The High 48s Walk on the Wild Side By Ellen Stanley

Bluegrass with a Bang around one microphone to delight for ‘Bankrobber.’ Also, for the first time Kicking off with a bang, The High bluegrass audiences with their masterful in the band’s 11-year history we went 48s’ new album Daddy Was a Bank playing and engaging stage presence. into the studio with a few open-ended Robber begins with a cover of The Clash’s Since then, they have taken the scene arrangements. For instance, the section song “Bankrobber.” Although giving the by storm and have become so good at of ‘House of the Rising Sun’ where the rocker a surprisingly gentle treatment translating songs into the bluegrass idiom fiddle and the mandolin trade solos was by fiddler/vocalist Eric Christopher, the that it’s easy to forget that at their hearts, essentially improvised in the studio.” song sets the tone for an album of dark Searching Out story songs written Bankrobbers & and selected by the Heartbreakers band’s members. The band might “For this album, we not have rehearsed raided our personal all the solos or set record collections out to make any and picked a thematic record bunch of songs (they’ve already that got our blood done three), but in moving,” fiddler Eric doing so, they may Christopher says. have made their “We didn’t worry too most cohsive album much about whether yet. Due, no doubt, the songs were to their weekly ‘bluegrass’ enough.” bluegrass brunch Tackling songs gigs at Minneapolis’ by iconic rock Aster Cafe and band The Clash, their rigorous tour blues singer Little schedule, the band Milton, alt-country artist Robbie Fulks they are a bunch of guys who like to has never sounded more musically in and country maverick John Hartford is jam out to their favorite records, singing synch, understanding each other’s a bold move for a band that has won songs by the bands they loved as kids. rhythms and artfully weaving their the prestigious RockyGrass Bluegrass Those varying influences are felt not disparate influences into something Band Contest and has become known just on the covers but also the wide- that is distinct yet comfortable for a for its traditional bluegrass sounds. But, ranging originals. Mandolinist Mike bluegrass-loving audience. Likewise, the it doesn’t take long before you realize Hedding brings a dark Del McCoury- song selections seem to fall together like “We definitely felt the urge to try some new things on this record.” Daddy Was a Bank Robber feels like a style “Gospel Blues” and a complex string the band members had actually written lot of other High 48s albums because the number called “Cold Winter’s Night,” the songs together. Featuring characters truth is, those non-grass influences have while Anthony Ihrig offers a driving that are at their best sad and tired and at been in their music all along. instrumental “Heavy Pedal” (inspired their worst delusional and criminal, these by a pedal steel guitar) along with the stories are the stuff of classic country and Bringing Trad Sounds to New sadsack country ballad “Rewriting My blues songs. Tunes Memories.” Revisiting his drumming “As we were putting the album When The High 48s formed, the roots, Ihrig adds some snare drums-- together, I do remember thinking that band’s members came from a variety of something that usually is a big no-no in there was a consistent mood among these musical backgrounds, having played in traditional bluegrass. songs,” Christopher says. “Most of the rock, country and folk bands. Setting “We definitely felt the urge to try characters in these songs live by night. aside their jeans and leather jackets for some new things on this record,” Ihrig They’re outsiders looking in at the straight suits and ties, they unplugged, picked says. “I took off the finger picks and world, the nine-to-five--sometimes with up acoustic instruments and gathered played in the clawhammer banjo style longing, sometimes with defiance.” The MinnesotaBluegrass.org

