JUNE 11, 2009 ISSUE
Blues-Grass-N-Roll
High Grass Brings Blend of Smoking Grass To Murphy’s June 20
Fresh off their second place finish at the recent HayesGrass competition, Caldwell County quartet High Grass will bring their “blues-grass-n-roll” sound to Murphy’s on Saturday, June 20.
After three rounds of stellar picking and singing, the second annual HayesGrass band competition at Blowing Rock’s Hayes Performing Arts Center came down to a single vote cast by a member of the audience. That vote went to local pickers Diana & Sarvis Ridge, forcing renowned Lenoir-based quartet High Grass to settle for second place.
However, those who saw High Grass perform during the competition knows the band had nothing to be ashamed of. They delivered their scorching brand of “blues-grass-n-roll” with the same passion that has kept the band together since 2000.
“We played one of our best performances that night,” said banjo and guitar player Heath Watson. “That’s been a great learning experience. Most bands don’t get the chance to sit down and play to a fully attentive audience.”
All competitions aside, High Grass has been making their own rock- and blues-informed brand of acoustic music for close to a decade and shows no signs of slowing up. On Saturday, June 20, the band will make their way back to Watauga County for a show at Murphy’s.
In addition to Watson, the band consists of Chad Baldwin on guitar and vocals, Heath Miller on mandolin and vocals, and Chad Reichard on bass.
According to Watson, he and Miller first began picking together after meeting through Miller’s cousin. The two started sharing tunes and soon found kindred spirits in Baldwin and Reichard that enjoyed Southern rock as much as they did traditional bluegrass.
“We all came from different musical backgrounds. I was the head banger in the group,” said Watson. “I cut my teeth on Iron Maiden.”
The band members’ varied influences came shining through as High Grass began to take shape. Using traditional bluegrass instruments, the band melded their love of mountain music with classic rock and blues songs, molding the sound into a distinctive blend all their own.
At the center of the band’s sound are the powerhouse vocals of Baldwin and Miller. Far from the typical high and lonesome bluegrass model, both singers add an unmistakably powerful vocal punch, whether singing alone or harmonizing.
“I think in a sense we kind of have a sound,” Watson said. “I’d like to think we don’t sound like every other band.”
In recent years, numerous bluegrass bands have covered staples from the classic rock book, arranging them for acoustic instruments. The “Pickin’ On” series of CDs further popularized the notion that songs from all corners of the rock pantheon could sound new in a bluegrass context. But while High Grass covers songs by the Marshall Tucker Band and Lynyrd Skynyrd, their approach has more to do with capturing the soul of the song than taming it with acoustic instruments.
Since forming, High Grass has traveled and performed throughout Western North Carolina. In addition to regular shows at Canyons for the past seven years, the band frequents venues in Charlotte, Hickory and their hometown of Lenoir. The band has also played the popular Oktoberfest in Hickory and the Whippoorwill Festival at Lake James.
Despite holding down full-time jobs, Watson and his bandmates are proud that they’ve been able to continue making music together for nearly a decade.
“We’ve managed to stay together, which is pretty hard to do in the bluegrass scene,” said Watson.
Although Watson has released a solo disc, High Grass has yet to release their debut offering. According to Watson, the band has completed three songs for the album, which will consist of a mixture of original compositions and some of the band’s favorite cover tunes.
“We’re getting ready to buckle down and get going,” said Watson.
To hear songs by High Grass, click to www.MySpace.com/highgrassmusic. For more information on the show, call Murphy’s at 828-264-5117.
Want To Go?
Date: Saturday, June 20
Time: 10:00 p.m.
Location: Murphy’s
Cost: $5
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