Lowcountry Bluegrass – The Bushels Play Live
When: 5/20/2009 7:00 PM
At: Dog and Duck-Summerville
Ridgeway Plaza
1580-J Old Trolley Rd,
Summerville,
South Carolina
Cost: FREE
Acoustic quartet THE BUSHELS stretch out from the traditional bluegrass some may expect across the five tunes on their debut, self-titled EP.
Recorded at Blacktree Studio on John’s Island, things sound like a cool, band-around -the-mic hoe-down — undistracted, under-polished, pure, and genuine. Propelled by Guilds Hollowell’s dynamic banjo work, opening track "Sweet T" rambles at a rapid tempo typical of upbeat Appalachian-style bluegrass, but things mellow out considerably on the morose ballad "Lady Luck" and the folksy strummer "Cherokee Girl."
The raspy lead vocals of mandolinist Mal Jones and the harmonies of guitarist Jim Algar complement the rustic vibes. The intricately-arranged "Madeline" is a highlight here, too. Lyrically, the four-chord anthem and closing number "Music" sums up the spirit of the Bushels — ambling down a musical road "so long it’s become [their] life."—T. Ballard Lesemann CHARLESTON CITY PAPER
