TWO HIGH STRING BAND: Insofarasmuch

Two High String Band

Insofarasmuch

© 2003 Blue Corn Music (677967030120)

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An eight handed creature that roams the country putting a spin on string music.

tracks

1 Insofarasmuch
2 Bunkhouse Blues
3 Sonny's Ride
4 Alabama Blues
5 All Day
6 Somewhere Between
7 Thanks Norman
8 You Can't Run Away From Your Feet
9 Dang, Howdy!
10 Old Grey Mare
11 The Old Place
12 River's Risin'

notes

Austin, TX, 2006 - Playing as a trio for just over a year now, the new Two
High String Band has unearthed a powerful sound, combining stellar
acoustic picking with the Texas tradition of fine song crafting. Audiences
all across the country are amazed to discover that such a wide spectrum of
intensity and tonality can be generated with two guitars, one mandolin,
and three voices. The group's dedication to songwriting and live
performance is converting all sorts of music lovers into Two High String
Band fans.

Their latest release, "Moonshine Boogie" (on Blue Corn Music), builds upon
the instrumental craftsmanship of their first CD, "Insofarasmuch," and
exemplifies a maturity in songwriting and singing that can only be
reached through life experiences and time on the road. With great
harmonies, unexpected instrumental twists, and stirring tales, "Moonshine
Boogie" is a twelve song journey, capturing mandolinist Billy Bright, and
guitarists Brian Smith, and Geoff Union as a trio, quartet, quintet, and
sextet with banjo great Tony Trischka (Psychograss, etc.), fiddler Chojo
Jacques (Waybacks), and upright bassist Eric Thorin (Open Road) joining
them.

Their debut release on Bluecorn Records, "Insofarasmuch" (2003), included
guest appearances by bluegrass legends David Grisman and Vassar Clements.
The "Insofarasmuch" tour took them all over the United States, including
performances at Rockygrass, Merlefest, Springfest, and a few shows with
the late legendary Vassar Clements on the fiddle!

Two High String Band is spearheading their own revival of traditional
acoustic music
and hits the ground running in 2006 with "Moonshine Boogie".

In stores February 21st on Bluecorn Records. Keep it tuned to:

www.highstring.com



www.highstring.com www.billybright.com www.bluecornmusic.com

reviews

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  • A good-time listen full of fun, folksy & fanciful groove
    author: Joe Ross

