DBT #312 Weary Ramblers (self titled)
Funny how life's twists and turns introduces you to friends at Storyhill Fest, brings you together at Moccasin Creek Festival, and then keeps you apart when you really would love to see them. As I sit and write a review of one of my favorite 2024 album, I'm looking at the fact that they are playing at Trempealeau Hotel, my favorite bar only 8 miles from my house, tomorrow! Sadly but happily I will be at home hosting Sarah Peacock who really rocks too. I told my friend Amy that stuff happens as she booked them for the same night, we'll meet again or I'll just listen to this wonderful album again and be transported back to Iowa and wrapped in a love for nature, traveling and friends.
Weary Ramblers are Chad Elliott and Kathryn Severing Fox and yes, I have already reviewed their only other Bandcamp Exclusive release of them playing live in my living room, Live at the Bluff View. That live experience is my best selling concert I've posted and features many of their solo songs interpreted by the Weary Ramblers. Plus I posted a review of Kathryn's "Sweet Beginnings" after she gave me insights on each song. This first official Weary Ramblers album is a fresh set of co-writes by the two of them.
So suffice to say I really love their music, and I'm excited to introduce you to their music if you are new to them. Let's bring a little Iowa love to you starting now.
1) Hidden Road
You'll never see another hidden drive sign again with thinking of this wonderful song. As they recorded this album at Golden Bear Records in Des Moines Iowa, mid-western love exudes from the start with fellow Iowans Pieta Brown adding the second harmony and Bryan Vanderpool adding a tasteful banjo.
2) Number the Stars
Kathryn takes lead on this gentle dream; sure influenced by life of the road and wishing you were home.
3) Montrose
This ethereal instrumental is throwback showcase of their abilities find a melody within a song. It has a feel of some of my favorite 70's music.
4) Pretty Lights of Denver
As this starts with Kathryn on piano, I'm reminded she is a child of classically trained musicians who have loved her to stay in the orchestra pit, but she journeyed out to play folk music to the masses of 20, 30 and 100 people in quaint little houses and clubs. Then, she needs to leave that beautiful place to move on to another.
And we say goodbye
To the mountains high
And the pretty lights of Denver
In my rearview mirror
To the mountains high
And the pretty lights of Denver
In my rearview mirror
Here they are without the strings and piano...
5) Medicine Creek
Because I included all the banter between songs on the live recording, here's Chad explaining how they wrote this song. (He's kidding Missouri)
And here is an unlisted video that you only get access from this blog or when you buy the Live at Bluff View. Yes I had too many videos from the night and decided that people could get a treat if they bought the album, and of course you for reading this post. If you are listening to this and saying wow that audio is crystal clear it's the speaker mix that is on the live recording in Bandcamp.
6) Sweet Hazel Green
Wahoo, this song they said just wrote itself. Just makes you want to take a brisk walk with Hazel. Biblically Hazel means "God Sees", well the Ramblers paint God a beautiful picture to see.
Every time I see a certain color
I think of my sweet Hazel Green
Lying in the breeze with her that summer
Like two robins in love we would sing
Wahoo...
Sometimes I go into the valley
Sometimes I sing her a song
And pray her sweet voice will come and join me
And like to robins in love we'd sing along
Wahoo...
Two robins have flown with the winter
They'll bring a song in the Spring
I'll be holdin' on to the memory
Of that summer with my sweet Hazel Green
I think of my sweet Hazel Green
Lying in the breeze with her that summer
Like two robins in love we would sing
Wahoo...
Sometimes I go into the valley
Sometimes I sing her a song
And pray her sweet voice will come and join me
And like to robins in love we'd sing along
Wahoo...
Two robins have flown with the winter
They'll bring a song in the Spring
I'll be holdin' on to the memory
Of that summer with my sweet Hazel Green
And another exclusive Bluff View video:
7) Tall Virginia Tree
The intro highlights the haunting playing of Kathryn on her Lucy viola I'm suspecting, and then bounces along the trail in Virginia. Again I love that tasteful banjo in the mix. Join them in their hike.
8) Madelia
I know you've all said, where's their waltz? Take Madelia's hand and slide along the wood floor.
I don't know about you, but as a writer I think the biggest compliment you can EVER get is when someone covers your song. So while there is a video out in the world with Chad and Kathryn doing this song, I give you Beth Watts Nelson and Brandon Day:
9) Oh Carolina
Of course their touring took them to Carolina.
Yes it seems the Folk House in Omaha has shared almost their whole concert.
10) Mend this Broken Heart
Kathryn has some jazz and old standards in her influences and they weave into this little tune; and I love the clarinet and the fine finger picking in the mix.
And here is how it sounds with just the two of them:
11) Speak Low
Ah the traditional lullaby to end an album complete with a strings arrangement. Now of course that has to be Kathryn over dubbing it; she is quite the talent.
I'm going to give you one more song because this album is full of songs penned about places on the road, and they wrote a piece the day after our house concert and played it at Moccasin Creek Festival, "Driftless and You" maybe for the next album. I love how Kathryn samples the Ashokan Farewell in the song.
Oh by the way this album is up for a Grammy consideration. I would love if that happened.
Next steps:
- Stop over to the Review page to my other most spinned and loved albums.
- Browse the rest of the blogs by stopping at this "Theme Page."
- Enjoy Tune Tuesday which brings you one song from a past blog post.
- See what other post have been most popular recently with our Stats Page.
- Find out who in the world thinks he has the authority to write this blog in the About.
- Let me answer why you won't find the playlists on Spotify here.
- Finally, the Mission page explains why there is no advertising cluttering the page.
If you use Facebook, we have a page that will help you remember to read the next post.
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