Sideline: Ups, Downs and No Name Towns
www.mountainhomemusiccompany.com
Song List: Marshallville, Just a Guy in a Bar, Miss Charlotte’s Game, Jesse’s Barn, When the Son Rose Up That Morning, Newton Grove, Miner’s Song, Long Way From the Wildwood Flower, You Still Call Me Baby, Old Guitar Case, I’ll Always Be a Gypsy, Fast As I Can Crawl.
Sideline began as a side job for Skip Cherryholmes and his father-in-law Steve Dilling, but the part time gig grew into a top-flight, in demand band, with Skip on lead vocals and guitar, Steve on banjo, Jason Moore on bass and harmony vocals, Jacob Greer on guitar, lead and harmony vocals Jamie Harper on fiddle and harmony vocals, and Nick Goad on harmony vocals and mandolin.
With six members, the band is able to produce a powerhouse wall of vocals and instrumentals. “Newton Grove” is the one instrumental in the set, and Steve’s intense banjo playing provides a hard-driving groove with added fiddle and guitar solos providing a extra depth. This strong instrumental base is part of the band’s signature sound, and Skip displays instrumental prowess on banjo and slide guitar, particularly with clawhammer banjo in “Miss Charlotte’s Game.” “Long Way From the Wildwood Flower” has lovely guitar riffs underlying the story of a grandfather’s life and influence on the singer’s life. The ups and downs of romance from past memories to the lonely man looking at pictures on his phone is the story in a Ronnie Bowman song, “Just a Guy in a Bar.” Ronnie also wrote “I’ll Always Be a Gypsy,” with its oft told story of a wanderer who won’t settle down and always has another town around the bend. “You Still Call Me Baby” is an updated part two love story of “Sweet Little Miss Blue Eyes,” while “Miner’s Song” defines the hardships of a miner’s life with a full instrumental backdrop from the banjo and mandolin. “When The Son Rose Up That Morning” is a narrative of the resurrection with a slide guitar accompaniment from Skip. Each of the twelve songs has a carefully crafted vocal and instrumental setting, and Sideline fans will be delighted with the band’s latest album.