    Playing Time – 46:01 -- In so far as…to the extent that….much music is being produced today, a band’s challenge is always to define their own personalized and unique sound that will cause listeners to sit up and say, “Hey, that’s cool!” Insofarasmuch, an acoustic music project from The Two High String Band, does just that with their laid-back mélange of eight originals and four other songs that illustrate their eclectic musical tastes from folk to bluegrass, and Dawg to old-time blues. Their lilting melodies easily get your toes tapping. The Austin-based string band formed as a trio in 1995 with Billy Bright, Bryn Bright, and Brian Smith. In mid-2002, Geoff Union joined the group, and they became a full time band featuring two guitars, upright bass, and mandolin or mandola. Billy, Bryn and Brian handle the vocals. Guest artist David Grisman lays down some tasty mandolin licks on “Sonny’s Ride,” and “Dang, Howdy!” The former is a high-stepping bluegrass-flavored instrumental named for the Brights’ dog. Another highlight of the album is Vassar Clements’ guest fiddling on three tracks: Sonny’s Ride, Somewhere Between, and You Can’t Run Away From Your Feet. The four two high guys and gal refer to their own music as “from the lonesome to the lithesome…” and “Bill Monroe in mind…no fiddle or banjo.” One definitely hears the influence of Mississippi John Hurt in Billy Bright’s self-penned “Alabama Blues,” featuring some exhilarating fingerpicked guitar. Their cover of Guy Clark and Verlon Thompson’s “Bunkhouse Blues” also has some engaging guitar played in the same style. Brian does all the fingerpicking and rhythm playing, and Geoff does the flatpicked leads. The band pays a tribute to another fine guitarist, Norman Blake, with “Thanks Norman.” John Hartford is clearly another of the band’s influences as they cover his “You Can’t Run Away From Your Feet,” and offer their own composition,“The Old Place,” which easily could have been a Hartford hit. Billy Bright’s defining lead vocals certainly remind one of the late John Hartford. Brian sings lead on Bunkhouse Blues, Somewhere Between and Old Grey Mare. Billy sings the lead on four songs. The closest the band comes to bluegrass is with their duet harmonies on a Merle Haggard cover, “Somewhere Between.” The album’s five instrumentals display some bluegrass sensibilities, but they also demonstrate the characteristic fluidity and dynamism that jamgrassers possess. The band is currently playing a number of restaurants in Austin, Dallas, Houston, and perhaps their enchanting acoustic repertoire could be best called or categorized as “cafegrass,” an eclectic musical blend that’s perfect for a java-sipping bunch of people who listen. However, more than just a regional act, the band has also toured the northwest, colorado, southeast, and northeast. In their short time together, The Two High String Band is building a fanbase, and they have already shared the stage with the Tony Rice Unit, Slaid Cleaves and Yonder Mountain String Band, among others. In 2004, we’ll also be able to see them at Merlefest. While their musical approach is rather unconventional, they don’t seem so far removed from or unaware of their traditional roots. There’s plenty here to enthuse a traditional music fan, and Two High’s music should only serve to redirect many younger fans back to those roots. Billy, Bryn and Brian met while attending the Berkelee School of Music in Boston, and The Two High String Band actually formed as a result of the “party release” jams that happened every night in the apartment that Billy and Brian shared. Bryn, a jazz major living downstairs at the time, wasn’t very pleased with all the stomping around and racket…until they invited her up to join them on bass. The Brights have backed folk musician Caroline Herring, toured as part of Peter Rowan’s Texas Trio, and Bryn has recorded and toured with Old & in the Grey, featuring Peter Rowan and David Grisman. Billy and Bryn also have a 2002 album of original instrumentals that included guests Peter Rowan, Vassar Clements, Tony Rice, Danny Barnes and Eamon McLoughlin. “Insofarasmuch” was recorded almost entirely live in their home studio indicating that the band has gotten their arrangements very tight. The party release jam has now graduated to full-fledged band. The album isn’t a glossy and over-produced Nashville production. Instead, it’s very quaint and unpretentious, packed with music that is a good-time listen full of fun, folksy and fanciful groove. (Joe Ross, staff writer, Bluegrass Now)

  • Fine acoustic music from great acoustic musicians.
    author: Willie Wilson (UK)

    Fine acoustic music from some great acoustic musicians. This is my second copy as the first was stolen and I could not bare to be without it.

  • Loved it
    author: Lexy

    I love track 5! These guys are awesome, can't wait to see them tomorrow night in OKC.

  • Wonderful selection of songs. Very tasteful treatments.
    author: Howard

    Billy and Bryn Bright and bandmates have really put it all together in this cd. I've played it continuosly since it arrived (in very quick fashion, thank you cd baby!). IT's got it all. Buy it!!!!

  • Mature and patient musicality
    author: Greg Boyer

    As a fifty-something ex musician, there is no higher compliment I can offer the Two High String Band's CD "insofarasmuch" than this: You surprise and disarm me with your willingness to strip the dynamics down to pin drop audio levels, relying on strength of melody and attentiveness of audience to carry the moment. Because you can trust us, we trust you.

  • Best CD I have bought this year
    author: John

    Yeah, I know, it's only Feb 1, but this really is the best CD I have purchased in a long time. Fantastic bluegrass music, with some excellent input from the Dawg! It's going to be hard to top this one. I'm looking forward to hearing what the Two High String Band comes up with on their next CD. Buying it from CD Baby was a great thing too. Fast and easy payment and delivery. Sweet doing buisiness with CD Baby.

  • Great bluegrass fingerpickin' guitar tunes
    author: Alex C

    A really excellent instrumental CD. I highly recommend.

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