One of the great characteristics of bluegrass and Americana music festivals is the impromptu jam sessions. Backstage, in the campground, at the hotel, on the tour bus, there’s a lot more great music that gets played than ever hits the stage. Not for the first time, those informal sessions have been the impetus for new bands and records. The latest is Mighty Poplar, consisting of Andrew Marlin (Watchhouse), Noam Pikelny & Chris Eldridge (Punch Brothers), Greg Garrison (Leftover Salmon), and Alex Hargreaves (Billy Strings). Their debut album is due out shortly and it surely captures a lot of the magic of one of those sessions.
About half the record is bluegrass numbers. Up on the Divide is a waltz that’s an anthem to the hard life in the mountains. Grey Eagle is an uptempo instrumental. The group does a modern update to AP Carter’s Little Joe. They likewise turn the intensity up a notch on John Hartford’s Let Him Go On Mama–no small feat for a Hartford tune. The sound leans a little more old-timey on another AP Carter number, Blackjack Davy, and North Country Blues, the Dylan classic. A folk style better describes their take on Leonard Cohen’s Story of Isaac, his commentary on one generation mindlessly sacrificing the opportunity for succeeding ones.
Recorded in a rural studio over just a few days, Mighty Poplar leans heavily on the curation skills of Marlin, a self-described song collector. The others then jump in with their incredible instrumental chops and vocal harmonies. What came out was a live album that isn’t exactly live. If you’re a folk or bluegrass fan, though, you have to give Mighty Poplar a listen.
About the author: I've actually driven from Tehatchapee to Tonopah. And I've seen Dallas from a DC-9 at night.