Clampitt, Gaddis, and Buck have the ability to bring out the North West spirit in a way that I had never seen until the first time I came across a performance of "The Clampitt Bros." (a conjured group featuring Clampitt, Gaddis and other friends).  Lyricly the group captures the beauty of living, breathing and just being in the North West.  Musically they voice a sound which is brilliant, packed full with vocal harmonies, and majestic instrumentation.  The folk sound is back in.  Quiet is the new loud.
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A friend of mine from San Francisco saw this band recently and told me to seek them out. After purchasing the cd, I was simply blown away. Here is a disc with amazing musicianship, great song writing, and fabulous harmonies. What impressed me most was their ability to write with in a genre. It is not common in the bluegrass community for groups to write material that is original yet standard at the same time. The disc contains 9 songs and is aptly named 9 Tracks (though I wish there were more). The highlight of the cd for me, was the original track Midnight Train. Some fine song crafting went into this tune. I look forward to hearing more from this band.
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On their debut full-length, Portland, OR, trio Clampitt, Gaddis & Buck wear their folk and country influences proudly on their sleeves. Erik Clampitt's easy vocals highlight the opening track, "Long Train," as Buck Dagger impresses on bass and mandolin. Marley Gaddis makes her first appearance on vocals on the album's second song, "Homeward Track," which again features Clampitt's rootsy guitar and harmonica, and the introduction of Buck Dagger's baritone vocals. The bare-bones musical recipe continues with the haunting "Midnight Train," as the trio's harmonies add to the already powerful swell of the band's bluegrass foundation. Their gospel roots are apparent on "Judgement Day," a simple, straightforward anthem. "High Lonesome Sound" is quite possibly the disc's high watermark, as the threesome relaxes and lets loose on the Gaddis/Clampitt original, reverting back to a casual yet powerful approach. The band covers the American roots classic "In the Pines" on the eighth track, reveling in a cappella harmony. The disc comes to a close with the steady "Don't Laugh," another wholesome and refreshing example of the power of straightforward Americana. Nine Tracks was recorded at Type Foundry Studio and the Alberta Music Collective in Portland in 2003, and was released on Lelp Recordings in early 2004. Matt Stark and Jennifer Stefanick make guest appearances on four songs.
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In a genre of red clay dirt country and blue-collar blues, Clampitt, Gaddis & Buck cover it all. Leaving on a train? Yes. A chorus of "get along little doggy"? Yes. Drinking songs? God, yes. The trio really lets loose and unbuttons the pearl-snaps with their near a capella cover of the classic "In The Pines," which sounds modern enough to woo the O, Brother Where Art Thou crowd, while remaining authentic enough to please those who drink from jugs labeled XXX. While country standards like these have been done before, Nine Tracks is an overwhelmingly sweet and sincere record, just like sun-soaked Portland summers full of porch drinking and rabble rousing.
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