Music
Press
Last month I wrote about a recent release, Music of Coal: Mining Songs from the Appalachian Coalfields from Lonesome Records. I just experienced another of their releases, Let It Shine by a young group of very talented artists who call themselves The Midnight Ramblers. These four young artists perform together as another outstanding bluegrass group from Southwest Virginia.
As I noted, I have "experienced" two releases from Lonesome Records. Before I get to the artists and the music, I want to note that these Lonesome Records releases make you take note before you even remove the CDs from their packages. The packaging is superb in every detail. Like a hard-bound book with detail to presentation, these releases hit the mark. It is rare that I ever see a release of this caliber of presentation -- even from the top artists in the business.
Both Music of Coal and Let It Shine have the glossy cover book style presentation with informative reading between the covers. The book is a profile of both the music and the musicians who perform on the release. The lyrics are here. The band's perspective of the songs is here. Comments from James Alan Shelton, Ralph Stanley II, and H.W. "Bill" Smith of the Crooked Road are here.
Before I get to music, I want to mention that this album is produced by Tim Stafford with Paul Kuczko as the Executive Producer. Stafford is from the region and has been a significant player in bluegrass for a very long time. The band is from the same region so both share a common earthy feel for the mountain bluegrass music that the area is known for. Tim was the producer of "Fork in the Road" by the Infamous Stringdusters which won "Album of the Year" at the 2007 IBMA Awards show.
Let It Shine starts off with a tasteful rendition of "Somewhere Down the Road" but, it is the next track, "Hanging Tree" where you realize this isn't just another bluegrass album. Here is an album with the grit that bluegrass ballads are made of and arranged as a masterful bluegrass tune should be. Add to that the vocals that eminate of pure bluegrass soul and you have a taste of what is to come.
The instrumentation is extremely well balanced and "Metro Style" shows off just what this band is capable of from the strong rhythm guitar, the firey mandolin, sharply picked banjo held together by a well rounded bass. Tim Stafford and Marcus Johnson share guitar duties on this instrumental.
Other songs of rain ("Cold Virginia Rain" and "As Steady as Rain"), mining, questions of life and even Earl Scrugg's "Reuben" fill up the overall project. The title track, "Let It Shine", "Green Pastures" and the gospel tune, "I've Just Seen the Rock of Ages" yield an album that has enough variety to please just about all bluegrass fans.
Austin Boggs is the lead vocalist and mandolin player for The Midnight Ramblers. Bass player Cherise Bates provides harmony vocals. There is never too much or too little. Stafford and Kuczko's knowledge of the genre shows through as the production quality is gentle yet strong with the essence that makes a great bluegrass album.
- Bob Cherry
The Midnight Ramblers Bluegrass Band
UK Tour planned start July 22nd 2009
“I knew these folks were destined to make their mark on the music scene……..This band is definitely going places….” James Alan Shelton “The Midnight Ramblers are a great example of why Southwest Virginia and The Crooked Road has become a hotbed of young Bluegrass talent. Get a copy of ‘Let it Shine’ and you will be amazed “ H W ‘Bill’ Smith, The Crooked Road “…man what a group of talented musicians and singers!” Ralph Stanley II
- Scottish Bluegrass Association
Discography
The first CD was released in 2007 "When The Fog Rolls In". There second CD was released in March 2008 on Lonesome Records and was produced by Tim Stafford of Blue Highway. Three of the 12 songs were orginal Midnight Ramblers songs. They also chose "Somewhere Down the Road", "Hanging Tree", "Green Pastures", "Cold Virginia Rain", "As Steady As the Rain", "I've Just Seen the Rock of Ages", "Miner's Song", "Reuben", and "Sittin on Top of the World". You can check out the review of the new cd in the October issue of Bluegrass Unlimited. You can can listen to current tracks @ www.themidnightramblers.net or see videos on Youtube.com(Midnight Ramblers Bluegrass as keywords).
Photos
Bio
The Midnight Ramblers got its humble beginning approximately three years ago and has since added accomplishment after accomplishments. Austin Boggs, the founding member, starting by playing on a local radio show in Southwest Virginia. The band has constantly expanded its horizons into the eastern and mid-west part of the United States and in 2009 will tour the UK. No matter how big or small the show and how far they roam from home, Abram Mullins, Austin Boggs, Alex Hibbitts, and Daniel Salyer always gives their all to each and every show. Through their enthusiasm, hard work, God-given talent, and awesome stage presence that belies their youth, the Midnight Ramblers have a true ability to captivate audiences everywhere they go. The young groups combination of outstanding music and vocal skills leaves audiences with long-lasting memories that provides promise of a prosperous future.
Their latest CD was produced by Tim Stafford from Blue Highway and came out on Lonesome Records was recorded at Maggard Studio in Big Stone Gap, VA. You can view the review of the Cd in the October issue of Bluegrass Unlimited or go to www.bluegrassmusic.com. Some of their influences include Ralph Stanley, Larry Sparks, Blue Highway, Ernie Thacker, and George Jones just to name a few. This young group takes pride in the way they dress. They are a "Reflection of the past through the eyes of the future".
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