Search - Hot Rize :: So Long of a Journey: Live at the Boulder Theater

So Long of a Journey: Live at the Boulder Theater
Hot Rize
So Long of a Journey: Live at the Boulder Theater
Genres: Country, Folk, Pop
 
  •  Track Listings (20) - Disc #1

Through the 1980s, Hot Rize's virtuosic brand of bluegrass combined eclectic progressivism with bedrock traditionalism, earning a following that extended well beyond the young quartet's home base of Boulder, Colorado. Thou...  more »

     
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CD Details

All Artists: Hot Rize
Title: So Long of a Journey: Live at the Boulder Theater
Members Wishing: 3
Total Copies: 0
Label: Sugarhill
Release Date: 3/5/2002
Album Type: Live
Genres: Country, Folk, Pop
Styles: Bluegrass, Classic Country
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 015891394329

Synopsis

Amazon.com
Through the 1980s, Hot Rize's virtuosic brand of bluegrass combined eclectic progressivism with bedrock traditionalism, earning a following that extended well beyond the young quartet's home base of Boulder, Colorado. Though vocalist-mandolinist Tim O'Brien subsequently moved further beyond bluegrass convention as a solo artist, focusing more on his original material, the band's reunion concerts in the '90s remained popular affairs. This recording of a 1996 homecoming performance at the Boulder Theater finds the foursome in spirited form, with a generous selection of 20 cuts. From the spiritual call-and-response of "Keep Your Lamp Trimmed and Burning" and "Working on a Building" to Pete Wernick's banjo breakdown on "Empty Pocket Blues" to the Irish romp through "Colleen Malone," a signature tune for the group, the interplay has the feel of friends who plainly enjoy each other's musical company. The belated release also serves as a memorial to guitarist Charles Sawtelle, whose thoughtful, bluesy progressions give the music a unique dimension, and who died of leukemia in 1999. --Don McLeese

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CD Reviews

God Bless Charles Sawtelle
Gary Popovich | Chesterfield, VA USA | 07/19/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)

"After their amicable breakup in 1990, Hot Rize staged various reuinion concerts over the next several years, including this marvelous 1996 effort secretly caught for prosperity by bassist Nick Forster. Hot Rize appealed to almost every facet of the bluegrass world by, as mandolinist/fiddler/lead singer Tim O'Brien put it, "Making the old sound new." Most of the group's non-original material (O'Brien is a prolific song writer, with Forster and banjoist Pete Wernick also key contributers) came from the classic bluegrass artists/old timey song book (represented here by Bill Monroe's "Blue Night", The Delmore's "Life's Too Short", and Hazel Dicken's "Won't You Come and Sing For Me"), but the band's trademark instrumental synchopation gave their music a fresh, modern sound. O'Brien and Wernick are wonderful players, but the true intrumental "voice" of the band was the late, great guitarist Charles Sawtelle (a/k/a "The Bluegrass Mystery"), whose unmatched tone and clever phrasing pervades and haunts this session. Hot Rize was one of the hardest working and most popular bluegrass bands of the '80's - and the most remarkable aspect of this concert is how tight and fresh they sound despite their layoff. One senses the compatibility and friendship of the boys in the band throughout. This one is definitely worth a listen - it'll stay on your player for a long time."
Still One of the Most Professional Bands....
newgraser | Winston Salem, NC | 03/11/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)

"It's about time. All of us who have bought DATs and MD recorders to capture our heroes LIVE have finally got an opportunity to fill a void in our collections. This performance captures Hot Rize at its absolute best, and gives us a chance to relive an outstanding show with what is arguably one of the most professional and tight bands ever to perform in the genre. These guys are professionals, and they have been missed. Listen to Tim and Nick's harmonies - can you tell them apart? Listen to the arrangements. Outside of Del, traditionally based bluegrass has never had such a professional workup. This performance captures the best of what is missing - these guys working in bluegrass!"
Hot Rize at the Top of Their Game
Steve Vrana | Aurora, NE | 06/03/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)

"While the always innovative Hot Rize continued to perform reunion shows throughout the Nineties, their last studio album was 1992's Take It Home. That's what makes this 1996 live recording of a couple of Boulder Theater shows such a treat. Hot Rize is performing before an enthusiastic home crowd and the band is hitting on all cylinders. Although Red Knuckles doesn't make an appearance, the band performs songs from all five of their studio albums on this hour-long CD. What a joyful tribute to one of my favorite bluegrass bands. As bassist Nick Forster says in his liner notes, "This is what we sounded like on a good night." If you're new to Hot Rize, this is a great place to start. If you own their other albums, you'll want this one too. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED"