THE 23 STRING BAND

bangin' and clangin'

2014-03-26

Guitar (6 strings) + banjo (5) + mandolin (8) + fiddle (4) + bass (4) = 27 strings, but I think they're counting the mandolin as only 4. Also they use a Barry Dudley 5-string violin, but who's counting? There are also drums and horns. This is fun, fast, and bouncy bluegrass, but St. James Infirmary should not be played fast and bouncy. Five songs on this EP, and I recommend the other four..

From the promo sheet: "Fiery, soul stirring bluegrass, beautifully round-around-the-edges old time and a homespun folk heart pulled from mountain hollows are all sewn into the sound.... The 23 String Band plays fun, fuel-injected, original American that weaves across the lanes of modern acoustic music. It's a bluegrass attack fueled by high-octane rock-n-roll energy and triple-distilled old-timey roots. Your feet hurt from dancing; your face hurts from grinning."

--Gerald Etkind

Quick Links:

More reviews tagged #Folk

  • reviewed 09/2008

    DELILAH DEWYLDE & THE LOST BOYS
    Honky Tonk Heart

  • reviewed 05/2011

    ELIZA GILKYSON
    Roses At the End of Time

  • reviewed 06/2004

    Melissa Ferrick
    The Other Side

  • reviewed 12/2005

    SPARKLEHORSE
    Chest Full of Dying Hawks

  • reviewed 06/2004

    The Mammals
    Rock That Babe

  • reviewed 08/2017

    Jeremy Pinnell
    Ties Of Blood And Affection

Compiled by the WYCE Journalism Club

The opinions expressed in these reviews are those of the individual volunteers that submitted the article and do not necessarily reflect the views of WYCE or GRCMC; nor its staff, donors, or affiliates.