Editorial
Front Page - Friday, November 20, 2009
Weekly Indulgence
Samara Litvack
When I try to describe the music of The Greencards to someone, I often find myself at a loss for words.
My first instinct is to compare vocalist Carol Young, a native of Australia who also plays bass, to Allison Kraus or Emmylou Harris, although I’m not exactly sure why. Perhaps it’s her strong, emotional delivery, or the precise inflection of her voice. Maybe it’s the group’s bluegrass/Americana/folk vibe, or that each member seems to feel every song in the core of his or her being.
But a simple comparison to Allison Kraus is only the tip of the iceberg. It’s hard to classify The Greencards’ music because it’s not bound by the rules of one genre; rather, it’s continuously evolving.
Like most good things, perhaps the only way to understand what I’m saying here is to listen to The Greencards’ music. And while each of the band’s CDs is amazing (I am now the proud owner of three), to get the true Greencards experience, you have to see them live.
I first saw them at the Riverbend Festival in 2008. I was sitting under the Walnut Street Bridge, cooling off from the mid-summer heat at the bluegrass stage. When The Greencards took the stage, I, along with everyone else under the bridge that day, was astounded at their performance.
Kym Warner, also from Australia, is an amazing musician and vocalist. Before I saw The Greencards, I’d never seen anyone play mandolin that fast. Kym closes his eyes and the music seems to pour from his soul, resulting in some of the sweetest solos (by mandolin or any other instrument) I’ve ever heard.
Eamon McLoughlin, a native of England, is a master of the fiddle. Players of this instrument are notorious for playing ultra fast in bluegrass bands, and Eamon is no exception. But he can also slow down his rhythm with a seasoned, sweet finesse, producing some of the softest, most beautiful music you’ve ever heard.
Jake Starge, from Atlanta, was 17 years old that summer. He played his guitar faster than many banjo players can pick, and thankfully, many of the band’s songs allow solo time to highlight his ability. You just don’t see natural talent like that often, and Carol repeatedly refers to him as “the best thing that’s ever happened to the band.”
I drove up to McMinnville earlier this year when The Greencards performed at Bluegrass Underground in the Cumberland Caverns. But as blown away as I’d been at their Riverbend performance, nothing could have prepared me for seeing them inside that cave.
I purchased my first of their albums that day and vowed to see them the next chance I got. Last week, I got that chance. They performed at Rhythm and Brews, a venue I’ve attended many times for packed out, uncomfortably crowded shows. But this was much, much different.
I met up with Kym before the show to get a little insight on what it’s like being a member of such an incredible band. The first thing we discussed was how The Greencards’ music is nearly impossible to classify.
“It’s just evolved,” he said. “I think it’s just a contemporary form of acoustic, sort of bluegrass folk. It’s got a lot of elements.”
With influences from all genres, including classic country, rock, pop and even traditional Irish, the band is constantly trying to find different components that make its sound unique.
“There are still bluegrass elements in there, absolutely, but we’ve never just drawn on that,” Kym said.
The Greencards began performing together seven years ago in an Irish pub in Austin, Texas. Over time, they picked up shows around the region and today they’re on a national bluegrass circuit, performing regularly around the country and overseas.
Kym says some of his personal standout shows from this year include Lollapalooza, where The Greencards were the only bluegrass band among 129 rock bands, and a show in San Francisco with Marty Stewart.
“It was just one of those magical nights,” he said. “He was so incredible, so nice to us and the show was great.”
After my chat with Kym, I settled in with my friends on the bar’s upper level, overlooking the stage. By show time, about 50 people had trickled in and the stage was set for an intimate, chance of a lifetime performance.
I’m not sure how many people in that audience had heard The Greencards before, but it was obvious within the first few notes that everyone was having the same reaction. From Eamon’s dedication to the Japanese one-string banjo, which led into one of my favorite songs from their “Viridian” album, to Kym and Jake’s Doc Watson duet, to the band’s version of Gordie Sampson’s “Davey Jones” (a song from their “Fascination” album, which helped me find another way to describe Carol’s voice – haunting, in a totally good way), each song was amazing. Entrancing even.
To entertain the Tennessee audience, The Greencards played a fantastic rendition of the Carter family ballad “Bury Me Under the Weeping Willow.” They also played a song I’d taken notice of at Bluegrass Underground called “What You Are,” a Patti Griffin tune covered on the band’s “Weather and Water” album (which I purchased at the show, rounding out my collection).
As expected, The Greencards gave another unforgettable performance at Rhythm and Brews, and I’m already checking the calendar to see when and where I can see them when they resume touring next year. I highly recommend anyone with a love for music do the same. Learn more about the band at www.thegreencards.com.
Contact Samara at samara@hamiltoncountyherald.
com.
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