8 April 2018 High 48s did not set out to do anything “Between gigging with the band and the songs to play to the strengths of the more but make a record of songs they trying to balance work and home life, I’ve new line-up and the material suddenly loved. But their years of playing together been stretched too thin,” Marrone says. feels new again, which is really exciting.” and shared love for complex character- “I need to spend some more time being a Christopher agrees, saying, “More than driven songs have enabled them to make husband and a dad. This is a bittersweet any other High 48s record, this one their most fully realized album to date. decision for me as I’ve really enjoyed reflects the band as an ensemble, so it was working with this group.” (Although easier than you might think--certainly More Than the Sum of Its Parts his last performance with the band was easier than we expected--to play the Truly a full band effort, Daddy Was a in December, he actually has not fully material live without Marty.” Bank Robber represents all five members left the band as he continues to book of the band--Rich Casey (bass), Mike their shows and support them behind the Fostering The Next Generation of Hedding (mandolin, vocals), Anthony scenes.) Bluegrass Ihrig (banjo, snare drum, vocals), No strangers to band changes, The Hitting the ground running, the new Marty Marrone (guitar, vocals) and Eric High 48s have altered personnel several lineup of The High 48s have kept up Christopher (fiddle, vocals). “Every one times over the years but have maintained a busy tour schedlue, playing festivals of us contributed equally to this record,” continuity through band members Casey, all across the Midwest, continuing their Christopher says. “No one was front-and- Christopher and Ihrig, who have kept the weekly bluegrass brunch at the Aster An extension of what The High 48s are doing individually, Grass Seeds offers the band members an additional opportunity to mentor young players beyond the individual instruction, classroom performances and jam camps that they participate in throughout the year. center. We all had our hands on the Ouija spirit of the band’s traditional approach, Cafe and recently heading up the Grass board.” while showcasing a wide selction of Seeds Academy at MBOTMA’s Winter Each band member selected or wrote musical material. With this spirit, it is Bluegrass Weekend. material for the album, many took a no surprise, then, that they were able to Grass Seeds is MBOTMA’s youth turn singing lead and all members got a nab 3-time Flatpicking Guitar Champion initiative designed for ages 8-18 to teach chance to shine on this project, including Clint Birtzer, who is known for his work students how to play bluegrass music guitarist/singer Marty in a band, learning about Marrone, who recently left the jamming etiquette, band and takes commanding ensemble playing, how to ownership of Craig Market’s play back-up, how to take a “Love for an Angel,” which was lead break and how to sing selected by fellow band member lead and harmony vocals. Mike Hedding specifically for For several years now, The Marty to sing. As Hedding High 48s have led this says in the album liner notes, effort, acting as instructors “I had heard this one from for the next generation of Ronnie Bowman back in the bluegrass players. During day and always thought it’d be the Winter Bluegrass a great tune to play and would Weekend, they meet with fit Marty’s voice and style.” the students for one session A perfect swansong for the Friday night, two sessions MinnesotaBluegrass.org veteran singer/guitar player, on Saturday and one this album features Marrone’s session Sunday morning. commanding vocals, showcased with the award-winning progressive The kids then have the opportunity to masterfully on “Let Your Loss Be Your bluegrass band The Sawtooth Brothers. show us all what they have learned with a Lesson,” which he learned from Alison “While I certainly miss all that concert on Sunday at 1:00. Krauss and Robert Plant’s Raising Sand Marty brought to these songs, it is fun This year’s Grass Seeds concert album. Not keen on leaving the band, to hear the way the music changes shape ranged from very young fiddlers playing Marrone simply had to take a break from with Clint on guitar,” Ihrig says. “We’ve classic tunes to a teen band doing an The High 48s’ rigorous tour schedule. re-worked the arrangements of all of inventive cover of Talking Heads’

April 2018 9 “Burning Down the House,” which certainly lit up the stage and delighted the main stage audience. An extension of what The High 48s are doing individually, Grass Seeds offers the band members an additional opportunity to mentor young players beyond the individual instruction, classroom performances and jam camps that they participate in throughout the year.

Forging a New Path Whether mentoring young players or working up new band members, The High 48s continue to forge their own path, making music that excites and challenges them--be it traditional bluegrass or rock and roll. This has never been more evident than on their new album that brings all these elements together. “We took a vacation from being a ‘traditional’ bluegrass band and let like a High 48s record.” That’s because of bankrobbing and heartbreaking and ourselves roam free stylistically. And as The High 48s are doing what they do best. putting on one heck of a great show. eclectic as it is, the funny thing, it still They’re donning their best suits, shining sounds like bluegrass and still sounds a little bluegrass light on these dark songs

Wegen’s Guitar Picks

Michel Wegen is a recognized Dutch model maker using sculpting and airbrush art techniques to meet the needs of clients such as theme parks, ad ® agencies and museums. 6625 Penn Ave. S. Richfield, MN 55423 In his search for new markets, (612) 861-3308 Michel some years ago took on www.homesteadpickinparlor.com the design of the lowly pick. The results have been phenomenal. [email protected] and you can find us on Facebook Wegen Picks endanger no animal species, and they are a fraction of the price Making the world safe of the illegal picks that do. We have eight for discerning fans of models for guitar and mandolin on hand in Traditional Music a variety of thicknesses. Try one out on since 1979 your next visit. MinnesotaBluegrass.org

10 April 2018