Larry Keel & Jon Stickley – Self-titled EP
This is a spare bluegrass/Americana showcase with the exceptional flatpicking guitar work of Larry Keel & Jon Stickley. It includes three original lyrical tracks & two instrumentals. The extended play debut Self-Titled set (Drops Sept 5/Independent/17:07) has 5 self-produced tracks, & recorded in Virginia by guitarists Keel (2008 Andrew White handcrafted parlor style guitar/vocals) & Stickley (Preston Thompson D-EIA acoustic guitar & 1956 Martin D18 acoustic guitar/vocals).
The music is of a genre that many who may be unfamiliar will assume is retro when, in actuality, in the hands of a duo like this, it’s quite contemporary – even more so than the pop integration that is today’s country music. The guitar work is far more “classical” in appropriation & applied with finesse throughout the energetic runs. The vocals are a cross between the melodically perfect Foster-Lloyd with a touch of Blackhawk & yes, the acoustic Grateful Dead. Throw it all into a bluegrass cauldron & you have an exciting, radiating performance.
“Sailor Suit” has mainstream felicity while “Pioneers” is even more challenging, the way Hot Tuna was with their mix of rootsy rural tunes & instrumentals. By track 4 “Starborn” — the music & vocals get even closer in tradition to The Band — lyrically expressive with a deeper exhibit. There’s enough here to whet the musical appetite, but some additional instruments should expand their scope. The instrumental interplay by just two musicians is already sinewy. What makes the tracks even more interesting is their lack of clichés. While the song titles are simplistic, the duo presents their work with an abundance of creativity.
With a full band attack (more mandolin, accordion, banjo, fiddles & percussion), they hold a winning hand in roots music. Becoming more accessible to a wider set of ears. Think of a cross between The Band, Grateful Dead in their acoustic blend with a dash of Seatrain (“Rondo”) & Hot Tuna (the Burgers era). I shudder to think. They’re that good. Let’s hope there’s an audience out in the hinterlands & cities that still appreciates music that isn’t filled with artificial flavors.
The CD package is a nice sepia blend of earthtones, giving it a rustic edge. There may be snow on the roof, but there’s a fire in the furnace.
Highlights – “Sailor Suit,” “Pioneers,” & “Starborn.”
Image courtesy of Luther Blevins design. CD @ https://larrykeel.com/ & https://www.jonstickley.com/
