Singing Up There: A Tribute To The Easter Brothers
Mountain Home, 2021
8/10
Listen to Singing Up There: A Tribute To The Easter Brothers
Am outfit for nearly 40 years now, the Lonesome River Band have remained leaders in the area of bluegrass sounds, and here they tip their hat to The Easter Brothers, whose gospel meets bluegrass ways are preserved across these timeless songs.
“Little At A Time” gets the listen off to a harmonic and string friendly start as the flowing banjo complements the soaring group vocals, and “I’m On The Last Mile” follows with a slower but no less impactful approach that benefits much from Barry Reed’s upright bass.
Halfway through, “I’ll Be Singing Up There” offers a gospel influenced album highlight that’s powerful and melodic in its spiritual climate, while “Lord I’m Just A Branch” recruits a calmer atmosphere of sublime singing amid precise strings. “Every Minute Means A Mile”, another standout track, then flows with a dynamic bluegrass appeal that sounds as great today as it did when the song was originally penned.
At the end, “I’ll Be Gone Gone Gone” illustrates much vocal diversity and beauty in the rural spirit, and “Almost Home” exits the listen swift, memorable and with divine chemistry between the esteemed players on hand.
Some of these songs date back several decades, but they are certainly still very relevant and sound right at home in today’s version of bluegrass, as Lonesome River Band prove they show no signs of slowing down the quality of their work.
Travels well with: Various Artists- Masters Of Slide: Spider Sessions; The Alex Leach Band- I’m Happiest When I’m Moving