What would J.D. Crowe's band sound like with banjo stud Scott Vestal in place of Crowe? The answer is Wildfire.

On cuts like the workhorse 'Louise,' Leadbetter's knack for phrasing never veers too far astray from the core melody, whereas he flashes his speedy fingers on the Flatt & Scruggs favorite 'Don't Let Your Deal Go Down.' On cuts like Delbert McClinton's 'Victim of Life's Circumstances,' Webb's mando playing is melodic, tasteful, and rhythmically solid when providing the required downbeat. Bluegrass conventions are pretty rigid to begin with, so it's difficult to expose a personality, but Robert Hale manages to squeeze some into his bluesy style. Like all his work, Vestal's parts throughout are idiosyncratic, both tonally and melodically. But the vocals, led by Hale and backed by Leadbetter and Webb, are equally as strong. Hale's vocals are strongest on the opening cut, 'Rough Edges,' and he also manages to escape the shadow of George Jones on James Taylor's 'Bartender Blues,' made famous by Jones. With only two original tunes, the only question surrounding this band is if they can write material as strong as they can play it.

Track Listing

• Rough Edges
• Don't Let Me Stand In Your Way
• Victim Of Life's Circumstances
• Bartender Blues
• Maria (Love To see You Again)
• Fall On Your Knees
• Louise
• You Can't Cut Me Any Deeper
• Moaning' The Blues
• Straight and Narrow
• It Could Be You
• Don't Let Your Deal Go Down

Additional Details

Label: Pinecastle Records

Genre: Bluegrass

Language: English

Run Time: 34:50 mins

Region: 0

Release Date: 05/10/19

UPC: 755757111423