How Do Y'All Feel About Dave Goin' Country?

[Loons The Great]

Outlaw Blues

What IS the difference between bluegrass and country? Bluegrass has more yodeling and banjos?

When I think of bluegrass, I think of,"O'Brother Where Art Thou," Ralph Stanley, Doc and Merle Watson, and Bill Monroe.

When Ize thinks of country and Western, Ize think ub The Sons Of The Pioneers, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, Hank I, II, and III, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis, Tex Ritter, Loretta Lynn, Patsy Cline, Willie Nelson, and then...natch'l...Shania Twain and Faith Hill(best on mute).

[degüello]

Originally posted by Loons The Great
What IS the difference between bluegrass and country?...

Well, the related question, "what is bluegrass," is an oft-discussed point in the BG community.

It's one that generates some difference of opinion, although most would agree on the basic principles that define the genre, which really arose out of Bill Monroe's classic 1946-49 Blue Grass Boys lineup, which included Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs.

A quick summary would be 'acoustic music utilizing a banjo-mandolin-guitar-bass-sometimes-dobro lineup, with a propulsive rhythm and strong vocal harmonies, and an improvisational approach to solo breaks, that joins blues, Celtic, swing, string band, and yes, country influences into a hot, unique sound.'

As for what differentiates it from country for starters, as mentioned, hard-core bluegrass is primarily played on acoustic instruments (with the exception of the odd electric bass). There are no electric guitars and definitely no drums. Also no piano or keyboard instruments, either electric or acoustic. The minute any of those instruments appear, it's pretty much accepted that the track ain't "pure" bluegrass anymore.

Bluegrass is also generally seen as being less commercially-driven than country.

But bluegrass also started as a sort of sub-genre of country, and Ralph Stanley himself has said that back in the early days there wasn't really a definite distinction between the two. And today, many bluegrass artists sing country songs, and vice-versa.

It could be argued that making the distinction now is important, however, as the two worlds have really grown so far apart, largely due to the mass commercialization of country and the relatively still-grassroots nature of the bluegrass world (although "Oh Brother..." certainly did give it a huge boost for a few years). And the music of the two worlds now sound so different from each other.

Anyways, I guess it's mainly important in this context because, regarding the upcoming VH bluegrass tribute, to a person unfamiliar with bluegrass, the word "country" likely carries so many strong associations that are in actuality so different from bluegrass, that one could easily be misled regarding his or her general perceptions about what this new project involves. Labelling it a "country" project (even though Dave himself uses the term in the liner notes) seems to be painting it with a broad brush that's likely a misleading representation.

(Man, that's longest post I've written in years... time to wake up now, folks... :D)

[degüello]

I should mention that I haven't heard the BG VH tribute disc yet, so it could very likely be more "country" than I'm expecting (I sure hope not ).

But, looking at the names of the players involved, who are top BG veterans, and from what I've read in the BG world, I'm thinking it's going to be primarily a BG-based work. I fucking hope so!

[degüello]

Originally posted by Loons The Great
...When I think of bluegrass, I think of,"O'Brother Where Art Thou," Ralph Stanley, Doc and Merle Watson, and Bill Monroe.

When Ize thinks of country and Western, Ize think ub The Sons Of The Pioneers, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, Hank I, II, and III, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis, Tex Ritter, Loretta Lynn, Patsy Cline, Willie Nelson, and then...natch'l...Shania Twain and Faith Hill(best on mute).

I'd say those references are spot-on, with the exception of Doc and his son. And a quick listen to the music of either list would point out just how different the two worlds really are.

[ritetoolforjob]

i've been calling him old yeller for years.............

[Douglas T.]

Off the beaten path he goes ... he always finds his way back home to rock n' Roll!