Section House – New Horse & Buggy
The Grateful Dead were not a bluegrass outfit, but their leader Jerry Garcia was an aficionado of the music. First listen to Section House’s instrumental (“In Rut”) makes me think of Garcia when he played with the likes of David Grisman & Old & In the Way. It has that same energy & inventiveness. Bryan McDowell (fiddle/lead vocals) sings “Hobo’s Lonesome Blues,” & it’s mindful of Goose Creek Symphony with Charlie Gearheart. This is a nice, diversified set of music.
Sliding from the upbeat is another instrumental that’s a little darker (“Passion Dance”), but it’s well-addressed with varied instruments taking their leads with clarity & intensity. The “colors of sound” the individual instruments provide are in the well-arranged music: acoustic guitar, mandolin, fiddle, deep bass lines. Casual, precise, & melodically spatial. This is different from the first two selections.
There are 10 rides on the New Horse & Buggy (Drops Aug. 28/Mountain Fever Records/37:52) showcase produced by Section House. Track 4 is more countrified. Sung by Gaven Largent (dobro/harmony) & though it follows the tradition of Goose Creek Symphony, but they add their bluegrass-remedied style to the performance (“Long Skinny Lanky Sarah Jane”). Goose Creek is more Appalachian, rootsy & happy trails to you. Section House maintains the wooden floorboards with a little more of a sweep of the broom – albeit they play clean with reverence to the genre.
The band breaks up their songs wisely with these little instrumental interludes. “Patches” is a simple, well-picked piece, a bit somber, slow, but superbly recorded with separation in my speakers, sparkling with the rhythm in the left speaker & the picking clearly on the right. If bluegrass could rock, it would sound like “Pike County Breakdown” with its jam-band style of instrumental fire & rollicking vitality.
The majority of the numbers are instrumentals because that’s the group’s forte. Obviously. A closing tune is the catchy “STA” & the title tune — have tight, diversified playing by each member on their respective instrument. The soft passages are just as effective as their bluster.
Got a jug of moonshine, a bloodhound, a cheroot & a rocking chair? No? Then, you’ll definitely need some Section House. Trust me.
Highlights – “In Rut,” “Hobo’s Lonesome Blues,” “Passion Dance,” “Long Skinny Lanky Sarah Jane,” “Patches,” “Pike County Breakdown,” “STA,” & “New Horse & Buggy.”
Musicians – Aaron Ramsey (mandolin), Cory Walker (banjo), Jake Stargel (guitar) & Jeff Partin (bass).
CD graphic design by Ryan Walker. Portrait artwork courtesy of the band’s Facebook. CD @ https://mountainfever.com/section-house-the-next-generation-super-group/