Search - Biscuit Boys :: Biscuit Boys

...and 1/2....a fun-loving bunch of solid jamgrass pickers

J. Ross | Roseburg, OR USA | 11/24/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"SONGS: 1. Ramblin' Fever 2. Coming Into Los Angeles 3. Agent Vegas 4. Smokin' In The Rain 5. Amanda Rose 6. Boograss 7. A Footstep Away 8. You Ain't Goin' Nowhere 9. White Habit

10. Just A Friend 11. El Cumbanchero 12. I Wonder Where You Are Tonight 13. Me & My Uncle 14. You Don't Have To Do That



Many new, young bands strive to find a unique, exciting sound that will set themselves apart from the bands that have gone before. In some respects, the Biscuit Boys succeed. However, their choice of material may force comparisons with earlier groups that have already been there and done that. And I certainly wouldn't have minded hearing more fiddle, dobro, and soaring 3-part vocal harmonies than appear on this album.



The Biscuit Boys are not constrained by traditional bluegrass boundaries, and they have embarked on a progressive musical journey that should build them a legion of young fans. The Biscuit Boys formed in Charleston, South Carolina in 1998, now reside in Nashville, and with the release of their debut album, they are clearly ready to pick. The opening cut, Merle Haggard's "Ramblin' Fever" might be an expression of their philosophy to play wherever, whenever during their tongue-in-cheek "quest for total world domination." Other driving covers are their grassy versions of Arlo Guthrie's "Coming Into L.A" and Bob Dylan's "You Ain't Going Nowhere." Biscuitized versions of John Phillips' "Me and My Uncle" and John Hartford's "You Don't Have To Do That" are nice additions to the album.



Their instrumentals (Agent Vegas, Boograss, White Habit, El Cumbanchero) feature some fine energetic picking, as well as a few surprises too (like momma's spoons on "Boograss").



The Biscuit Boys are Drew Breakey (upright bass), Charlie McCarter (guitar and vocals), Steven Sandifer (percussion and vocals), Scott Simontacchi (mandolin and vocals), and Boo Walker (banjo). Sam Bush contributes fiddle on "Smokin' in the Rain," an original country song. Rob Ickes is a featured guest on "Just a Friend," a slower country tune about rejection which begs for some vocal harmony on the chorus. "I Wonder Where You Are Tonight" is as close as the Biscuit Boys come to a traditional cover with three-part harmony.



At times, the Biscuit Boys' debut album reminds me a tad of the New Grass Revival early in their career. However, their picking and singing are still a little too restrained and controlled to match the wild, frenetic virtuostic energy that the NGR presented when they took the bluegrass scene by storm. The Biscuit Boys, on the other hand, appear to be a fun-loving bunch of solid jamgrass pickers that will turn many heads when they decide to really cut loose on some well-written original material. Check out more about them at [...] (Joe Ross, staff writer, Bluegrass Now)

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