Cybergrass Bluegrass Music News: The SteelDrivers Deliver a Fresh Bluegrass Sound in 2008

BMNN wrote: on Jan. 12, 2009:

One of bluegrass music's freshest sounds comes from a band that hit the scene last year, The SteelDrivers. This is the band that put the blues back into bluegrass. In the process, the also put some of the soul back into the music. It is no wonder that this soulful and gritty group surprisingly captured the Country Group/Duo Grammy nomination. Beyond that, they captured the ear of millions of listeners of country as well as bluegrass music. The raspy voice of Chris Stapleton isn't one normally associated with bluegrass music. The voice is, however, what puts the body and soul of this dynamic group back into the days of early bluegrass. This group delivered a fresh bluegrass sound in 2008. A breath of fresh sounding soulful bluegrass.

In what has to be one of the oddest Grammy pairings, Nashville's homegrown The SteelDrivers' have been nominated for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group along with country superstars Rascal Flatts, Brooks 'n Dunn, Sugarland and Lady Antebellum. Music Row Magazine's Bob Oermann wrote of their 2008 self-titled debut on Rounder Records, 'The SteelDrivers combine backwoods bluegrass with deep-fried soul'. Produced by Luke Wooten (Alison Krauss, Jim Lauderdale and Dierks Bentley), the release has also garnered the five piece group nominations from the Americana Music Association and the International Bluegrass Music Association.

Highly regarded behind the scenes as songsmiths and session players -- with innumerable hits, cuts and licks to their credit -- this batch of seasoned pros has performed to sold out crowds from their inception almost two years ago. While offering new takes on classic themes of redemption and loss, and hope and home their songs are equally informed by the mountain sound of Ralph Stanley and the rhythm and blues of Ray Charles.

Recording all original material, The SteelDrivers' collision of back-country high lonesome and Delta soul is one of the most refreshing sounds to emerge on the acoustic scene in a long time. With no hype, just incredible talent, these five musicians have already established a name for themselves in a town that barely looks twice at a bunch of folks holding acoustic instruments. Stretching the boundaries of the typical bluegrass band, the dynamic rock/blues/soul vocals of Chris Stapleton (songs recorded by Josh Turner, Brad Paisley, Kenny Chesney) put the high lonesome bluegrass sound smack dab in the middle of town.

Other SteelDrivers include mandolinist/guitarist/vocalist Mike Henderson (Mark Knopfler, Emmylou Harris, John Hiatt), fiddler/vocalist Tammy Rogers (Buddy & Julie Miller, Reba, Rodney Crowell), banjo player Richard Bailey (Johnny Cash, George Jones, Al Green) and bassist Mike Fleming (Kevin Welch, David Olney).

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