Pert Near – Side By Side
Minnesota string band Pert Near Sandstone emerged 2 decades ago, & this 10-track collection Side By Side (Drops Feb. 27/Independent/37:48) is their 9th. It leans heavily on a punk line by pushing the boundaries of “old time” music & “bluegrass.” There’s a deep roots thread running through their challenging creative endeavor with songs co-produced by the band Pert Near Sandstone & Ryan Young (Trampled By Turtles).
While Pert Near is the abbreviated band’s name on the CD art, they feature 4 individual singer/songwriters into a signature style of music — playful, raw & unfettered. I agree. While the mesh of punk & rootsy, traditional musical entities isn’t a new concept (The Pogues, Rogue’s March, Dandy Warhols, the Toasters) this particular album opens with a catchy marriage of styles on “Pipe Dream,” & its rollicking fiddle & earthy vocals.
“Side By Side,” the title track, is closer to the Pogues tradition without Shane McGowan’s gruffness. It falls more closely toward the wonderful melodic British influences of Dexy’s Midnight Runners (“Come On, Eileen”). The arrangements & performances are stellar. Full sounding, well-conceived & articulated. Some tunes fall below the equator when they go into an ordinary country spirit. The tunes are played well, but we’ve heard them before. Each song, however, is good for dancing. So, all’s not lost. But it’s when the band focuses on the periphery of Celtic aggressive edgy energy that they shine like a lighthouse beacon. The first two songs do this effortlessly.
What keeps the songs interesting is the vocal tone & the varied songwriting effort. Many of the lesser tunes maintain a spark of significance through the mere clarity of their consistent, intelligent picking by all. The melodies & urgency are more than capable of keeping an audience engaged throughout a show. The instrumentals (“Chuck Will’g Widow”) are fiery & rural enough to smell the manure fertilizing the lower acres – ah, nature’s perfume. Pass the jug, Jed.
Lyrically, the storytelling is always creative, playful, & authentic. Nothing new is being explored that hasn’t been done with humor by the late Roger Miller. But what’s exemplified is a love for the genre & its history. “Last Call Man” is one of these. And “Rise & Shine” is so wonderfully Hot Tuna in tradition – I have this on repeat. While “Sonnyboy” pounds with a heavy bass, fiddles & drums in a Holy Modal Rounders way (“Boobs-a-Lot”). Excellent.
Highlights – “Pipe Dream,” “Side By Side,” “Chuck Will’g Widow,” “Last Call Man,” “Racin’ To The Grave,” “Grace,” “Rise & Shine,” & “Sonnyboy.”
Musicians – J. Lenz (acoustic guitar), Kevin Kniebel (banjo), Nate Sipe (mandolin/lap steel & fiddle), Justin Bruhn (upright bass), Chris Forgberg (fiddle) with Ryan Young (fiddle/keys/percussion), Patrick Harigon (accordion), Chase Rabideau (baritone guitar), Bill Quinn (pedal steel guitar) & Andy Lambert (washboard).
Color image courtesy of Tony Nelson. CD @ https://www.pertnearsandstone.com/
Nice review of a great bluegrass band!