Levi Foster – Appalachian Funk Tree
This showcase features fiery banjos, fiddles, harmonica, thundering drumbeats & bellowing bass smoking in the musical engine that’s Levi Foster’s forte. Rollicking isn’t a strong enough word for the opening title track that isn’t threaded with mainstream wire but far more traditional stitches. Foster’s voice isn’t a contemporary country vocal with his deep accentuated homegrown inflection & power. For aficionados of true down home basic music styles Foster will score high, for those who are Elvis fans he’ll lose a significant amount of favor with the poor attempt at humor on “Fat Elvis” but…
There are 14 other attempts on goal with the Shooter Jennings produced Appalachian Funk Tree (Dropped Oct 9/Banner Music/50:39). It’s the Virginia-native’s (lead vocal/acoustic guitar) 2nd set & was recorded in Hollywood, CA.
“Yazoo Clay” is far better, a darker tune, sung with a tinge of seriousness though Foster does at times have a slight tonality & delivery as early ‘60s country singer Johnny Bond (“Hot Rod Lincoln”). But this has a whiskey kick. The kind that comes after you swallow that first sip. Good gnarly guitars, crisp drums & a well-produced piece. Taking a page from the songbook of the late Roger Miller, Levi strikes out with the wonderfully lyrical “Good Time Ago,” a good sounding energetic ballad with chiming guitars & solid instrumentality.
“Come From the Dirt” is in an older country fashion/spirit. There’s a Gram Parsons & the Flying Burrito Brothers sure-fingered type of playing & arrangement to this rockier country selection. What keeps it anchored in the country’s realm is its Buck Owens populist appeal. What makes Levi’s songs even more interesting is his myriads of tales that include strange people, human flaws, & hard to make up tales that are off center from the modern-day Nashville barometer of acceptance. His balladry (“One Eye Open”) is close to the most respected country singers of an earlier era. With a light Floyd Cramer piano touch, the rich Jim Reeves, Johnny Horton, Sonny James & Eddy Arnold traditions.
This kind of music walks a tightrope of corniness if not careful. Levi barely avoids that misstep since his narratives don’t have a Johnny Cash steel wool voice or thorny tone of Andrew Markham of the band The Cat Mary (“Her High, Lonesome Days”). He sounds like an Appalachian urchin. But “James River Man” has a cool barbed-wire country rock guitar mindful of Norman Greenbaum’s classic “Spirit In the Sky.” This is finger-blistering good. Fiddles abound in the glorious “Bloodhound,” a rousing, well-arranged piece. Levi is well worth checking out.
Highlights – “Appalachian Funk Tree,” “Yazoo Clay,” “Good Time Ago,” “Come From the Dirt,” “One Eye Open,” “James River Man,” “Fast Horse” & “Bloodhound.”
Musicians – Ted Russell Kamp (bass), Brian Whelan (lead guitar), Jamie Douglass (drums), Evan Hull (guitar) & Greg Leisz (steel guitar). Harmonica & fiddles (no credit).
Color image by Sabrina Burnette. CD @ Amazon & https://www.levifostermusic.com/