Chasing Blue

t wasn’t two weeks ago that we offered our review of the new album from Chasing Blue, Low Valley.

The young Boston-based band won high praise from our reviewer (yours truly) for the quality of their songwriting, and the strong lead vocals of Suzy Oleson and Mike Reese. Not to deny the rest of the band their due; it is a very tight unit with interesting arrangements and slick picking.

Shortly after our review was published, the band released a music video for the song Two Broken Wings, written by Oleson – a lovely acoustic ballad that nicely highlights her distinctive vocal style, as well as talents of bass player, Alex Muri. - Bluegrass Today

Talented young bands seem to pop up like weeds these days. Every time I turn around, there is another CD from a group that appears to have come out of nowhere, at least on a national level.

Just such a band is Chasing Blue, a quartet that met during a bluegrass ensemble class at the Berklee College of Music in 2008. At the end of the semester, the four of them played a local bar gig after the ensemble recital. They all had a good time, and people liked the music, so they formed an official group which has endured beyond graduation.

On their latest album, Low Valley, mandolinist Suzanne Oleson shows herself a force to be reckoned with, as both a vocalist and songwriter. And so does her bandmate, guitarist Michael Reese. With the assistance of banjo picker Maggie MacKay, they have written 9 of the 10 songs here, performed brilliantly with Alex Muri on bass.

Reese and Muri shine instrumentally, as does guest fiddler Trent Freeman, but it is the songs that grab your attention. They range from solid bluegrass and mountain music, to acoustic rock, fiddle tune and various folk styles.

As you might imagine, the songs reflect sensibilities of importance to twenty-somethings, but regardless of topic or stylistic focus, the songs are crisp and clever, and sung with passion, artistry, and conviction.

Oleson has a most particular knack for lyrics, and a unique sense of melody. Add to that her endearingly quirky voice and you sense a real star quality in this young lady, who I hope will stay in the bluegrass orbit as she matures and develops as an artist.

Perhaps the album’s strongest track is one she wrote, Two Broken Wings, which has something of a Celtic feel, and reflects the interesting hybrid sound that Boston acoustic bands have pioneered in recent years.

Or maybe the strongest is My Drug, which she wrote with Maggie. It’s a perfectly female look at the realization that a stalled relationship is doomed, with especially inspired lyrics.

I got a hat for every day of the week
And I’ve got a pill that’s gonna make me sleep.
I’m a little user and no one’s gonna tell.

I put a cigarette in your mouth
To keep you quiet as I walked out.
Two years is long enough, don’t you think?

Or maybe Ellen is my favorite, again from Oleson and McKay, one that turns the familiar murder ballad upside down. The cheating lover goes down as per the formula, but this time it’s the woman whose man she stole who does the deed.

Reese’s voice is clear and powerful, and he is equally comfortable with bluegrass and the two more rock-inflected numbers: Queen City Feel, which he wrote with McKay, and Oleson’s Red Wine Rock and Roll. A Cinncinnati native, he renders the party ballad about the Queen City where he was raised with an impressive Lowell George snarl.

Michael also shines on the record’s lone instrumental, a guitar tune he wrote, and as vocalist on the closing track, Let’s Start Tomorrow, written by all four members.

Though not featured on the CD, Danny Musher is now touring with Chasing Blue on fiddle.

There are several radio-friendly tracks here that would be right at home on most any bluegrass, folk or Americana show. Programmers can contact the band to obtain a copy for airplay. It is available for sale at CD Baby and in iTunes.

Low Valley is a superb record, worthy of the attention of anyone interested in where the next generation of acoustic string artists are taking our beloved bluegrass music. - Bluegrass Today

Talented young bands seem to pop up like weeds these days. Every time I turn around, there is another CD from a group that appears to have come out of nowhere, at least on a national level.

Just such a band is Chasing Blue, a quartet that met during a bluegrass ensemble class at the Berklee College of Music in 2008. At the end of the semester, the four of them played a local bar gig after the ensemble recital. They all had a good time, and people liked the music, so they formed an official group which has endured beyond graduation.

On their latest album, Low Valley, mandolinist Suzanne Oleson shows herself a force to be reckoned with, as both a vocalist and songwriter. And so does her bandmate, guitarist Michael Reese. With the assistance of banjo picker Maggie MacKay, they have written 9 of the 10 songs here, performed brilliantly with Alex Muri on bass.

Reese and Muri shine instrumentally, as does guest fiddler Trent Freeman, but it is the songs that grab your attention. They range from solid bluegrass and mountain music, to acoustic rock, fiddle tune and various folk styles.

As you might imagine, the songs reflect sensibilities of importance to twenty-somethings, but regardless of topic or stylistic focus, the songs are crisp and clever, and sung with passion, artistry, and conviction.

Oleson has a most particular knack for lyrics, and a unique sense of melody. Add to that her endearingly quirky voice and you sense a real star quality in this young lady, who I hope will stay in the bluegrass orbit as she matures and develops as an artist.

