">Similarly, Elena Skye got her professional start in the wild world of
>New Jersey and New York punk rock before the rediscovery of bluegrass
>music led her to turn down the volume and form her traditional
>country-influenced but cowpunk-driven quartet, Elena Skye and the
>Demolition String Band".
>
So they had it in Richmond and often do in reviews, it seems--but as Ms.
Ske has pointed out right here mnore than once--and as is very true, the
Demolitions are not exactly a bluegrass band, and don't say they are. They
are an unmitigated String Band--as much or more influenced by jazz and
blues and jug as bluegrass and country, and Ms. Skye's strong vocals
handles all of this tough stuff with adeptness and style--and so does that
whole band.
I suspect that, exactly like the Bad Livers, they'll always be called a
bluegrass band by those who don't quite have their music straight and don't
know what the great white and black string band traditions were. So it
goes; sigh.
But what you need to do, if they haven't yet offered you the very rela
pleasure of playiong in front of your very face, is to pick up this new
El;ena Ske & The Demolition String Band: one dog town disc--which here in
the wilds of New York at least, has been readily available at even Tower
Records (North Hollow Rexords). The Greg Garing-produced disc does capture
the sound as it is--inlcuding a licve Alphabet City Opry take, and even,
after I've said all this, even some pretty good bluegrass, to my city ears.
Get it.
And personally, I hope we'll have them at Twangfest.
Barry M.
