Mountain Grass Unit Impresses Again
Mountain Grass Unit, the Birmingham-based up-and-coming progressive bluegrass band, returned to Gainesville’s Heartwood Soundstage. Since their last visit about a year ago, they’ve become on the hottest bands on the road, with constant touring and large festivals ahead on their current tour. For such a young group, they’ve already created a lot of buzz. Drury Anderson (mandolin, vocals), Luke Black (guitar, vocals), Josiah Nelson (fiddle, vocals), and Sam Wilson (bass,vocals) are fantastic players. Black is one of the finest (and fastest) flatpickers alive (Billy Strings, the band’s hero and inspiration, once noted Black as being one of his favorite guitar players).
Their shows are a great mix of traditional and progressive songs, covers and originals, and guaranteed to get the audience dancing. Their covers were excellent, and included Doc Watson (“The Train That Carried My Girl from Town”), Hartford (“Vamp in the Middle”), the Dead (“Rider”) and even The Band (“Ophelia”). Their originals included the popular “Cicada Song”, “Lonesome Dove,” “Boxcar,” and “Where I Land.” Mixed with some great traditional tunes, including “Squirrel Hunters,” “Dark Hollow,””Sittin’ On Top of the World,”and “Shady Grove,” all played with a progressive approach. They brought up fine banjo player Trevin Nelson in the second set for “Bluegrass Breakdown,” “Whitewater” and some other fine songs.
There were a lot of musicians in the audience for this show, and everyone reached the same conclusion: these guys are the real deal. If they are playing anywhere near you, go see them….tour dates are below.
