The Gospel Plowboys – Something To Be Said
While most songs touch on religious aspects, the music & performance are generally captivating to bluegrass aficionados. The veteran group name states they are a gospel group, so the melodies will be inspiring & that’s a good thing. But that upbeat picking is attractive & though it isn’t a gospel approach in the Mahalia Jackson tradition, it has its richness.
This is more fertilized & rooted bluegrass planted in the soil of country-gospel. The skillful instrumentation will confirm this. And as far as Biblical references, even folk singer Bob Dylan made references & pulled stories from the Bible in his songs that appeared in his classic “John Wesley Harding” collection. But he didn’t quite capture the harmonies in these tunes. The Bible’s a compelling, inspirational & motivating scripture for songwriters. This set is an arresting blend of ambitious songwriting.
The showcase features a generous 12 songs that’s Something To Be Said (Drops May 9/Morning Glory Music/38:23) produced by Aaron Ramsey (bass) & recorded at Mountain Fever Studios, Willis, VA.
It’s a unifying coolness to see two words (gospel & plowboys) put together to describe the music conveyed. The music’s a little friendlier than most religious music. “How Great Thou Art” is a powerful song by Elvis, but requires that drama & range to be convincing. These songs have precision performances to keep the melodies dusted with catchiness.
The tunes are consistently well-played, but the vocals will veer between energetic & a little humid. Hey, you can’t hit the bullseye every time. Nonetheless, there are no duds in the set. The vocals vary from high-pitched to warm, Country-inflected old-fashioned arrangements. If the voices don’t get you, the stringed instruments will.
It’s a well-cultivated, never too heavy on the message mix that doesn’t fail to entertain. Several songs are even tasty enough to be danceable. But while the words are primarily gospel driven, the music is bluegrass persuasive. The Kris Miller tune “I’m Taking a Trip” sounds like something Tom Paxton & Pete Seeger would’ve performed. If people sang like this in church, the attendance would certainly grow twofold.
Maybe “Glory To His Name” is too religious for some, but the fiddle sawing & the other stringed instruments on this composition are fiery & impressive. On “Are You Praying Hard,” they start to sound closer to the exciting religious overtones of the 1974 incarnation of The Goose Creek Symphony when they played “Plans of the Lord.” Quite good.
Highlights – “Keep Your Lure In the Water,” “Preachin’ Silas,” “Sinners Dream,” “I’m Taking a Trip,” “Are You Praying Hard,” “Let Me Walk Lord, By Your Side,”
Musicians – Michael Jenkins (guitar/vocals), Kris Miller (vocals), Daniel Schronce (mandolin/vocals), Peden Williams (banjo), Alec McCallister (fiddle/vocals) & David Brown (vocals).
Cover photo courtesy of David Hincemean. CD @ https://www.gospelplowboys.com/
