You’re in a beer-soaked, sweaty North Carolina bar, three guys on the stage and wham: One-Two-Three-Four, guitars, banjo and upright bass blast off like the amuck offspring of speed metal and bluegrass, think Appalachian Ramones.
In one breath, we get the whole story:
Somebody get my shot gun
Somebody get my blade
Sally’s been laying with another man
And he’s sleeping in my place.
No qualms, no equivocating, the singer relishes the moment:
Gonna shoot him sure as rain
You can run as fast you want to boy
I’ll kill you just the same.
They play with such reckless abandon, such joy. No moaning in a corner over betrayed love, no deep thoughts; it’s a song making lust tangible: “You can try to hide all you want boy/There ain’t nowhere to go.”
From time to time, moralists who never listen to nor understand the music their kids hear, rise up to condemn a song, artist or whole genre. How many have wrung their hands over the violence in hip hop? Have they never listened to the music coming up front of earth in Appalachian ballads, country story songs and the blues?
By the way, catching live music is always fun, but you cannot go wrong with an Avett Brother’s show. Seen them in clubs, small settings and Madison Square Garden and they always deliver.
#Songoftheday #Spreadinghappiness #avettbrothers #murderballad # #
YouTube: https://youtu.be/HiLshKJ75s0?si=R2wvVBNIPyyUSSqS
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/2sSfr11Q1AV908Z6ssBoIH?si=188b53ba6f6e4db9