Progressive Bluegrass pioneers Leftover Salmon release their third single, “Fire And Brimstone,” featuring special guest Oliver Wood of The Wood Brothers, from their upcoming 10-track cover album Grass Roots (May 19 via Compass Records). The band pays homage to their self-coined genre of “Polyethnic Cajun Slamgrass” with the New Orleans-styled cooker, “Fire And Brimstone,” from the newly-named 2023 inductee of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Link Wray. “[I] had a ton of fun playing this funky tune with this band I’ve always admired,” Wood comments. “Honored to be included on the record!”
“‘Fire and Brimstone’ is a song that has been in the Salmon repertoire for many years,” Drew Emmit shares. “Previously, we covered it more based on the Neville Brothers version, but for this record, we decided to cover the original Link Wray version that is more raw and funky. This seemed like a perfect fit for Oliver Wood’s guest vocals and slide guitar work.”
Originally conceived of as a tribute to The Neville Brothers, bassist and producer Greg Garrison instead steered the song in the direction of Link Wray’s early ‘70s version, and it serves as the perfect vehicle for an impromptu collaboration with Wood. The cut also gives long-time Leftover Salmon drummer, Alwyn Robinson, a chance to shine, anchoring the “bluesgrass” interpretation with a deep percussive pocket.
Carrying the torch passed down by the progressive bluegrass pioneers, Leftover Salmon is a true architect of the contemporary bluegrass scene, inspiring the careers of a generation of artists including Billy Strings, Greensky Bluegrass, and Yonder Mountain String Band. On Grass Roots, Leftover Salmon reflects on their bluegrass and festival roots with a set of songs that were among their earliest inspirations.
Drawing from the songs and tunes that The Salmon Heads and The Left Hand String Band played when they first converged in a Telluride Bluegrass Festival campground, ultimately merging to form Leftover Salmon. Over the course of their 30+ year run, the band has explored a variety of ‘grass hybrids, creating their own musical culture and earning legions of fans in the process.
Collaborating with jam scene icons Billy Strings, Oliver Wood, and Darol Anger on the new album, and with the recent addition of Jay Starling on resophonic guitar, lap steel, and keys to the band’s official lineup, Leftover Salmon has all the instrumental firepower needed to deliver hard-driving versions of bluegrass standards and grassed-up versions of songs from Bob Dylan, David Bromberg, and The Grateful Dead. And as co-founder, guitarist, and lead singer, Vince Herman says, “When you think of an album title as good as that, that hasn’t been used in our genre, you pretty much have to make the record.”
On the album’s lead single, “Simple Twist of Fate,” Leftover Salmon reaches into Bob Dylan’s catalog to deliver an up-tempo version that features co-founder Vince Herman on lead vocals. The track showcases and spotlights the band’s all-around instrumental prowess while also allowing Herman to channel Dylan through his storied and gruff vocal delivery.
Grass Roots asserts Leftover Salmon’s place at the crossroads of bluegrass, newgrass, and jamband, and the importance of their shared musical vision which has helped to broaden the audience for all traditionally-rooted music. The album’s 10 tracks capture the energy and fun of the band, which is central to every Leftover Salmon show. But even more importantly, Grass Roots shines a light on the bluegrass heart, which beats strongly at the core of Leftover Salmon’s music. And it’s an ear-opening pleasure.
For further information on the band, visit the following links:
Leftover Salmon Photo by Tobin Voggesser, courtesy of Milestone
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