Moonsville Collective – A Hundred Highways
This Southern California folk-Americana band returns after 6 years with a renewed & recalibrated vibrant roots/old-time musical showcase. This CD takes a deep dive into Appalachian traditions (far from California) & these boys are quite accomplished.
The songs on their 4th full-length album dip generous fingers into themes of intimate friendships lost & found, expectations, drinking, love & relationships with age-old tales, colorful yarns & torch-bearing. The approach isn’t bombastic, pretentious, or even decorated in big arrangements but designed closer to a natural rural tone, organic if that helps describe the music & simply down to earth.
There are 11 exits on A Hundred Highways (Drops April 12/Rock Ridge-Warner-ADA/46:00) produced & written by the Moonsville Collective except for “Relax Your Mind.” The songs as modern as showcased have a dusty bottle of wine feel in a barn filled with straw & top-heavy beauties. The band perpetuates a warm tradition well shaped & appealing.
Lots of songs from the past have melody, good words & musicianship. But in musical terms, they lack atmosphere, mood & ambiance. Those 3 important ingredients. That’s what brings out the value of a performance. And it’s not something that can be studied or read about – it comes from the soul. Years ago, musicians used to say, “Are you into it?” Precisely. These musicians are into it. They have those 3 ingredients in each tune.
There are plenty of big barn essences in this rollicking set that begins with “Ain’t Got a Home.” Then they catch the drift of The Eagles in “Helen Highway.” With threads of many past bands — Seatrain, Goose Creek Symphony, Pure Prairie League, West & groups that appeared in the Down From the Mountain documentary. Moonsville Collective musicians reek of heavy-duty tradition. Set aside the excellent musicianship – what’s striking is the essence & expressive performances that are emitted through their respective fingers. They succeed in creating music that’s sensitive, flexible & spirited.
While other songs have roots in other bands’ styles “A Hundred Songs,” & “Done Wrong,” flirt with an original sound. This is where they establish themselves & set themselves apart from a crowded field. Jerry Garcia & John Hartford would’ve loved these guys.
To show their diversity, the conclusion is “Relax Your Mind,” which is the token country-bluesy tune while their country-folk delicacies (“Long Gone”) sound more rooted in a 1920s weightier ground — tread by the late & wonderful Lee Morse.
Highlights – “Ain’t Got a Home,” “Helen Highway,” “A Hundred Songs,” “Red Rocking Chair,” “Done Wrong” & “Relax Your Mind.”
Musicians – Cory Adams (vocals/multi-instrumentalist), Phillip Glenn (vocals/banjo/fiddle), Matthew McQueen (mandolin), Dobro Dan Richardson (vocals/dobro) & Seth Richardson (double bass).
CD cover photo & tin-type image by Conrad Young. CD @ Apple Music & https://www.moonsvillecollective.com/