The Story Of A Cover Band That Cleaned Up

How can anybody remain unmoved, unconvinced, unimpressed by The Earls Of Leicester?

After they cleaned up at the IBMAs earlier this month, some indie reporter (yawn) groused that they were no more than “a Flatt and Scruggs cover band”.

If that’s true, folks, this ain’t your daddy’s Flatt and Scruggs.

Jerry Douglas brings the funk from the first note. Banjo ace, Charlie Cushman answers, carrying the whole thing back down home. Douglas roars into overdrive again and fiddler, Johnny Warren responds with lovely, sorghum-drenched country fiddling.

You think it’ll go on like that until Cushman takes his second break – a mind-bending fusion of textbook Scruggs licks, bluesy twang, and playful Americana that beats Douglas at his own game.

By the time you notice Barry Bales laying down bass lines as rock-solid as they are tasty, he’s soloing, and his break is so revelatory that the crowd bursts into applause even before he’s finished.

Recorded live at the D.C. Bluegrass Union this past February, these are The Earls Of Leicester with “Foggy Mountain Rock”.

Sparkling Bluegrass From The Earls of Leicester

Ah, The Earls Of Leicester, showing once again the dazzling musicianship that won them this year’s Grammy for Best Bluegrass Album.

It takes real confidence to stretch and slink your way into an intro, the way Shawn Camp does in this first number. Think about it: Anyone else would be hammy, heavy-handed, goading the audience to cheer and whistle, in that tired old way that so many entertainers have.

That’s not good enough for these guys. Listen to the interplay between Camp and Jerry Douglas’s singing dobro lines. The way banjoist Charlie Cushman holds back so tastefully, surprising you with sparkling fills late in the number.

As for the second number, all I can say is, Johnny Warren! Split-second timing; beautiful, clean articulation; and having fun all the while. There’s not a sterile moment to be had, thank God.

These are The Earls of Leicester with “Big Black Train” and Black-Eyed Suzie”.

Exploding Mandolin Players, and Still, Rock Solid

Excuse me while I fangirl over The Earls Of Leicester. Even with a constantly-revolving stream of mandolin players (Jeff White in this clip, sounding more like Cousin Jake Tullock on tenor vocals than anybody has a right to), they maintain a crisp, cohesive sound. As if that weren’t enough, they seem to have more fun with every show they do.

This one in particular was taped for the Bluegrass Underground series on PBS, just three weeks ago. For those of you who aren’t familiar with the show, the reason they look like they’re standing in a cave is because … they are.

Aside from Jeff White’s tenor, Johnny Warren’s fiddling is sheer perfection. These are The Earls Of Leicester with “You’re Not A Drop In the Bucket”.

This band. This BAND!

Between them, they’ve played just about every kind of music imaginable. Yet, they get together to dust off these moldy, old chestnuts from the Flatt and Scruggs catalog.

Why? Because they’re having fun, and their fun is infectious — from the pun in their name to Shawn Camp’s silly Lester Flatt impressions.

Did I mention that their musicianship will knock you, um, flatt?

That’s Barry Bales on bass, Charlie Cushman on banjo, Johnny Warren (son of long-time F & S fiddler, Paul Warren) on fiddle, Tim O’Brien on mandolin, Jerry Douglas on dobro, and Shawn Camp on guitar.

Distinguished guests, The Earls of Leicester with “Get In Line, Brother”.