I am by no means a bluegrass fan, much less an expert on a semi-local six-man band named Railroad Earth. But somehow, the group's performance at the North Star Bar on October 18 made me feel like I was coming home.
As soon as Railroad Earth hit the stage, the audience was inundated with manic mandolin and banjo picking backed up by a soulful violin, solid acoustic guitar, drums and bass. The vocals are not the most remarkable, but the band allows its music to take precedence--music that has the heart of bluegrass, the slight edge of rock and a tinge of pop. Mandolinist John Skehan and violinist Tim Carbone are both too talented to declare a winner from their musical duel, but even more noted is how they can manage to play both against and with each other at the same time. In fact, the same can be said for the whole band, which includes banjoist Andy Goessling, drum man Carey Harmon and upright bassist Dave Von Dollen--all led by From Good Homes frontman Todd Sheaffer. Each manages to avoid overpowering the other, melding together into a foot-tapping, head-nodding blend of damn good music. Railroad Earth tells stories of love, loss and home with a warmth that can only be found in folk music. Lyrics are used sparingly and not without charm, but the music is the key. And Railroad Earth has enough talent to carry on a good jam, telling stories that don't need words to be understood.
Interaction with the audience seemed to fuel Railroad Earth's enthusiasm, but by about halfway through the set, these guys appeared to lose a bit of energy and to gradually retreat into their own isolated musical world. I couldn't blame them, what with playing to a Thursday night crowd that whittled down from about 60 to perhaps 15. Yet they still managed to play on with a clear love for their music. They had the air of a band comfortable on stage and with each other and seem well aware that they have the skills--along with a good dose of underappreciation. But Railroad Earth's one and only album, The Black Bear Sessions, was just released this past summer, and any note in the music world that's worth hearing takes time to spread.
