Formats
VHF108 - CD
783881010824
Details
hobo handshake, the fourth full-length from the black twig pickers, finds a slightly reshuffled lineup and a renewed emphasis on kicking out raw, percussive takes on both traditional appalachian and original material. with ralph berrier jr.'s retirement from the group, mike gangloff has added fiddle to his already considerable arsenal, and along with stalwart guitarist isak howell, brought in nathan bowles (pelt, spiral joy band) on percussion and several guests who make substantial contributions to the party. the twigs work the fine line between the friday night oldtime dance party and the wellspring of grim and evocative tragedy that runs through the tradition, delivering these laments, travelogues, and wild whoops with sawing, rocking joy. this is a sprawling collection, with visceral group takes on 'crossing the james,' 'cherry river line,' and 'old joe clark.' charlie parr and lane prekker join the crew on ?last kind word blues,? 'train 45' and 'twin sisters' (first essayed by pelt way back in '98) with parr's amazing, ragged voice leading the charge over bowles and prekker's driving percussion. along with the full group material, the twigs throw in other welcome oddities such as howell's fahey-like ?at the head of every creek,' 'p.e.a. vine blues,' an arrangement of a tune from portuguese africa, and a book-ending solo version of 'crossing the james,' with gangloff on baritone banjo.
Tracks
1. CROSSING THE JAMES 2. RATTLETRAP
3. CHERRY RIVER LINE 4. LAST KIND WORD BLUES
5. GLORY IN THE MEETING HOUSE
6. AT THE HEAD OF EVERY CREEK 7. STAY ALL NIGHT
8. BOATSMAN 9. PAINT BANK
10. WALKING IN THE PARLOR 11. CALLAHAN
12. TRAIN 45 13. NEVER MISS YOUR MAMA
14. TWIN SISTERS 15. SALLY COMING THROUGH THE RYE
16. OLD-TIME FIRE ON THE MOUNTAIN
17. OLD JOE CLARK 18. OLD JOE BONE
19. FROSTY MORNING 20. P.E.A. VINE BLUES
21. CROSSING THE JAMES
Press
Reviews in MOJO, Wire, Plan B, Uncut