Susto Stringband Susto Stringband (Volume 2)
On Susto Stringband (Volume 2), Justin Osborne revisits SUSTO’s songbook with the instincts of a front-porch band, modifying familiar material in the language of an Appalachian string band.
That loose, road-worn feeling is central to the record’s appeal. Osborne explains, “This album was so much fun to make over the last year. The band really came together on the road after the release of Volume 1, and this new record naturally came together, too, along the way. Between shows, we were writing songs in the van and squeezing in studio time whenever we could. It was a really fun and natural process, and I’m really proud of the finished product.”
By trading amplifiers for clawhammer banjo, fiddle, and upright bass, the album doesn’t merely unplug these songs. It reveals how much resilient flexibility was already built into them.
The project took shape after Osborne’s 2022 move to Asheville, where an open mic introduction to the local bluegrass circuit evolved into a full working band. In its current form, the group brings together Clint Roberts and Jackson Grimm of Holler Choir alongside Nat Copeland, Helena Rose, and Joey Brown, musicians who give the songs a lived-in suppleness.
Produced by Roberts and Grimm, Volume 2 also widens its circle with contributions from Morgan Wade, Joshua Hedley, and Madeline Dierauf, each adding their own unique touch to the album.
On “Hard Drugs,” with Morgan Wade, one of SUSTO’s darkest songs is stripped down and made more intimate. Wade’s voice meets Osborne’s stark writing about addiction at eye level, turning the song’s pain into something honest and hard to look away from.
Osborne talks about what Wade’s appearance means to him: “Having Morgan join us for ‘Hard Drugs’ was a dream come true. I’ve been a fan of her music and who she is as a person for a long time, and I was so glad she was interested in collaborating for this project. She picked ‘Hard Drugs’ as the song to feature on, and I’m so glad she did, because her vocals brought that song to life for me in a whole new way, and I’m excited to finally be sharing this version with the world!”
“Hands In The Dirt,” an older Osborne composition from before SUSTO’s formation, oozes gravity. Written as a tribute to his late father, it pairs homespun clarity with brisk, bluegrass momentum, letting its tenderness move without sentimentality.
Then there is “Last Chance Linda,” an original story-song that feels kind of make-believe, but in the best possible way. It drifts in with a low glow and builds with quiet confidence, elevated by lyrics that describe character with unusual economy and by Nat Copeland’s fiddle playing, which arrives with flash and scene-stealing energy.
“E-350” is part of the record’s lighter side, finding humor and affection in the claustrophobic routines of touring life. Hedley’s guest fiddle gives the track beaucoup zest, but the song’s charm comes from how casually it turns road fatigue into a kind of adventure.
Susto Stringband (Volume 2) offers stunning country bluegrass interpretations of indie-rock songs, giving the tunes a different yet magical breath of life.
Discover more about Susto Stringband here.
Enjoy some of our previous coverage here: Interview: Susto and the Search for Double Rainbows
Tracks 1,3,4,5,7,10,11 were engineered by Joseph Holguin at Arlyn Studios in Austin, TX. Tracks 2,6,8,9 were engineered by Seamus Rooney at Drop of Sun Studios in Asheville, NC. Additional recording by Travis Humbert at Creative Workshop in Nashville, TN, and additional engineering by David Beck in Martindale, Texas. Mixed by Clay Miller at Crossroads Recording Studios. Mastered by Dan Millice at Millice Mastering.
SUSTO Tour Dates:
May 29 – Asheville, NC – Asheville Music Hall * (Album Release Show)
May 31 – Atlanta, GA – Eddie’s Attic * (Album Release Show)
June 5 – Austin, TX – Continental Club ^
June 10 – Manchester, TN – Bonnaroo’s Wednesday Campground Kick Off Party ^
August 21 – Falkenberg, Sweden – Rootsy Summer Fest *
August 26 – Tønder, Denmark – Tønder Festival *
* – Susto Stringband
^ – SUSTO & Friends
# – SUSTO Solo