Toronto natives The Slocan Ramblers are one of the hottest bands in the city, sharing a lack of pretension and a desire to live in a city built on its merits, rather than glitz. The band plays working-class bluegrass roots music that harkens back to the grittiness of a city that used to be known as “Hogtown”, for its slaughter houses. Coffee Creek was produced by the band’s friend and mentor Chris Coole (The Foggy Hogtown Boys), a well-known banjo player and community leader in Toronto’s bluegrass and old-time scenes. The album blends lightning fast and devilishly intricate instrumentals with the sawdust-thick vocals of singer Frank Evans, who takes lead on songs ranging from old-timey square dance numbers like “Groundhog”, to a Dustbowl classic like Woody Guthrie’s “Pastures of Plenty”.Coffee Creek kicks off with the title track, one of the many instrumental tracks on the album. The song is pure bluegrass, featuring Evans’ claw-hammer virtuosity, and one you’ll be tapping your foot to. A few other instrumentals featured on this album are “Galilee”, “Lone Pine”, “The Back 40”, and “April’s Waltz”. “Galilee” opens with a beautiful mandolin intro, followed by great guitar work, topping off the track with the banjo. You can’t help but smile when listening to this track; it evokes images of happy times, rolling hills, and barn dances. You’ll find yourself tapping your foot along to “Lone Pine” too, which features the ever-present mandolin. A driving guitar and mandolin gives life to “The Back 40”, but the instrumental standout on this excellent album is “April’s Waltz”. It’s sweet and highlights the softer side of the mandolin to the tune of a waltz. It’s truly an excellent piece of music!
The record also includes lyrical tracks. “Pastures of Plenty/Honey Babe” is a medley of a Woody Guthrie song and an Evans Original. The majority of Evans’ playing on the track is the classic, three-finger bluegrass style. An ode to a hometown, “Angeline” opens with a pretty mandolin intro played by Adrian Gross. The track is a mournful piece about being homesick for the narrator’s hometown. “Groundhog” features a mandolin solo, and spins a tale of an ode to hunting and eating groundhogs, while the rollicking “Rambling Sailor” is a tune about the life of a rambler. The song has an old-timey feel to it, much like most of the album.
Coffee Creek also contains a Roy Acuff composition, “Streamline Cannonball”, but the standout lyrical track on this record is the wonderful “Elk River”. The peaceful song features a guitar intro and smoother vocals, and I have to say I actually prefer the smoother vocals. The harmonies are especially excellent on this world-weary track. Coffee Creek closes out the record with the energetic “Mississippi Shore”, which features rapid fire mandolin and banjo playing. It’s a fun, enjoyable tune.
This is truly a fantastic record, fresh and original. Coffee Creek brings an old-timey, bluegrass feel but at the same time brings a new, fresh sound to the table. The record contains a rawness and grittiness; you won’t find polished, sleek sounds and vocals here. I highly recommend this record to anyone looking for great Americana, Roots, Folk, and Bluegrass music! Superb album!
Originally posted here.
