RUN OF THE MILL
''KUDZU''
MAY 25 2005
55:16
1/Country Home/4:05
2/Thought of Lovin'/3:47
3/Heavy D/4:13
4/Wooden Frame/5:13
5/Mountain Sky/4:27
6/Rambler's Curse/3:59
7/Shelter/3:56
8/The Dawn Treader/6:41
9/Carolina Girl/4:53
10/Blackberry Devil/6:10
11/Temporary Cure/7:52
ABOUT
By Joe Ross
Formed in 2004, Run of the Mill is a progressive bluegrass band from Chapel Hill, NC. that shows jazz, rock, and blues influences in their invigorating music. Besides banjo, mandolin, guitar and bass, the mix on "Kudzu" includes sax, percussion, keys, and harmonica. Run of the Mill's stylistic footing covers many moods which may be partly attributable to the band members' expansive musical backgrounds. Ben Parker (mandolin, guitar, sax, lead vocals)cites such broad-ranging influences as Pink Floyd, Genesis, Tony Williamson, David Grisman, Sam Bush, Coldplay, and Miles Davis. The band's co-founder, Ben Walters (banjo, guitar, vocals) was born and raised in Alabama with a banjo on his knee. He learned from such banjo greats as Herb Trotman, James McKinney, Ryan Cavanaugh, and various 80s rock guitarists. Walter's currently studying piano at UNC-Chapel Hill. The self-professed "groove machine" of the quartet, Tim Shelburne (bass, vocals) acknowledges his influences are from the genres of rock, funk, jazz, and jam band music. Robbie DiMauro (percussion, vocals), originally from Montreal, has lived in Chapel Hill, NC since 1989. He's into Latin, blues, jazz, bluegrass, and rock n' roll.
Run of the Mill enjoys challenging themselves as a bluegrass/jazz/jam fusion group. Opening with its leisurely and mellow rock rhythm over a standard bluegrass chord progression, "Country Home" sets a stage for the envelope that is going to be continually pushed for 55 minutes. Kevin Hopkins' dobro brings the down home country feel to life, something that would've embellished a few other pieces on "Kudzu." Funkgrass is the best way to describe "Thought of Lovin'," lyrically inspired by Parker's pursuit of his girlfriend. Ben Walters' instrumental "Heavy D," epitomizes what Run of the Mill is trying to do as a band -- create simple, nice sounding music that combines bluegrass technicality with complex musical theory, while not sounding overly complex. "Wooden Frame" is a love song which captures an emotion that the band's audiences enjoy at shows. Of all the cuts, "Rambler's Curse" has the most straightforward 4/4 bluegrass sensibility, and its definitely one of the cuts that would've been enhanced if the band had chosen to include some guest fiddling in the mix.
"The Dawn Treader" is one of the band's epic pieces (nearly seven minutes) characterized again by musical complexity and tonal simplicity that successfully results in a pleasant aural experience as its time signature changes and minor 7th chords flow throughout the jam that the boys clearly have fun with. Certainly, this must be one of their crowd-pleasers in a live performance. "Carolina Girl" gives us a catchy melody in a poppy funk fashion. "Blackberry Devil" fuses "Blackberry Blossom" with "Friend of the Devil" and gives them plenty of room for personal improvisation and interpretation that even includes musical quotes (by pianist Sam Gingher) from "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" and "Inspector Gadget." The album's eight-minute closer, "Temporary Cure" shows how Gingher tastefully incorporates the keys with the band's string instrumentation and jazzgrass style. Ben Walter's dissonant banjo provides an interesting twist as Parker sings of grabbing "one night's companion for a temporary cure."
Run of the Mill's vision is to make different and inspiring music, incorporating new technical, emotional, and musical perspectives. "Kudzu" demonstrates this approach, and it serves as a welcome debut for this group. Musical diversity and having fun are their fortes, and one's got to appreciate this quest for musical treasure. Gotta laugh at this band's moniker - run of the mill. They're well on their way to leaving an outstanding legacy on the acoustic music field.
