February 10, 2002
MUSIC REVIEW BY MARY HOULIHAN
In an age of overstaged mega productions, the simplicity of five 1940s-style orchestra mikes on the stage looked out of place. But it was the perfect setup for the singers and musicians who represented the Down From the Mountain tour that performed Friday night at the Chicago Theatre.
It was an evening of heavenly bluegrass music bounded by themes of death and sorrow, hope and sunshine. Ultimately, the music spanned all of the traditional genres of American music--bluegrass, country and delta blues, gospel and country music.
Two years ago, not even the best minds in the music industry would have given a moment's thought to staging a tour of this stature in a genre as marginalized as bluegrass. It took the staggering popularity of the soundtrack for the Coen brothers movie, "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" to push mountain music into the forefront. (The Coens and the album's producer, T Bone Burnett, are the forces behind the tour.)
As a result, this ongoing tour is introducing the music of legendary artists such as Ralph Stanley and longtime stalwarts Emmylou Harris, Rhonda Vincent, Norman and Nancy Blake, Patty Loveless and Del McCoury to an expanding fan base. Others who performed at the sold-out show were the Nashville Bluegrass Band, who served as a substantial backing band; the country-tinged trio the Whites, the young Peasall Sisters and blues musician Chris Thomas King, who played itinerant bluesman Tommy Johnson in the film. Bob Neuwirth was the amiable host.
Taking the stage in a variety of configurations, the musicians offered many memorable moments in a technically perfect 2-1/2-hour show. Harris performed Gillian Welch's heartbreaking lament, "Orphan Girl," with surprise guests Buddy and Julie Miller. Loveless, Vincent and Harris joined together on a stunning a cappella rendition of "Didn't Leave Nobody But the Baby." Blake's gentle "Big Rock Candy Mountain" stood in stark contract to King's blues-riddled "John Law Burned Down the Liquor Sto'."
Del McCoury, who has taken over the guiding reins as ambassador of bluegrass since the death of the great Bill Monroe, performed the crowd-pleasing "Vincent," undoubtedly the only bluegrass song about a guy, his motorcycle and a redheaded gal. The sunshine came from the Whites, with the Carter Family's "Keep on the Sunnyside," and Norman and Nancy Blake, with a down-home perfect rendering of "You Are My Sunshine."
After years of bowing to the pop sensibilities of country music, Loveless' performance was a revelation. Last year, she sidestepped the usual Nashville requirements and released the stunning bluegrass album "Mountain Soul." Performing two songs off the release ("You'll Never Leave Harlem Alive" and "Pretty Little Miss"), she proved to be a heartfelt traditionalist with a vocal prowess that never truly came across on her more mainstream work.
Seventy-five-year-old Stanley is undeniably the most important figure in bluegrass music today. He is basking in a long-deserved glory that is only tinted by the fact that his late brother Carter isn't here to enjoy it with him.
While Stanley's haunting mountain-grown tenor sometimes cracked with age, it was nonetheless mesmerizing, heartwarming and authentic. His chilling version of "O Death" stays with you forever, as does the more rollicking "I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow." (And his duet with Loveless on "Pretty Polly" brought the house down.)
The evening came to an end as the elder statesman led the entire cast in a jaw-dropping version of the classic hymn "Amazing Grace." It was the perfect end to an perfect evening of American music played with grace, style and integrity.