I love a good origin story. In the case of Massachusetts’ duo Crowes Pasture, they met in their careers as corporate attorneys. Guitarist Andy Rogovin and banjoist Monique Byrne, by now married, didn’t really discover their vocal harmony talent until they started singing to their young kids. They describe their music as a “banjo-guitar romance”, which isn’t a bad place to start. I would add that on their new album, Don’t Blink, the music sashays between folk and bluegrass, with vocal harmonies playing the star part.
Monique’s voice soars and floats on the title track, an admonishment to live in the moment and appreciate what you have. Subtle pedal steel and fiddle give it a hint of good old country music. Byrne applies a similar style to Springsteen’s If I Should Fall Behind, resulting in something you’d never guess came from the Boss if you didn’t know it beforehand. On Get While the Getting’s Good, she takes a more down-to-earth approach about seizing the moment, or as they harmonize, “we’re going to dance while the band is playing”.
Andy’s vocals take more of the spotlight on Agree On. A single a cappella duet verse underscores the despair generated with today’s polarized civil climate while also laying out the hope that, “Lord, there must be something we can all agree on”. In another social commentary piece, Take Back the Red White and Blue, Rogovin’s plaintive delivery pleads to stop weaponizing the flag and return its emotional impact to our legacy shared values. The old-timey banjo, guitar and fiddle are the perfect accompaniment. The most noticeably bluegrass number is Diamonds, where the sparkle in your eye can “make me weak”, a great core for a love song.
Producer Eric Lichter utilized 3 different fiddle players on this record, deftly inserting nudges as Crowes Pasture weaves folk and bluegrass into their string band repertoire. Regardless of that, the highlight is the duo’s vocal harmonies. While perhaps not having the focused polish of a nearby Berklee School of Music duet, the warmth and passion floods through. If you live in the Northeast, there are plenty of opportunities to catch the group live. For the rest of us, Don’t Blink serves as an admirable alternative to enjoy Crowes Pasture.
About the author: I've actually driven from Tehatchapee to Tonopah. And I've seen Dallas from a DC-9 at night.