Cybergrass Bluegrass Music News: The Fabulous Bagasse Boyz

Bob_Cherry wrote: on Dec. 05, 2008:
The Fabulous Bagasse Boyz: You Can Dress 'Em Up But You Can't Take 'Em Nowhere

The Fabulous Bagasse Boyz' latest release, You Can Dress 'Em Up But You Can't Take 'Em Nowhere is a mixture of styles as was their previous album, Not Your Daddy's Bluegrass. The Boyz latest album is presented as the The Fabulous Bagasse Boyz Bluegrass Hour on KRUD in Albany, Lousiana with Doug Anderson (The Larry Wallace BAnd and the Patchwork String Band) and Buz Sibley (The Cane Grinders and The Way-Goners). This is the second entertaining album by The Fabulous Bagasse Boyz that I have been fortunate enough to review. The Boyz have a comical wit that makes listening to their music quite entertaining. More than just good music, there is a jovial air that surrounds them as well.

This program consists of 20 songs and 20 announcer tracks for a total of 40. This makes for an interesting presentation that is as unique as this band, their humor and their music. This allows the listener to hear just the music...Just the commentary...Or both. It is, however, the music AND the humor that keeps it all together. The album plays out like a story presented in a radio DJ fashion. The story gives one a good look at the band and a fresh style with a not so formal presentation.

If you're looking for the produced, and reproduced, spit and polished perfection of music, well, this ain't it! If you're looking for something original, entertaining and fun, well, give this album a spin. I find myself listening to the Boyz more than some of the high falutin' super fancy chrome-plated bluegrass productions out there today.

The Fabulous Bagasse Boyz play bluegrass, bluegrass styled music and more. The album covers a lot more than bluegrass as the listener will hear "Here Comes My Baby", a Cat Stevens tune and a Jim Croce favorite, "Age". You'll get some Bob Dylan and even Lilley Loesser's famous "I Got Spurs That Jingle Jangle Jingle." The Boyz tie it together with traditional tunes such as "Pretty Saro", "East Virginia Blues", Flowers of Edinburgh", and "Mountain Girl." Filling it all in are songs written by Hans 'Fritz' Mayers, the band's banjo musician.

The music it entertwined with dialog from the fictious radio station KRUD. The first half of the program is sponsored by stylish "White Socks" is a good indication of where things are going for the rest of the album. The latter half is sponsored by "Moist Towelettes." The Boyz may just be right -- You Can Dress 'Em Up But You Can't Take 'Em Nowhere. Sometimes, you just have to get serious and toss all seriousness aside. That is the nature of this album.

The harmonies are very good and when you dress the Boyz up just a bit, they put their talents to work. "Pretty Saro" is an excellent example of what the Boyz can do when, and if, decide to get serious. Doug's mandolin work on "East Virginia Blues" illustrates the bluegrass qualities as the banjo fills in. Yes, the Boyz can put together some mighty fine music when they get a mind to. Bob Dylan's, "I Shall Be Released" works here with the bluegrass instrumentation.

Buz Sibley guests on the album and provides fiddle on the Texas Swing track, "There's a New Moon, Over My Shoulder" and other tracks. Doug Anderson's F5 mandolin is an essential part of this album as well. After all, bluegrass is more than bass, banjo and guitar! You gotta have a fiddle in the band and bluegrass isn't bluegrass without a mandolin.

Seed Newsvine

Copyright 1992-2010 by CYBERGRASS® CYBERGRASS® is a Registered Trademark. All use and rights are reserved. No part of this site may be copied or reproduced in whole or in part without express written authorization from CYBERGRASS®. Derivitive works prohibited.