Perhaps the album’s strongest track is one she wrote, Two Broken Wings, which has something of a Celtic feel, and reflects the interesting hybrid sound that Boston acoustic bands have pioneered in recent years.

Or maybe the strongest is My Drug, which she wrote with Maggie. It’s a perfectly female look at the realization that a stalled relationship is doomed, with especially inspired lyrics.

I got a hat for every day of the week
And I’ve got a pill that’s gonna make me sleep.
I’m a little user and no one’s gonna tell.

I put a cigarette in your mouth
To keep you quiet as I walked out.
Two years is long enough, don’t you think?

Or maybe Ellen is my favorite, again from Oleson and McKay, one that turns the familiar murder ballad upside down. The cheating lover goes down as per the formula, but this time it’s the woman whose man she stole who does the deed.

Reese’s voice is clear and powerful, and he is equally comfortable with bluegrass and the two more rock-inflected numbers: Queen City Feel, which he wrote with McKay, and Oleson’s Red Wine Rock and Roll. A Cinncinnati native, he renders the party ballad about the Queen City where he was raised with an impressive Lowell George snarl.

Michael also shines on the record’s lone instrumental, a guitar tune he wrote, and as vocalist on the closing track, Let’s Start Tomorrow, written by all four members.

Though not featured on the CD, Danny Musher is now touring with Chasing Blue on fiddle.

There are several radio-friendly tracks here that would be right at home on most any bluegrass, folk or Americana show. Programmers can contact the band to obtain a copy for airplay. It is available for sale at CD Baby and in iTunes.

Low Valley is a superb record, worthy of the attention of anyone interested in where the next generation of acoustic string artists are taking our beloved bluegrass music. - Bluegrass Today

Talented young bands seem to pop up like weeds these days. Every time I turn around, there is another CD from a group that appears to have come out of nowhere, at least on a national level.

Just such a band is Chasing Blue, a quartet that met during a bluegrass ensemble class at the Berklee College of Music in 2008. At the end of the semester, the four of them played a local bar gig after the ensemble recital. They all had a good time, and people liked the music, so they formed an official group which has endured beyond graduation.

On their latest album, Low Valley, mandolinist Suzanne Oleson shows herself a force to be reckoned with, as both a vocalist and songwriter. And so does her bandmate, guitarist Michael Reese. With the assistance of banjo picker Maggie MacKay, they have written 9 of the 10 songs here, performed brilliantly with Alex Muri on bass.

Reese and Muri shine instrumentally, as does guest fiddler Trent Freeman, but it is the songs that grab your attention. They range from solid bluegrass and mountain music, to acoustic rock, fiddle tune and various folk styles.

As you might imagine, the songs reflect sensibilities of importance to twenty-somethings, but regardless of topic or stylistic focus, the songs are crisp and clever, and sung with passion, artistry, and conviction.

Oleson has a most particular knack for lyrics, and a unique sense of melody. Add to that her endearingly quirky voice and you sense a real star quality in this young lady, who I hope will stay in the bluegrass orbit as she matures and develops as an artist.

Perhaps the album’s strongest track is one she wrote, Two Broken Wings, which has something of a Celtic feel, and reflects the interesting hybrid sound that Boston acoustic bands have pioneered in recent years.

Or maybe the strongest is My Drug, which she wrote with Maggie. It’s a perfectly female look at the realization that a stalled relationship is doomed, with especially inspired lyrics.

I got a hat for every day of the week
And I’ve got a pill that’s gonna make me sleep.
I’m a little user and no one’s gonna tell.

I put a cigarette in your mouth
To keep you quiet as I walked out.
Two years is long enough, don’t you think?

Or maybe Ellen is my favorite, again from Oleson and McKay, one that turns the familiar murder ballad upside down. The cheating lover goes down as per the formula, but this time it’s the woman whose man she stole who does the deed.

Reese’s voice is clear and powerful, and he is equally comfortable with bluegrass and the two more rock-inflected numbers: Queen City Feel, which he wrote with McKay, and Oleson’s Red Wine Rock and Roll. A Cinncinnati native, he renders the party ballad about the Queen City where he was raised with an impressive Lowell George snarl.

Michael also shines on the record’s lone instrumental, a guitar tune he wrote, and as vocalist on the closing track, Let’s Start Tomorrow, written by all four members.

Though not featured on the CD, Danny Musher is now touring with Chasing Blue on fiddle.

There are several radio-friendly tracks here that would be right at home on most any bluegrass, folk or Americana show. Programmers can contact the band to obtain a copy for airplay. It is available for sale at CD Baby and in iTunes.

