The New Old Cavalry

Saturday night is one that I'll never forget. New Old Cavalry took the stage right on time, and were very professional the entire night. The band started off with some originals that sounded really damn good. They all seemed to be a perfect match to play together.

Guitarist Chris Dollar would come to the mic to sing. His picking was great. He seemed to use the neck of the guitar to change notes, and strummed the strings instead of picking. It was a little different then what I'm used to hearing, but I really liked it. Lap Steel player Alex Wukmer played the entire set with a smile, while moving his finger slide up and down the strings perfectly. It added the perfect sound.

Bassist Brian Chomka stood behind the rest rocking the stand up bass. He seemed worn out as you could see sweat hitting his instrument, but it didn't stop his hands from hitting the right notes at the right time. Banjo picker Justin Hughey created some of the best picking I've seen from an Indiana band. He created a great sound that no bluegrass band can go without. It was nice watching a banjo picker that wasn't sloppy.

Fiddle and Mandolin player Patrick Hoepner added a great sound to this band. Taller than the mic stand Pat was able to put his mandolin right up on the mic to get the best sound. The band together created a great show. The only thing I could see benefitting this band is a drummer. Experience, time, and songs will only make this band one of the hottest grass bands around.

Hen House Prowlers have played Indiana as both HHP and Sexfist. They've done very well in places like Lafayette and Bloomington as Sexfist. As well Sexfist was voted as one of the best sets at Spring Fest back in April.

They too are some of the best Bluegrass musicians I've seen. Bassist Jon Goldfine does a great job at grabbin strings, and he adds a nice voice behind the microphone. Banjo picker Ben Wright is one of the best around in my opinion. He is experienced, and you can just see his love for his instrument as he picks. Fiddle player Ryan Hinshaw is a mastermind on fiddle, and too can sing amazingly. Eric Lambert the guitar player is one that can truly pick a guitar better than most.

Together in their classy suited attire took the stage at 11pm. They picked original songs as well as some covers. They sing a perfect harmony, which is sometimes hard to find. Not only do I feel like I am watching a great display of musicianship, but they do seem to hit the soul of any listener. Their songs are well written, deep, and with plenty of raw talent. Not to mention they're some of the nicest guys around. I think with a little more touring, some strong promotion work, and continueing to pick the way they do.... Hen House Prowlers will be at the top of most Bluegrass lists.

Toward the end of the night HHP asked me if they could invite New Old Cavalry up to jam with them. With no hesitation I said "Of Course." NOC took the stage with HHP, and some pure magic began. They picked some really awesome traditional numbers. All 9 of them squeezed onto the stage with their particular instrument. They'd count off and began the song. Each player would make their way to the mic to feature their best picking. There wasn't many people left in the bar at this time of night, but I felt bad for the people missing this. Each member was having a blast, and so was everyone in the room. That jam session is one that I'll never forget. If you haven't had a chance to check out these bands.... You need to do so as soon as possible.

- HiddenRelic.net - Joey Buttram

Saturday night is one that I'll never forget. New Old Cavalry took the stage right on time, and were very professional the entire night. The band started off with some originals that sounded really damn good. They all seemed to be a perfect match to play together.

Guitarist Chris Dollar would come to the mic to sing. His picking was great. He seemed to use the neck of the guitar to change notes, and strummed the strings instead of picking. It was a little different then what I'm used to hearing, but I really liked it. Lap Steel player Alex Wukmer played the entire set with a smile, while moving his finger slide up and down the strings perfectly. It added the perfect sound.

Bassist Brian Chomka stood behind the rest rocking the stand up bass. He seemed worn out as you could see sweat hitting his instrument, but it didn't stop his hands from hitting the right notes at the right time. Banjo picker Justin Hughey created some of the best picking I've seen from an Indiana band. He created a great sound that no bluegrass band can go without. It was nice watching a banjo picker that wasn't sloppy.

Fiddle and Mandolin player Patrick Hoepner added a great sound to this band. Taller than the mic stand Pat was able to put his mandolin right up on the mic to get the best sound. The band together created a great show. The only thing I could see benefitting this band is a drummer. Experience, time, and songs will only make this band one of the hottest grass bands around.

