The Grascals earned two decades worth of respect from their bluegrass and country music confederates because they’re gifted and believe in what they do. If they were fly-by-night no-talents, I think the story would be different. They wouldn’t cite sharing stages and performing with artists such as Dolly Parton, Hank Williams Jr., Charlie Daniels, George Jones, and others. They wouldn’t have performed for two Presidents of the United States or logged well over 200 appearances on the Grand Old Opry stage. They wouldn’t have made it twenty years, and this review wouldn’t exist.
They were never shooting stars destined to burn out fast. They’re the real deal.
The new release 20, celebrating the anniversary of their formation, attests to that. It isn’t a mindless display of musical skill, but chops aplenty fuel the vociferous energy of “Tennessee Hound Dog”. A product of Felice and Boudleaux Bryant’s renowned songwriting partnership, the Grascals adept it as a full-on bluegrass barnstormer. There’s no slip-up as guitarist Jamie Johnson, bassist Terry Smith, mandolinist Danny Roberts, fiddle player Jamie Harper, banjo player Kristin Scott Benson, and guitarist John Bryan navigate with masterful command through a handful of hairpin changes. “Tennessee Hound Dog” plays up the wholesome humor of the lyrics at the right pitch.
“Coal Dust Kisses” is one of the album’s strongest character-driven tunes. Unshakable storytelling merits underline virtually any good bluegrass you’ll ever hear, and The Grascals’ long experience has baked the idea deep into their artistic DNA. They open the door to this hardscrabble life with an unwavering eye for detail and a wealth of genuine human compassion. “I Need a Night Off” shifts gears. The album’s fourth song moves The Grascals into cross-genre territory as the songwriting mixes time-tested strands of bluegrass with familiar yet well-executed nods to their country music past.
There’s a second cover of the Bryant songwriting team. “Georgia Pineywoods” is a fiery and affectionate blast of musicality. It testifies to the band’s off-the-charts skill that they so ably walk a line between energy and all-out chaos without careening over into the latter. “I Go” builds off a bit of musical sleight of hand. The Grascals begin the track at a moderate tempo before changing gears into a much more hopped-up performance. It’s one of 20’s best-realized tracks. Their country influences are much more notable during “Jenny” than elsewhere in the collection. The artful whine of a pedal steel guitar adds immeasurably to the mood and broadens The Grascals’ sound late in the track listing.
Understated touches help make 20 something special. Countless other factors play a role. The self-assurance and intimacy of the release are other high points of this sparkling opus. You won’t suffer through any filler. The Grascals’ 20 honors their past while swinging the door open wide to the future, and it looks as bright as ever for this well-respected outfit. There’s plenty of gas in their tank, and long may they run. It may seem like they’ve accomplished everything a band of their ilk can hope for, but you can hear their continued yearning.
Mindy McCall