By Chris Haggett

CD review: 'Home Is Where The Heart Is'

THEY SAY THAT BUSES come in threes, but the same seems to be true of touring American bluegrass bands! Within the space of just a few weeksover the June/July period, visits by the Alan Munde & Joe Carr duo, Bluegrass, Etc. and the Schankman Twins made it a memorable time for bluegrass aficionados.

This was Bluegrass, Etc.’s third date of a fortnight’s tour which culminated at the North Wales Bluegrass Festival. They toured this time as a quartet, their ranks being swollen by the addition of Curtis Jones on flatpick guitar, with the handlebar-moustached John Moore switching to his main instrument, mandolin, to accommodate him. There was a further change in line-up with Steve Spurgin coming in on electric bass, but the redoubtable Dennis Caplinger remained on banjo.

They displayed sparkling musicianship, alternating instrumentals and vocal numbers. In Curtis Jones they have a star in his own right, whose inspired picking attracted frequent bursts of spontaneous applause. He is also a singer-songwriter and has recorded a solo album Blue As I (see review in this issue). A country-ish song from that album, Long Time Gone, proved a stand-out number.

John Moore, Steve Spurgin, Curtis Jones & Dennis Caplinger
Photo © D.Brandon and NWBN

Dennis is a virtuoso musician with a somewhat softer banjo tone than the usual hard-driving bluegrass style. He came into his own on numbers such as Panhandle Rag and a Scruggs medley which closed the first set. The only clean-shaven member of the band, he weighed in at well over twenty stone and dominates the stage in more ways than one! In one memorable number, he picked John Moore’s mandolin with his right hand while keeping his left hand on his own banjo chords; with John doing the converse!

Dennis demonstrated his versatility by switching to fiddle for several numbers and taking the lead vocals on Miles and Miles of Texas. Though the other members of the band also took turns with theload vocals, the voices were noticeably better in a harmony context rather than solo mode. Although the vocals were enjoyable, it seems clear to me that it is the instrumental excellence that has elevated this band to its current echelon.

John Moore’s mandolin picking must not be overlooked. His interplay and lead breaks were masterful even though he does appear a little less exuberant on this instrument than he does on guitar. Steve Spurgeon, too, is an accomplished musician, with an album of his own and his true-bluegrass singing style deserves a special mention.

The band featured material from each of their three albums on the Tricopolis label. The enigmatic Moonlight Motor Inn from the Travelin’ Band album, featuring Steve on lead vocals, was particularly well received. Even on an old standard like Sweet Georgia Brown (from their Home Is Where the Heart Is album) the speed and grace of the guitar and banjo work was spell-binding.

The band’s repertoire was cleverly crafted, blending well known songs such as Worried Mind, Little Cabin On The Hill and San Antinia Rose with more obscure and occasional original material. This was a hugely entertaining evening and Dave Bresnan is to be congratulated once again on bringing a band of this calibre to the north west of England.

Chris Haggett, Warrington Write to Chris

Chris also wrote a report for Country Music Roundup Magazine, which featured analmost identical photo of ours in illustration.

6th Sept 1999