A few days ago I did a post on one of my social networks about one of my favorite independent bands and I finished the sentence with “it’s a tsunami, baby!”
My sentence referred to the fact that, by now, no insider, even the most anchored to the mainstream, can ignore the independent circuit.
There are bands that fill arenas, make millions of streams and play on successful tv shows.
It’s a time when every day I discover new artists, and the next day I discover new artists.
Often I can’t talk about some people right away and not because it’s not worth it, but mine is a passion and not a job and sometimes there are so many valid exits that talking about them all would be impossible.
Here, the Low Water Bridge Band is part of this large group of artists of incredible value that I lost on the way, but it had to be corrected.
The above tsunami was fed for the most part by artists from the Appalachian region and if you follow me you know that Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia are real hotbeds of talent.
And where could this band come from if not from those places dominated by nature?
The band consists of singer and guitarist Logan Moore, bassist Alex Kerns, drums by Riley Kerns, James Montgomery on lead guitar, Justin Carver on pedal steel and banjo and Rudy Bzdyk on violin, trumpet, keyboards.
This uniquely talented ensemble comes from the Shenandoah River Valley area, from little Berryville, which is close as the crow flies to Washington, DC, but far away and isolated from the city world.
A place proudly sung by the Low Water Bridge Band, a sound that takes stories from the real life of the place and with an exciting mix of country, bluegrass, soul and blues gives a second album beautiful.
They were born in 2020, but they sound mature and confident as if they were on the tenth record.
The ascent was rapid and as for the 49 Winchester, from whom they take that way of being influenced by where they live, they exploded out of their region in no time.
In 2021 came out the beautiful Midnight in Virginia that put them on the map, but with this Back to The Valley are ready for the real bang.
Put on the plate this beautiful record and will start the intense dark ballad Sirens of the Shenandoah.
We talk about murders, as if it were a noir story and the bass is pulsating and creates a blues atmosphere along with guitar scratches, while the banjo reminds us that the band was born as bluegrass.
Original and believable give us a little jewel.
They have talent gentlemen: hear to believe.
The lyrics are inspired by the stories of the area, but also and especially by nature: in fact, Moore was inspired one night at camp by the lonely howl of a fox to write this wonderful piece.
Feel like Slow Down and if you know the music of the ’70s and ’80s, that of the golden years, you can not help but feel the taste of a familiar sound like the one that made the speakers Levon Helm and his The Band.
A violin, a vaguely honky tonk rhythm and in 600 Reasons the band goes from wanting with all the heart to go to Nashville, and then can’t wait to go home in the mountains and leave behind the city that swallows the talent.
The particular voice of Moore is perfect to tell these stories and the interweaving of violin, guitars and pedal-steel, supported by choirs, is really fantastic.
Hope It’s You is a country inspired by the classics in which the band makes a great figure: not only modern and original, but also a country band with bows! Chapeau!
There is almost a waltz-inspired rhythm in Place On A Hill, written by Alex Kerns when he moved into a wooden house on the hill near the river: just close your eyes and you can feel the wind in the trees and the water of the Shenandoah caressing your thoughts. Beautiful and original.
Another original ballad and arranged in a big way is Small Town Affair, a country coming from a invigorating past, stories of small towns and appointments that in a moment end up on everyone’s lips.
The stories of death and murder return with the wonderful and conclusive She Don’t Answer.
The almost gothic and dark sound is what I loved most about this album and the first and last song is a shining example: country veined with blues, rhythm and intensity, sharp guitars and stories that take your stomach.
The intertwining of Montgomery’s scratchy guitar, violin and banjo and Moore’s very particular and intense voice are the secret of a sound that is destined to grow its fans around and not only in the States.
A second record that confirms and indeed raises the bar for these guys from Shenandoah Valley.
The songwriting is very high level, as well as the production and talent of this band and, I hope not all the heart, that their path has the same success of many artists born like them in the mountains and rivers of this part of the world.
If you love the feel and sound of 49 Winchester, but also love the original mixes and don’t disdain The Band and the sound that created the great Levon Helm, then sit back and get on the boat on the Shenandoah river and the rest will think the sound of a great band: The Low Water Bridge Band.
Good listening.
Trex
