Alt-bluegrass may be a genre whose primary purveyors are Duluth’s Trampled By Turtles. Eschewing traditional bluegrass trappings like the surrounding a lone microphone clad in sharp suits, the quintet lined up and blazed through a set of knee slappin’, heart songs, melodic and incredibly technical. Blazed being the operative word, because the songs are chord filled and mastered with a speed not often seen on the neck of a mandolin or banjo. The stand out tune may have been “Wait So Long” from their soon to be released Palomino album.
The movement in several slower, Americana-centric songs like “Empire” were steadied by quiet 3 part harmonies, and lyrics coming from a place of longing and distrust.
Part jam band, part country quintet masquerading as indie darlings of the bluegrass shred set, the band could do no wrong in this boot stomping, highly engaging showcase.
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