Dan Crary and Lonnie Hoppers have captured that elusive sense of creating something new that feels like it's been around forever. It has the feeling of a familiar pair of shoes that are great to slip into when it's time to relax. What could be more familiar than a name like the "American Band"? The tunes, also, are familiar ones. "Nine Pound Hammer," "Closer Walk with Thee," "John Henry," and "Sitting on Top of the World" are just a few of the fine old tunes that get treated during this set. And most importantly, the players are all very familiar with each other. Crary, a flatpicking pioneer, and Hoppers, a pillar of the banjo contingent, have known each other for close to four decades. They are joined here by good friends John Moore on mandolin, Jamie Haage and Dale Hopkins alternating on fiddle, and Marlon Collins on bass.
Their familiarity with each other truly shows up in the music. The ensemble play- ing is a delight. Even when the accelerator is pushed to the floor, and the tune is travelling in the high speed lane, the soloists have a rock solid foundation. And in case anyone had any doubts, these fellas can play. Especially impressive is how chops are kept under control and used to create a unified whole. Sure, there are the occasional hot licks that let the listeners know that these guys can let 'em rip with the best. But hot licks don't disrupt the flow. The music exudes the mature personality of masters at work.
Crary mentions in the liner notes that he had a blast getting together with old friends and letting loose some Midwestern roots energy. That feeling comes through loud and clear. Anybody interested in knowing what it feels like to hear good friends kick back and do some serious front porch pickin' and grinnin' would need to track this one down.
