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If you’re after a sharp and tight set of traditional Old-time songs played with plenty of vim and a hefty dose of talent, then look no further than Grant / McGuire / Flaherty, a fun slice of Appalachian magic. Liam Grant is a Maine native guitarist in the mold of the late Jack Rose (in fact, the Weissenborn on here may be Jack’s; Liam borrowed it for a time from Glenn Jones). Both Grayson McGuire (here playing fiddle, but also an ace banjoist) and Devon Flaherty (banjo, guitar) hail from North Carolina, where Liam used to dwell, and this is their first recording, cut straight to cassette tape with no overdubs.
Although there are zero frills in earshot here, and the false start opening Spoonful, plus various shouts and count-ins, suggest a carefree approach, don’t be fooled, for these guys are dynamite and fully able to channel the spirit of Old-time music. The analog sound is a treat and suits the music very well, adding to the authenticity (‘Don’t use that word!’ I hear you shout) of the sound; just listen to the fiddle and banjo kick in and join Liam’s thumbed guitar notes on Dry and Dusty and you’ll get the idea. This is a great piece, played beautifully at an almost languid tempo, cleverly evoking the sense of a hot, lazy environment.
Taner’s Farm is another delight, with all three players plus Jude Artega (adding washboard and vocals) seemingly having a lot of fun playing a jaunty, fiddle-led melody and singing a humorously pitched song shading the bleaker truth of hard rural living, as is common in traditional Appalachian music and country blues. Cotton Mill Blues is in a similar vein; a protest song written by Wilmer Watts about the plight of factory workers, this one is played at quite a pace, with slide guitar, banjo and fiddle framing an earnest vocal.
This trio manages to pack a lot into seventeen minutes and six songs. There is nary a dull moment to be heard, nor a sense of any notes being played at anything less than their full potential. Even quieter moments, like gentle miniature Kneel at the Cross is very satisfying, with slide guitar, banjo and fiddle, this time creating a very laid-back vibe. It’s a perfect note to end the record on, and you’ll find yourself re-spinning this one time and again, bewitched by its down-to-earth charm and infectious character.
Grant / McGuire / Flaherty (21st June 2024) Carbon Records / The Annex Blues Society.
