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Biography: Whiskey Rebellion
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Two things in particular distinguish the WHISKEY REBELLION among the latest generation of bluegrass-based string bands. The first of these is the band's traditional (and occasionally timeless) original songwriting. The second is a lively and unique sense of musicianship informed by four perspectives and musical backgrounds as diverse as you're likely to find in any ensemble, regardless of genre.
It was at the Maury River Fiddlers' Convention in Buena Vista, Virginia, tha WHISKEY REBELLION came togeher. Roy and Ryan met violinist/vocalist Mary Simpson while attending the festival. Mary has a face and sound well-known to Virginia's fans of bluegrass and old-time music. Although her classical training may be partially to thank for her jaw-dropping technical ability, Mary grew up in a family of bluegrass performers, and her style-steeped melodic gift and distinctive rhythmic "push" of her playing are products of this part of her musical upbringing. (These may have been what won the judges over that year at Buena Vista, Mary was awarded not only the first prize in the bluegrass fiddle division, but also the title of "Best Overall Performer.") Ryan and Roy were impressed...with her fiddling, her singing, and with her bass player. If Mary's musicianship is informed by her classical and bluegrass backgrounds, David Cosper's is as much a product of his many diverse experiences in popular music and of his training in jazz. But his "inside outsider's" perspective may be to credit for the things that are unique about his playing in this context. What after all, is playing melodies, from taking breaks, or from interacting with the other voices in the ensemble on an equal footing?
Phillips' songwriting - "as old as Gillian Welch and as new as The Carter Family"; the exquisite good taste of Roy Myers's accompaniment and the virtuosity and harmonic sophistication of his improvisation; Mary Simpson's powerful voice and the celebration in her fiddling; David Cosper's "deep in the pocket" groove sensibility and searching improvisation... Altogether, the WHISKEY REBELLION may be the most exciting acoustic music you've heard in a long time.
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