Low Valley is a superb record, worthy of the attention of anyone interested in where the next generation of acoustic string artists are taking our beloved bluegrass music. - Bluegrass Today

"In September 2010, CTBA caught the new band “Chasing Blue” as they made their debut appearance in Austin. The band had formed at Berklee and it was immediately obvious that they had some real magic onstage and that they were all having a blast performing together. With their sophomore release of “Low Valley” the band is showing that this clearly is serious business. The songwriting of Michael Reese, Maggie MacKay, and former-Austinite Suzanne Oleson is superb. The songs “Two Broken Wings”, “My Drug”, and the previously released original tune “Whiskey and Wine” are all masterpieces. Download those if not the entire CD. “Queen City Feel” and “Red Wine Rock and Roll” aren’t quite bluegrass but they aren’t a distraction. The blending of the vocals and fine instrumentation make this a must have CD"- Tom Duplissey - Central Texas Bluegrass Association

Serious pluck
Highlights of the Joe Val Bluegrass Festival
February 18, 2011|James Reed, Globe Staff

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Going into its 26th year, the Joe Val Bluegrass Festival has an unofficial theme this weekend: “Bluegrass Banjos Land in Boston.’’ How else would you describe a three-day gathering that will include banjo greats J.D. Crowe, Tony Trischka, and Bill Keith?

The festival, which is named after the Everett-born musician who championed bluegrass in New England, spotlights a range of acts both traditional and contemporary. Among the various performances, jam sessions, children’s activities, and workshops, here are a few of the highlights.
TONY TRISCHKA AND TERRITORY He’s been in the news lately for his online banjo school and his involvement with a locally produced documentary about the instrument’s history, but hearing Trischka live is always the best way to appreciate his artistry. Tonight, 10:40 p.m., main stage.

CHASING BLUE Berklee College of Music has long been a hotbed for bluegrass, and the school will be represented by some of its finest bands who infuse the genre with youthful vigor: Chasing Blue, Berklee All-Stars, and Slatt & Fruggs (oh, bluegrass humor). Saturday, 12:15 p.m., main stage.


THE WHITES (pictured) Three voices are better than one for this family trio known for their close harmony singing set in a traditional bluegrass setting. Saturday, 1 and 8:30 p.m., main stage.


J.D. CROWE AND THE NEW SOUTH Starting in the 1970s, Crowe revolutionized the banjo community by bringing it into the modern world of rock and country music, as part of a movement called newgrass. Saturday, 10:50 p.m., main stage.


BILL KEITH A local legend since his days in Cambridge’s folk scene and as a member of Bill Monroe’s band, Keith is widely lauded for inventing the melodic style (subsequently known as “Keith style’’) of banjo playing. He’s conducting banjo workshops this weekend but will likely appear on stage at some point, maybe during Trischka’s set. Sunday, 2 p.m., Middlesex West.



- James Reed, Globe Staff

CHASING BLUE
No Label
No Number

The promotional material accompanying this debut CD by the New England quintet Chasing Blue emphasizes their youth.


But while the band consists of Berklee School Of Music students and one recent graduate, their talent and poise give an ageless quality to this short six-track release.

Built around original songs, mostly written by banjoist Maggie MacKay and mandolinist Suzanne Oleson, it’s clear that the group has carefully listened to and absorbed the traditional elements of bluegrass. The two songs “It’s All Water” and “Bad Water” are the closest the group come to a progressive sound, and both make good use of folk and blues elements in the melody and lyrics. Singers Oleson and guitarist Mike Reese are an effective one-two punch, with the twist that it’s Reese who supplies the softer sound. In fact, one oddity about this CD is that Oleson’s voice takes on a pronounced edgy buzzsaw quality on the rougher-hewn songs “Whiskey & Wine” and the murder ballad “Down In West Virginia,” then softens so much on “It’s All Water” that it sounds like a different singer altogether.

Unlike many up-and-coming bands, Chasing Blue’s vocals are a strength of this unit. But, instrumentally, special attention needs to be paid to the fiddling of Trent Freeman. He’s an explosive force throughout the album, and when the CD concludes with his original instrumental “Cookin’ With Mike,” you’ll know by the end that you’ve heard something special. So it’s safe to ignore all the publicity about Chasing Blue being (according to their press kit) “New England’s premier young bluegrass band.” This is a talented and original collection of musicians, regardless of age, and I hope that time allows us to hear a lot more of what they can produce together. (Chasing Blue, 60 E. Charlesgate E., Apt. 112, Boston, MA, 02115, www.chasingblueband.com.) HK

Tags: 2011_08
- Bluegrass Unlimited

"Chasing Blue is an example of a strong mix of regional musical talent at its’ best.... The group’s rich and varied backgrounds worked well together in their ensemble’s performance." - Kerry Monney, Fenway News Online

"I've had the bluegrass quintet Chasing Blue (formerly Slim Wallet & the No Dough Boys and all students at the Berklee College of Music in Boston) play the Cantab twice as an opening act and that was enough to convince me they deserved to be headliners. " - Geoff Bartley, The Cantab Lounge