I have been on a tear through the countryside. You just don't know where it will take you! Sometime last weekend, I jumped a plane and flew out to see the subdudes at Rancho Nicasio, just north of San Francisco, which is the perfect venue to see this most engaging band. The boughs were swaying in the breeze, the girls were swinging in perpetual motion - all arms and groove and attitude, and then the guys even got down by getting up out of their chairs to dance. By the end of the show, everyone was on their feet, it was like being at a revival. There was rapture on people's faces. Kids were standing on tables and their dad's shoulders to see what was causing the vibe to levitate to the skies. Pure energy. Music like this is love. There is a big event that shines a light on Americana music coming up out here, too; the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival, a free concert, October 1, 2 & 3 in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco. It is celebrating the 10th anniversary, and the line-up was just announced a couple of weeks ago. I am happy to report that the subdudes are on the list.
Photo Credit: Stacie HuckebaLet me add that it is quite the honor to be asked to play at this prestigious festival. David Olney and Sergio Webb will be there this year too! David's music is so cinematic. Rich with detail and intensity. His songs have been recorded by Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt, Del McCoury, Lonnie Brooks, James King, Slaid Cleaves, Dale Ann Bradley, Tom Rozum, Ann Rabson, Kieran Kane/Kevin Welch/Fats Kaplin, Tim O’Brien and others. He has released more than 20 albums over four decades, including six live recordings. David's most recent CD, Dutchman’s Curve was released in April 2010. In addition, he is an author, with a short story published in “Amplified.” And David has become synonymous with Classic Poetry as his performances stop time. The train robbery song "Covington Girl" comes from the new CD; here delivered with the weaving in of Sergio Webb's engaging guitar. The song first appeared on Sergio's 2009 CD Bolivar Blues. We filmed this at Folk Alliance in Memphis this past February, aboard the Music Fog bus.
- Jessie Scott
