From An Old Pro To A New Kid

Thile and Daves, a funny story about Charlie Louvin, and a tender cover of “You’re Running Wild”.

Michael Daves is just about my favorite among the current crop of male bluegrass singers, for his raw intensity. This fiery duet with Jen Larson is yet another example of Daves’s style, so thoroughly grounded in the work of the genre’s pioneers.

This tune comes from The Stanley Brothers’ catalog, and it’s entitled “I Only Exist”.

Brittany Haas and Michael Daves leave it all on the stage, generating tremendous power for just two musicians.

This is “Drunken Hiccups”.

From late last year, Michael Daves and friends, bringing the bluegrass fire. The solos are galvanic – Brittany Haas is particularly fine – but the unison just before the 3-minute mark? Ridiculous! Bluegrass Throwdown, indeed!

This is “June Apple”.

So, Michael Daves wanted to make a couple of records, and resorted (successfully) to Kickstarter to fund the project. This video features the musicians who will be on the bluegrass record (the other one is a plugged-in, hard-rock version of the same tunes you’ll find on the bluegrass record), which will be recorded this month.

If this raucous, joyful performance is any indication, you’ll want this CD in your library. This song, with slightly different lyrics, is also known as “Going To the Races”. Daves and crew call it “Gonna Paint the Town”.

Michael Daves is joined by a whole host of musical friends for an old Bill Monroe tune to which he brings considerable passion. This kind of raw, bluesy singing is what bluegrass was made from and made of. Good to hear it coming back into fashion again.

This is “Close By”.