First Listen: Grain Thief “Animal”
In a day an age where the chamber-grass of Punch Brothers and anything with a banjo could be classified as ‘bluegrass’ music the unadulterated and raw sound of straight bluegrass music is a well welcomed gift to my ears. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE Punch Brothers and banjos, but sometimes I just want some no apologies pickin’ and hollering with soaring fiddles and quick paced mandolin runs. Grain Thief is that kind of band…and for that, I thank them.
The rapid harmony notes played in the opening “Too Much Talking” give me a thrilling sense, waiting on the next time the cascade of notes rolls through my ears into my head. There is an energy here in these tunes. “Farewell, See Ya” is a nicely balanced follow up to the high fervor foot stomping kick off track and shows the bands range with a solemn and tranquil feeling to it. The instrumental tune passes the lead duties from instrument to instrument and they all come together for the B section in a triumphant, but calming and soft jubilant sound. Beautiful. Keeping with that solemn nature of the previous instrumental, “Georgia Avenue” adds lyrics but keeps the emotion in check. Really great stuff. “Beltsander Breakdown” takes on a traditional bluegrass/celtic influenced vibe and really moves with a central melody that branches and all the players join in, building and building. I could feel this one being a real special and moving live tune to catch.
More about the band: Grain Thief is a 5-piece Americana band from Boston, Massachusetts. The self-proclaimed “Northern Country Barn Grass” band released their new EP “Animal” in the fall in November of 2016. The band is singer-songwriter/guitarist Patrick Mulroy, Tom Farrell on guitar, Zach Meyer on Mandolin, Alex Barstow on Violin, and Mike Harmon on the Bass fiddle. The band has some upcoming shows this month around Massachusetts and comes to The Burren on Sunday, January 17th for an 8PM show. They also play this Friday in Worcester at Ralph’s Rock Diner and you can check all their other days out HERE.
In the meanwhile, give a listen.