Hen House Prowlers have played Indiana as both HHP and Sexfist. They've done very well in places like Lafayette and Bloomington as Sexfist. As well Sexfist was voted as one of the best sets at Spring Fest back in April.

They too are some of the best Bluegrass musicians I've seen. Bassist Jon Goldfine does a great job at grabbin strings, and he adds a nice voice behind the microphone. Banjo picker Ben Wright is one of the best around in my opinion. He is experienced, and you can just see his love for his instrument as he picks. Fiddle player Ryan Hinshaw is a mastermind on fiddle, and too can sing amazingly. Eric Lambert the guitar player is one that can truly pick a guitar better than most.

Together in their classy suited attire took the stage at 11pm. They picked original songs as well as some covers. They sing a perfect harmony, which is sometimes hard to find. Not only do I feel like I am watching a great display of musicianship, but they do seem to hit the soul of any listener. Their songs are well written, deep, and with plenty of raw talent. Not to mention they're some of the nicest guys around. I think with a little more touring, some strong promotion work, and continueing to pick the way they do.... Hen House Prowlers will be at the top of most Bluegrass lists.

Toward the end of the night HHP asked me if they could invite New Old Cavalry up to jam with them. With no hesitation I said "Of Course." NOC took the stage with HHP, and some pure magic began. They picked some really awesome traditional numbers. All 9 of them squeezed onto the stage with their particular instrument. They'd count off and began the song. Each player would make their way to the mic to feature their best picking. There wasn't many people left in the bar at this time of night, but I felt bad for the people missing this. Each member was having a blast, and so was everyone in the room. That jam session is one that I'll never forget. If you haven't had a chance to check out these bands.... You need to do so as soon as possible.

- HiddenRelic.net - Joey Buttram

"The Bluegrass Ball," with Cornmeal and The Travelin' McCourys co-headlining the bill, shook the heartland with a boot stomping romp through traditional and progressive takes on mountain music. These two bands along with opening acts, White Lightning Boys and The New Old Cavalry, the message of the evening was made clear in the form of a traditional old fashioned ‘round the fire pickin' party. The sharing of the stage -- with the microphone as the center point of an interweaving construct -- created not only the visual appeal of the classic setup but also the blended sound that generates vocal harmony and with a little unity, can make a whole lot of magic.

Merely miles from the campus of Indiana University, The Bluebird has hosted hundreds of memorable evenings in its time as a premier music venue in the region. Due to its proximity to an army of music loving students, many great one-off bills end up on the stage. The Bluegrass Ball was a fine example of both the tradition of the venue and the united musical heart of bluegrass. With an equal ability to service the song, each act on the bill seemed to approach the stage from different angles, but when called upon, could gel into any array that was needed. White Lightning Boys took the first shift and the local boys quickly had the crowd dancing in circles, faces frozen in grins of pure glee. Thickening the Boys sound for the evening was fiddler Patrick Hoepner of The New Old Cavalry, pulling double duty as he was also playing in The Cavalry's acoustic set, an impromptu addition to the bill to help keep the music going nonstop until the wee small hours of the night.

A loud merriment filled the high rafters of the scene as Cornmeal filed onto the stage. Smiles and joyful waves were in abundance. As a band, Cornmeal has many facets and a variety of ways to grab one's attention and bring him into the ranks of the converted. Though they are known for their amplified high jinks, never let it be said that Cornmeal couldn't stand in the sacred customary semicircle and testify as well as the finest. This is exactly what they did on this night in Bloomington. Alternating vocals provided by guitarist Kris Nowak and banjoist Dave Burlingame pooled with aching violin solos provided by Allie Kral filled out the songs about desperation and love. The axis of their songbook sits squarely at the heart of the themes of music that is as old as the hills. Adding a jazzy element to the proceedings, drummer J.P. Nowak simplified his rig and played only a box and snare with a pair of brushes. Though this took away from his typical thunderous percussive style away, it was a pristine showcase of his overall skill. Chris Gangi's Bass licks were far more distinct than during an amplified set, and the dancers in the corn stalking crowd moved to the groove foundation groove that he laid out. Harmonizing around the microphone, Kral's sweet feminine tone offset the gruffer male leads and the group ended the show to a raucous ovation.