DoWnLoAd
''KUDZU''
MAY 25 2005
55:16
1/Country Home/4:05
2/Thought of Lovin'/3:47
3/Heavy D/4:13
4/Wooden Frame/5:13
5/Mountain Sky/4:27
6/Rambler's Curse/3:59
7/Shelter/3:56
8/The Dawn Treader/6:41
9/Carolina Girl/4:53
10/Blackberry Devil/6:10
11/Temporary Cure/7:52
ABOUT
By Joe Ross
Formed in 2004, Run of the Mill is a progressive bluegrass band from Chapel Hill, NC. that shows jazz, rock, and blues influences in their invigorating music. Besides banjo, mandolin, guitar and bass, the mix on "Kudzu" includes sax, percussion, keys, and harmonica. Run of the Mill's stylistic footing covers many moods which may be partly attributable to the band members' expansive musical backgrounds. Ben Parker (mandolin, guitar, sax, lead vocals)cites such broad-ranging influences as Pink Floyd, Genesis, Tony Williamson, David Grisman, Sam Bush, Coldplay, and Miles Davis. The band's co-founder, Ben Walters (banjo, guitar, vocals) was born and raised in Alabama with a banjo on his knee. He learned from such banjo greats as Herb Trotman, James McKinney, Ryan Cavanaugh, and various 80s rock guitarists. Walter's currently studying piano at UNC-Chapel Hill. The self-professed "groove machine" of the quartet, Tim Shelburne (bass, vocals) acknowledges his influences are from the genres of rock, funk, jazz, and jam band music. Robbie DiMauro (percussion, vocals), originally from Montreal, has lived in Chapel Hill, NC since 1989. He's into Latin, blues, jazz, bluegrass, and rock n' roll.
Run of the Mill enjoys challenging themselves as a bluegrass/jazz/jam fusion group. Opening with its leisurely and mellow rock rhythm over a standard bluegrass chord progression, "Country Home" sets a stage for the envelope that is going to be continually pushed for 55 minutes. Kevin Hopkins' dobro brings the down home country feel to life, something that would've embellished a few other pieces on "Kudzu." Funkgrass is the best way to describe "Thought of Lovin'," lyrically inspired by Parker's pursuit of his girlfriend. Ben Walters' instrumental "Heavy D," epitomizes what Run of the Mill is trying to do as a band -- create simple, nice sounding music that combines bluegrass technicality with complex musical theory, while not sounding overly complex. "Wooden Frame" is a love song which captures an emotion that the band's audiences enjoy at shows. Of all the cuts, "Rambler's Curse" has the most straightforward 4/4 bluegrass sensibility, and its definitely one of the cuts that would've been enhanced if the band had chosen to include some guest fiddling in the mix.
"The Dawn Treader" is one of the band's epic pieces (nearly seven minutes) characterized again by musical complexity and tonal simplicity that successfully results in a pleasant aural experience as its time signature changes and minor 7th chords flow throughout the jam that the boys clearly have fun with. Certainly, this must be one of their crowd-pleasers in a live performance. "Carolina Girl" gives us a catchy melody in a poppy funk fashion. "Blackberry Devil" fuses "Blackberry Blossom" with "Friend of the Devil" and gives them plenty of room for personal improvisation and interpretation that even includes musical quotes (by pianist Sam Gingher) from "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" and "Inspector Gadget." The album's eight-minute closer, "Temporary Cure" shows how Gingher tastefully incorporates the keys with the band's string instrumentation and jazzgrass style. Ben Walter's dissonant banjo provides an interesting twist as Parker sings of grabbing "one night's companion for a temporary cure."
Run of the Mill's vision is to make different and inspiring music, incorporating new technical, emotional, and musical perspectives. "Kudzu" demonstrates this approach, and it serves as a welcome debut for this group. Musical diversity and having fun are their fortes, and one's got to appreciate this quest for musical treasure. Gotta laugh at this band's moniker - run of the mill. They're well on their way to leaving an outstanding legacy on the acoustic music field.
DoWnLoAd
