LOCAL LISTEN: Thomas A. Minor & The Picket Line
Monday, November 16th, 2009
I’m always excited when I get CDs from local bands, but I was particularly excited when I opened a package on Friday with the new album from Thomas A. Minor & The Picket Line. I’ve seen The Picket Line back Bonnie Billy at Funtown and at the Old Tarr Distillery and I’ve seen Cheyenne Mize with Bonnie Billy in Bloomington, with Ben Sollee at the NuLu Fest and with Arnett Hollow. I’m kicking myself for missing their CD release show, but as soon as they pop up again, I will be there. While they are amazing in their other projects, combining for this album created something very special.
The seven song collection is fantastic from start to finish. As soon as the disc started playing, they grabbed me with “Ain’t No Doubt About It” which may be my favorite song on the album. After a long day at work, I was relaxed immediately. You can listen to it below and if it doesn’t wet your whistle, I don’t know what will. Perhaps it is being from Kentucky, but there is something to be said about the effect of warm, drawl-filled vocals floating over the sounds of a soft violin and mandolin, the heavy pic of a banjo and the steady strumming of a bass. Songs like “The River Rose” and “Magnolia” soften the concrete and brick around you take you someplace else (perhaps Funtown). The album is short and sweet leaving you asking for more… or you can just play it over and over again like I have all weekend. They say they are not good enough to be a bluegrass band, but that couldn’t be far enough from the truth. They definitely have the gift of making beautiful music.
The band is…
Thomas A. Minor-Guitfiddle and Vocals
Drumstick-Guitfiddle and Vocals
The String Mizer-Fiddle and Vocals
Pig Iron-Mandolin and Yelling,
Pork Chop-Outta-tune Banjo
Danny- Bassfiddle
or Oscar Lee Riley, Jonathan Kempf, Bradley Reinstedler, Danny Kiley, Bob Dixon and Cheyenne Mize.
Thomas A. Minor & The Picket Line- Ain’t No Doubt About It
In other Picket Line news, they have a record coming out in December with Bonnie Billy called “Funtown Comedown.” Read more about it HERE.