As hurried hands cleared the stage, the pack of bluegrass lovers prepared for the McCoury brothers, mandolin player Ronnie and banjoist Robbie, to take the stage. With a legendary last name to live up to, many would have sought a career outside the legacy of these gentlemen's father, authentic bluegrass luminary Del McCoury. Rather, the offspring chose to do anything but shy away from the challenge, embraced their name, and have used their lineage as an opportunity to learn from a master and an incredible cast of musicians as they grew up. In turn, what has happened is the development of two very fierce players in their own right. Rounding things out in this Travelin' lneup are players of prowess, bassist Alan Bartram and fiddle player Jason Carter who both play with daddy Del as well. The high opinion that Carter commands among the music community was evidenced best by the respect Cornmeal's Kral showed him, coming out, not to join him onstage but to simply watch. Her wide smile provided clear testimony as Carter took one delicate precise bowing after the other, speaking in a clean cutting voice

As they often do when playing as The Travelin' McCourys instead of their other gig, as Del McCoury's Family Band, they brought a guitarist with them to coagulate their sound. Kenny Smith filled both the role and range with his sharply picked and strummed style; providing a hard and keen edge for Carter to sound off against. As the set progressed, the pace quickened. It was as a strong breeze is to a new kindling flame, and instantly the band embraced the speed and the energy. Finishing with a flourish, Ronnie offered up that they needed to "make room for those Cornmeal folks." Leaving the stage and walking down the wall, a line of well wishers had formed, thanking the players for their fine efforts, offering high fives and hearty handshakes for a job well done.

One of the unmentioned positives about a straight bluegrass show is the speed - Honesttune.com - Rex Thompson

"The Bluegrass Ball," with Cornmeal and The Travelin' McCourys co-headlining the bill, shook the heartland with a boot stomping romp through traditional and progressive takes on mountain music. These two bands along with opening acts, White Lightning Boys and The New Old Cavalry, the message of the evening was made clear in the form of a traditional old fashioned ‘round the fire pickin' party. The sharing of the stage -- with the microphone as the center point of an interweaving construct -- created not only the visual appeal of the classic setup but also the blended sound that generates vocal harmony and with a little unity, can make a whole lot of magic.

Merely miles from the campus of Indiana University, The Bluebird has hosted hundreds of memorable evenings in its time as a premier music venue in the region. Due to its proximity to an army of music loving students, many great one-off bills end up on the stage. The Bluegrass Ball was a fine example of both the tradition of the venue and the united musical heart of bluegrass. With an equal ability to service the song, each act on the bill seemed to approach the stage from different angles, but when called upon, could gel into any array that was needed. White Lightning Boys took the first shift and the local boys quickly had the crowd dancing in circles, faces frozen in grins of pure glee. Thickening the Boys sound for the evening was fiddler Patrick Hoepner of The New Old Cavalry, pulling double duty as he was also playing in The Cavalry's acoustic set, an impromptu addition to the bill to help keep the music going nonstop until the wee small hours of the night.

A loud merriment filled the high rafters of the scene as Cornmeal filed onto the stage. Smiles and joyful waves were in abundance. As a band, Cornmeal has many facets and a variety of ways to grab one's attention and bring him into the ranks of the converted. Though they are known for their amplified high jinks, never let it be said that Cornmeal couldn't stand in the sacred customary semicircle and testify as well as the finest. This is exactly what they did on this night in Bloomington. Alternating vocals provided by guitarist Kris Nowak and banjoist Dave Burlingame pooled with aching violin solos provided by Allie Kral filled out the songs about desperation and love. The axis of their songbook sits squarely at the heart of the themes of music that is as old as the hills. Adding a jazzy element to the proceedings, drummer J.P. Nowak simplified his rig and played only a box and snare with a pair of brushes. Though this took away from his typical thunderous percussive style away, it was a pristine showcase of his overall skill. Chris Gangi's Bass licks were far more distinct than during an amplified set, and the dancers in the corn stalking crowd moved to the groove foundation groove that he laid out. Harmonizing around the microphone, Kral's sweet feminine tone offset the gruffer male leads and the group ended the show to a raucous ovation.

