Bluegrass Meets Traditional Country

    The melodic twang of America's mountain music, bluegrass, found a receptive second home in Washington, NC on Saturday night, April 4, 2009, at the renovated Turnage Theater. Three bands played and all were quite good, but in this narrative we discuss the top bill. The headline band, Molasses Creek, hails from Ocracoke, one county to the east, and 35 miles of ferry ride across the pitch of the Pamlico Sound.


    Molasses Creek has been together, in one form or another, for about 15 years. Their music represents an eclectic blend of traditional folk, bluegrass, and traditional country that is quick in its pace and sharp in its message. The message: in today's music world, this is about as close as one can get to real rock 'n' roll. And from a personal perspective, that has always been a benchmark for me. Does the music have the potential to move me, to speak to me, send a message to my rock'n' soul? Since 1975, and the scourge of disco, there have been precious few artists that could take me to that place.



    Thankfully in 1974, I discovered bluegrass music at the Fiddler's Convention in Union Grove, North Carolina. At that festival, I found that there was an alternative to Disco, with performers such as Doc and Merle Watson, and Bill Monroe showing a bright light on the spirited twang of my new discovery of a very old form of music. Molasses Creek, while blending influences from traditional American folk, traditional country and Celtic folk music, it is the influence of bluegrass that takes center stage, with a collection of the traditional bluegrass instruments such as; mandolin, fiddle and dobro figuring prominently as their lead instruments, bending their delicate tones into a soup of sustaining glory.

Fiddler Dave, who is classically trained and tends to finger the notes of the violin to effect a more pure tone, partnered up with new band member Marcy Brenner, who performed such exquisitely mournful vocals, to cover Dolly Parton's "Jolene." maybe the band, and Fiddler Dave and Marcy were truly on their best game that Saturday night in Washington at the Turnage, but I would wager just about anyone that it is the best version ever done of that song. Better than Dolly's version, and that's saying something.



    Marcy Brenner along with her dobro, and all manner of other stringed instruments picking husband, Lou Castro, has made a positive impact on what is left of the original band. I could be completely out of school on this one since before Saturday Night, I had no knowledge of Molasses Creek (I obviously live a sheltered life), but I do know good music and good musicians and Brenner and Husband Castro, and the new band are very accomplished players.

Other very accomplished players in the band is mainstay Gary Mitchell, who sings lead and harmonizing vocals, while playing the acoustical 6 string. He is literally the center of the band and appears to provide the base to preserve this fine ensemble.



    Fiddler Dave performed a Celtic folk ditty about a heron that was simply beautiful, and, I am told by Musician Brenner, should be on their next CD, along with their cover of Jolene. I know I'm saving up my sheckles.

    Mandolin player extraordinaire, Gerald Hampton from Franklinton, NC rounds out the band when they are on the mainland. Gerald is a retired educator and did an outstanding keeping the rhythm, and playing the lead on one special instrumental that he worked on for the better part of a year. It was a fine tune, and showed how his instrument could add yet another dimension to the band.

It is a solid band, and it was a fine show. I thoroughly enjoyed their homage to the great musical traditions of the past, while they kept me rock'n' in the fine upholstered seats of the acoustically perfect Turnage Theater. It was a fine night and I pray that Molasses Creek will consider this stage a second home. Regardless of that possible future encounter, they often perform in Ocracoke and on many stages here down East. If you are like me, and long for the old days when one could, on occasion, catch a good rock'n'roll show, I suggest you catch the Molasses Creek show, where traditional country meets bluegrass. In today's music environment, it is the closest you'll get to re-living rock 'n' roll.