Album Notes

Nate Leath is a scary-good fiddler, band-member of Old School Freight Train, tunesmith, producer-and now, ringleader of one hell of a rollicking musical party as captured on his new old-time inspired album "Rockville Pike." For this project, ("one of most collaborative I've ever been part of," he says), Nate's thrown together veterans like Mark Schatz (on bass, banjo, and feet), Danny Knicely, and Tom Mindte, with rising stars in what I call the Formidable Companionable Youth of contemporary "neo-trad." Youth: yes, there's something curiously compelling about 13-year old Tatiana Hargreaves wailing out on "Boll Weevil": "Saw a little spider climbing up and down the wall / He must have been goin' to get his ashes hauled…". Formidable: because awesome technical chops, deep listening in diverse styles, musical knowledge and inventiveness are givens, not exceptions, in this extended circle of brilliant players. Companionable: because as a community these young Turks are incredibly good-hearted, supportive, welcoming, spirited, playful, aware.