As hurried hands cleared the stage, the pack of bluegrass lovers prepared for the McCoury brothers, mandolin player Ronnie and banjoist Robbie, to take the stage. With a legendary last name to live up to, many would have sought a career outside the legacy of these gentlemen's father, authentic bluegrass luminary Del McCoury. Rather, the offspring chose to do anything but shy away from the challenge, embraced their name, and have used their lineage as an opportunity to learn from a master and an incredible cast of musicians as they grew up. In turn, what has happened is the development of two very fierce players in their own right. Rounding things out in this Travelin' lneup are players of prowess, bassist Alan Bartram and fiddle player Jason Carter who both play with daddy Del as well. The high opinion that Carter commands among the music community was evidenced best by the respect Cornmeal's Kral showed him, coming out, not to join him onstage but to simply watch. Her wide smile provided clear testimony as Carter took one delicate precise bowing after the other, speaking in a clean cutting voice

As they often do when playing as The Travelin' McCourys instead of their other gig, as Del McCoury's Family Band, they brought a guitarist with them to coagulate their sound. Kenny Smith filled both the role and range with his sharply picked and strummed style; providing a hard and keen edge for Carter to sound off against. As the set progressed, the pace quickened. It was as a strong breeze is to a new kindling flame, and instantly the band embraced the speed and the energy. Finishing with a flourish, Ronnie offered up that they needed to "make room for those Cornmeal folks." Leaving the stage and walking down the wall, a line of well wishers had formed, thanking the players for their fine efforts, offering high fives and hearty handshakes for a job well done.

One of the unmentioned positives about a straight bluegrass show is the speed - Honesttune.com - Rex Thompson

Uncork the old moonshine jug and get ready for some 21st century pickin’ and grinnin’: progressive bluegrass aficionados Hot Buttered Rum will bring their modern take on the traditional genre to Bloomington’s Bluebird nightclub this Tuesday night. Signed to the String Cheese Incident-run label SCI Fidelity, the band is well-known on the jam scene for their rock/reggae/folk-infused bluegrass–2009's Limbs Akimbo largely featured rock-oriented recordings, mixing a full rock band sound with the band’s typical folksy sound.
Sharing the stage with HBR will be Bloomington’s own New Old Cavalry. In a genre full of setting suns, they’re like a rising harvest moon–colorful, bright, and perfect for a night of heavy whiskey drinking. Their traditional bluegrass instrumentation and menagerie of covers nod to their many stylistic forebears, while fresh originals and deft improv put them firmly at the forefront of Indiana pickers. Check out the band’s self-released, self-titled debut album for a taste, and if you haven’t seen them live, do it. If you have, do it again.
The show starts at 9. Tickets are $5 in advance and $10 at the door. And sorry kids, but the Bluebird is 21+.
- Indyconcerts.com - Greg

Uncork the old moonshine jug and get ready for some 21st century pickin’ and grinnin’: progressive bluegrass aficionados Hot Buttered Rum will bring their modern take on the traditional genre to Bloomington’s Bluebird nightclub this Tuesday night. Signed to the String Cheese Incident-run label SCI Fidelity, the band is well-known on the jam scene for their rock/reggae/folk-infused bluegrass–2009's Limbs Akimbo largely featured rock-oriented recordings, mixing a full rock band sound with the band’s typical folksy sound.
Sharing the stage with HBR will be Bloomington’s own New Old Cavalry. In a genre full of setting suns, they’re like a rising harvest moon–colorful, bright, and perfect for a night of heavy whiskey drinking. Their traditional bluegrass instrumentation and menagerie of covers nod to their many stylistic forebears, while fresh originals and deft improv put them firmly at the forefront of Indiana pickers. Check out the band’s self-released, self-titled debut album for a taste, and if you haven’t seen them live, do it. If you have, do it again.
The show starts at 9. Tickets are $5 in advance and $10 at the door. And sorry kids, but the Bluebird is 21+.
- Indyconcerts.com - Greg