All that time with no gigs to play has resulted in some really good music being written. The latest example of that comes from Joshua Rilko, founding member of Lindsey Lou and the Flatbellies, and mandolin-about-town for the likes of Sierra Ferrell, Billy Strings, and others. He came up with 11 new songs, about half of them traditional bluegrass and the other half with a more modern take on the string band sound. Back in the day, when vinyl was king, a record like this would have come out with the acoustic numbers being Side A and the electric ones Side B. These days the way to package that is as separate EP’s. So Rilko, being the astute man he is, did just that.
The acoustic EP is entitled Lost Soul and it’s back-to-the-basics bluegrass, epitomized by the opening track, New Way To Fly. Next up is When Springtime Comes, an old-timey country waltz. In its plea to decide, “when do you think we could get together”, it could be a pandemic theme song. Ripwalk is an instrumental jam and is followed by Bullshit Mountain, featuring Strings on guitar and vocal harmonies. With a verse of “look at how he glistens/while he’s pissing/on your dreams”, there’s no doubt where Rilko stands on the subject.
The more electric EP is called Rock & Roll, and takes some inspiration from a couple of icons of the genre. Memories Of Yesterday is a sweetly reminiscent rock-and-roll tune that’s clearly influenced by Tom Petty. The EP finishes with Lost Soul-Rock & Roll. It’s the first Beatles song not by the Beatles I’ve heard in a long time. In between those is Livin’ Clean & Lovin’ Jesus, a Texas swing track, and Waltz At My Speed that plays on When Springtime Comes from the first EP. This side of the album also features Rilko’s bandmates Lindsey Lou and PJ George III from the Flatbellies.
Joshua Rilko is one of a new breed of bluegrass musician as comfortable traveling the well-known path of the titans of the genre as he is standing on their shoulders to build a new sound. Normally you have to wait a couple of years between albums to hear that juxtaposition. With Lost Soul, and Rock & Roll, coming out virtually simultaneously Rilko provides us with instant gratification for either style.
About the author: I've actually driven from Tehatchapee to Tonopah. And I've seen Dallas from a DC-9 at night.