The Vickie Vaughn Band are an exciting and energetic bluegrass five-piece helmed by, of course, vocalist and bassist Vickie Vaughn, and accompanied by banjoist Justin Hiltner, mandolinist Casey Cambell, guitarist Zach White, and fiddler Maggie White. Despite having just released their self-titled debut EP on September 25, the band have already garnered plenty of critical praise and are staples of the live scene, crisscrossing the US in 2014 and when not on the road playing regularly around their home of Nashville. They’ve also been hard at work on tour this year, somehow squeezing in the writing, recording and releasing of an excellent six-song EP in between dates (and frequent performances at The Station Inn, Music City Roots and the Country Music Hall of Fame).
Vickie Vaughn herself hails from Western Kentucky, bringing the great Bluegrass State to Music City in an interpretation of bluegrass that draws as much from modern heavyweights Alison Krauss & Union Station and the Dixie Chicks as it does from the traditional stylings of Bill Monroe. ‘Northbound 205’ has a sweet, easy balladic nature that especially recalls Ms Krauss, the shuffle beat and pretty melody drawing direct comparisons to the likes of her ‘Restless’, while the narrative is a simple one expressing the journey taken towards a loved one. Opener ‘This Dance’ meanwhile is a high-powered jaunt that is guaranteed to get everyone up and dancing, and it’s not hard to see how they’ve become such an in-demand live act.
‘Congaree’ continues the party with an even faster-paced instrumental piece, the finger-picking of Zach, Casey and Justin really shining while Maggie’s fiddling drives the tune. Virtuosic in nature, this EP is as much a collection of great songs as it is the perfect showcase for the band’s incredible talents, and nowhere is this clearer than on ‘Congaree’. But it’s back to the great songs with the gentle and melancholic ditty ‘Buy All The Roads’, which excels in its harmonies and charming melody, the lyrics painting a beautiful tribute to Vickie’s home state. The banjo gets an airing on ‘Won’t Be Long’, a fun little head-bobber that draws from reference points of old and allows Vickie to truly unleash her twang and capable, melisma-laden vocal. ‘Working On A Building’, too, pushes the banjo into the lead, against a soulful dust bowl groove and gospel-style lyric about working for the Lord.
In just six tracks the band have showed their incredible musicianship, varied stylistic repertoire and sharp songwriting, paying heed to the roots of the genre while looking firmly forward. The Ronnie McCoury-produced project is guaranteed to turn more heads long before they begin work on a follow-up, and I’m intrigued to see how they will spread their wings on a full-length record. I can imagine that this is only the beginning.
Originally posted here.
