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About the video
Chris Stuart & Backcountry perform "Don't This Road Look Rough and
Rocky"Live in Valthermond (Netherlands) Nov. 2007
About the artist
You gotta love the contemporary bluegrass music of Chris Stuart and
Backcountry. Like Bill Monroe, he's got a quarter in his hand, a bluegrass band
in his heart, and his soul will sing forever like a blue Kentucky man. These
words, in his opening cut of "Silver Quarter" explain his approach to his
personalized Americana music. A good song's gotta tell a story too. Ever wonder
what happened to the newsboy, Jimmie Brown, the skantily-clad barefoot kid who
sold the "Morning Star"? Unless you can find a copy of the "Gospel News" that
tells a different story, I think that Chris Stuart does a great job answering the
question in "Jimmie Brown Revisited." The title cut, "Saints and Strangers," is a
6-minute Stuart ballad that tells of the settlers heading for America aboard the
Mayflower, and Janet Beazley's whistles impart a very Celtic influence to the
piece. With strong songs like these, one can see why Stuart was selected as an
IBMA showcase songwriter in 2003, as well as being a former winner in both the
bluegrass and gospel categories at the Merlefest songwriting contest. He even
shows his skill at turning a lyrical country phrase with "This Body is a Honky
Tonk," and penning a Cajun novelty number that was featured on National Public
Radio's Car Talk show, "Twenty Naked Pentecostals in a Pontiac."
Stuart's proficient accompanists in his band, Backcountry, also add some solid
banjo, resonator guitar, and upright bass. Banjo-player Janet Beazley penned
and sings lead on "From Now On" and "Just Tell A Lie." Her banjo picking
provides nice lively rhythms and fills. Resonator guitarist Ivan Rosenberg is
well-known for his work with the Montana-based bluegrass bands, The Rank
Strangers and Nine Pound Hammer, as well as for his own CDs, "The Lost
Coast" and "Back to the Pasture." Ivan's self-penned instrumental tune,
"Buckshot," is a tribute to Buck Graves and Shot Jackson. He also offers exciting
clawhammer banjo, found in the mix on the title cut along with Beazley's 5-string
to give the song a strong flavor of tossing and turning in the ocean's bowl.
Bassist Dean Knight sings lead on Jeff Harvey's bouncy bluegrass number,
"Lonesome For You." Special guests on 1-3 tracks each include Jeff Harvey
(mandolin), Eric Uglam (guitar), Jason Mowery (fiddle), Tom Sauber (fiddle,
Cajun triangle), Patrick Sauber (accordion), and Roger Gillespie (percussion).
Bluegrass discophiles, take note of "Saints and Strangers." These 12 songs are
predominantly hard-driving contemporary bluegrass, but you've got to
appreciate the album's three Cs - Celtic, Cajun and Country - influences too.
Chris Stuart and Backcountry are musical phenoms that continue to turn heads
with their well-written and arranged eclectic Americana offerings. (Joe Ross, staff
writer, Bluegrass Now)