Lift You Up
On The Bol, 2023
8/10
The Scooches, i.e. Betina Hershey and Nick Russo, bring along some excellent help for these 12 diverse songs that emit an unpredictable and worldly version of Americana.
“Lift You Up” starts the listen with plenty of timeless folk ideas that benefit from Russell Hall’s electric bass and Miles Griffith’s expressive voice alongside Hershey’s flowing pipes that touches on reggae nods, and “Let’s Grow Our Roots Deep And True” follows with Hershey’s fingerstyle guitar playing and Russo’s precise banjo in the intimate landscape that carries a mountain-esque demeanor.
Deeper into the listen, “I Broke The Egg” is quite playful, dance friendly even, and spotlights Kenny Kosek’s fiddle and Jennifer Vincent’s double bass, while “What’s Meant To Last Will Last” emits bright 1920’s ideas thanks to frisky banjo and Michela Marino Lerman’s tap.
Near the end, “Give It To Me Real” is packed with R&B flavor thanks to Hershey and Griffith’s soulful delivery, and “Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me ‘Round- Gullah Geechee” exits with a global folk presence of freestyle spoken word via the live recording that illustrates Dr. David Pleasant’s percussion and vocal skills.
Formerly called Banjo Nickaru & Western Scooches, this shorter name certainly doesn’t affect the band’s eclectic formula that flirts with Motown, gospel and rural moments for a unique and memorable listen.
Travels well with: Austin Mayse- Bridges And Kerosene; M. Lockwood Porter- Communion In The Ashes