Gary Brewer opens
Home Brew with a little self-reflection on
Elvis, the state of
bluegrass in the '50s, and
Bill Monroe on grass. Penned by
Tom T. Hall,
"Elvis on Velvet and Monroe on Grass" may sound like an ode to
progressive bluegrass and the counterculture, but instead celebrates the ability of
traditional bluegrass to weather
rock & roll's insurgency in the mid-'50s. In fact,
Brewer & the Kentucky Ramblers serve as living proof that for a number of traditionally minded performers, G runs, a ringing banjo, and twangy mountain vocals are still in style. Indeed,
"Poor Ellen Smith" digs so deep into the back hills that one can smell the hickory smoke wafting from some lonesome cabin. This old worldview also assures that in one's hour of need,
"God Was There," and that ancient
folk songs
"Old Dan Tucker" and
"Little Liza Jane" are still suitable for Saturday night dances. Indeed, without studio logbooks, musical scholars may one day confuse early
bluegrass practitioners with revivalists like
Brewer. The giveaway here centers on
Brewer's fancy guitar licks on
"Lonesome Guitar" and the production's clean, crisp sound, two qualities seldom found on an early
Flatt & Scuggs recording. Music lovers who like their
bluegrass high and lonesome will want to pick up at least one copy of
Home Brew. ~ Ronnie D. Lankford Jr.
