The latest single from the King James Boys continues wearing the band members’ faith on their collective sleeve. I have no problem with that. The storied confluence of gospel themes with bluegrass music reaches back to the genre’s roots and has continued relevance in our modern world.
The South Carolina-based five-piece aren’t newcomers to the scene, but “I Can Hear the Savior” exhibits a newcomer’s freshness married with a veteran unit’s confidence and chemistry. It’s the first release since the band’s successful 2022 foray Walk on Faith spawned the memorable single “The Devil’s Not Afraid of a Dust Covered Bible”. “I Can Hear the Savior” builds on their gathering momentum with an invigorating song-first philosophy that nevertheless highlights their individual and collective musical gifts.
URL: https://www.thekingjamesboys.com/
First formed in 1994, the King James Boys are led by the nucleus of lead vocalist/guitarist Randy Spencer and bass guitarist/harmony vocalist Cole Spencer. Banjo player Curtis Lewis and mandolin/harmony vocalist Will Hart join Josh Greene on fiddle as other key members. Randy Spencer’s lead vocals are relatively brief. Spellbinding multi-part harmonies dominate much of the performance and effortlessly invoke the timeless quality they clearly aspire to. It works in seamless accord with the song’s instrumentation.
Each one of the five musicians manages a brisk pace without breaking a sweat. “I Can Hear the Savior” is a physically involving piece that demands equal parts “feel” and precision from the players. The core of the band, the Spencers, and banjo player Curtis Lewis, respond from the accumulated knowledge gleaned by playing together for years. Comparative newcomers such as Will Hart and violinist Josh Greene lock into the musical moment without any signs of strain. They are well-chosen partners in the band’s creative journey.
The song has an ideal length. A duration mere seconds shy of the two-and-a-half-minute mark offers plenty of time for The King James Boys to make their musical case for listeners. It doesn’t allow for any extended instrumental workouts. You won’t miss such interludes. Instead, longtime fans of this style will relish the unwavering focus that The King James Boys bring to the song. There are no sidebars or self-indulgent detours.
The lyrics share these qualities. The King James Boys offer an enduring testimony to their faith that even non-delivers will enjoy. It’s written in lean, poetic language that disdains needless flourishes and comports well with the track’s musical identity. None of the lines sound weighty or over-extended. It’s an important component in an overall presentation that checks every box.
“I Can Hear the Savior” continues The King James Boys’ legacy-building. They have come a long way since beginning as a local act playing for their fellow parishioners. After thirty-plus years, they are one of the most respected acts in the bluegrass genre and a creative force any fan of the style must reckon with. Their impact is impossible to ignore. “I Can Hear the Savior” offers a plethora of evidence that they are far from finished and rank as one of 2024’s best standalone bluegrass songs.
Mindy McCall