Open Road further showcases Lewis' inimitable cross-flatpicking style and his
rich fiddle/violin sound.
"More people ought to hear your songs," Pete Seeger once said to Spencer
backstage after an encore of This Land is Your Land as they shared the stage
at a benefit concert in Saratoga Springs, NY. Now, 18 years later, Spencer
Lewis is finally getting those songs out with his new CD Open Road. What took
him so long? While nurturing a career as a guitar and violin instrumentalist,
composer, recording engineer and producer of a very successful series of
instrumental albums 12 in all, he never forgot the songs he's written since
he first began his music career as a singer-songwriter back in 1973. As his
live performance agenda grows with his current group The Thrufters, (Dan Haley
and Scott Paulson) the time has come to finally focus on releasing these
compelling slices of Americana, personnel discovery, simple change, and
stories of the road.
Starting with the title track, the folk-rock backdrop frames in the story of
breaking out into the wild, wicked world as a young man but seen through the
eyes of the older self. The dues paid to the road are being cashed in on this
one and the tone is immediately set for a journey entwined with wisdom,
innocence, and reflection. Punch Line, written by Spencer's traveling buddy
Jared Barkan, has been a classic in underground old-time circles since they
first toured the country in the early 70's. It may very well tell the story of
life in America as we all know it - a bold statement yet one that can stand
up to such scrutiny. Seeds of Positivity has been sung in classrooms and
assemblies throughout Vermont the past few years with it's captured innocence
and simple yet profound vision; it is a song for all ages to embrace. Stones
of Gilead uses the metaphors of stonework along with delicate mandolin and
violin tracks to explain one person's raison d'etre. Lonesome Café is pure
nostalgia with a simple story of the hobo hero who continues his unsung path
to glory in the passionate All Ain't Lost. It is here that the Hammond B-3
organ, piano, and acoustic guitar merge to create the classic folk-rock tour
de force that Spencer grew up on and which has influenced his music for years.
Green Mountain Home is a 'stately' bluegrass, old-time song with it's own
built in barn burner effect in Banjo Dan Lindner's understated picking. The
Chosen, written by one of Spencer's musical mentors John Stewart, tells the
story of angels, redemption, and the beauty that resides in all of us.
Rebuilding may be the most personnel song on the CD and there's no way or
reason to deny that. Sometimes looking in the mirror is harder to do than we
think but with patience and reflection, there is the goal of 'reaching the
other side' that prevails in this powerful ballad. Conversely You and Me
closes the CD with it's lightness and respect for the poignant simplicity of
love and how the road and music live on forever.
Open Road further showcases Lewis' inimitable cross-flatpicking style and his
rich fiddle/violin sound. The other musicians includes The Thrufters Dan
Haley on mandolin and Scott Paulson playing the double bass and the fretted
and fretless electric bass guitars. Chas Eller, a collaborator on two previous
Lewis CD's adds keyboard tracks of Hammond B-3 organ and the Big Baldwin
acoustic piano. Patty Akley-Warlick who is responsible for teaching Seeds to
school children all over Vermont sings her fluid harmony parts on The Chosen
while Banjo Dan Lindner rolls along on Punch Line and flies a bit higher on
Green Mountain Home. This is Lewis' first vocal release since the VCA's
Fellowship Finalist award winning The New Generation of Old Vermonter's
released in 1991. Like Old Vermonter's, this CD also tells a tale that is
current and on time, with a voice and a tale that is ready to be told.
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