's BlueJass Ramblers (Davis), the West Nile Ramblers(Davis, Woodland), and Lady A & her Heel Draggers (SF). In addition to these collaborative side-projects, they individually contribute their talents to other bands in northern California.
Click the album cover below to buy the album, "Live at the Delta of Venus":
A Review of "Live at the Delta of Venus" by The Big Takeover - Issue 60
On their debut recording Davis, CA’s Cows have the intense loose feel of a jug band, though they use a string bass rather than a jug for the bottom end. Recorded live with their fingers on fire and lots of talk about beer, the five of them trade off on banjo, mandolin, fiddle, bass, vocals and are joined by Keith Cary on lap steel. They’ve got nice harmonies and great chops and on the 11-½ minutes of string fury that is “Whisky Before Breakfast” they even include a banjo head drum solo. They cover bluegrass tunes by Bill Monroe, folk by Eric Andersen, country by Mickey Newbury and gypsy jazz by Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grapelli, plus some old-time traditional tunes and originals. Very impressive and fun.
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