Julie Cherney
As I write this article, Grasstowne’s Steve Gulley is belting out a version of The Grand Tour that is all but making me burst into tears. His voice has a range that will make you soar to the heavens then plunge you into despair… all in one verse! His masterful manipulation of tones accompanied by a musically phenomenal band was one of the many treats of the beautiful East Troy Bluegrass Festival.
Held in the town square, the organizers couldn’t have asked for more perfect weather (last year’s festival experienced non-stop torrential rain.) People flocked with their instruments, dogs, fold-up chairs and full attention. Bands came from near and far with the some of the local ones giving stellar performances. Bobby Batyko of Sparetime Bluegrass mesmerized the audience with his rich deep voice. And Dale Ward wowed people with his ability to hold a note for at least 2 minutes!
Julie Cherney poses with Grasstowne
Others included the dapper Liberty Bluegrass Band, a rare out-of-Café Carpe appearance by the New Pioneers featuring Jerry Wicentowski’s high lonesome leads, Cream City and Kentucky’s Charlie Sizemore Band. Part genteel Southern lawyer and part dry-witted band leader, Charlie and his band capped off Saturday night with a set of traditional and catchy original numbers.
As Grasstowne closed out their truly enjoyable and moving set on Sunday, the exquisite dobro player Phil Leadbetter commented that this festival is a rare gem. Gone are the days when entertainment took place in the town squares. Fortunately for us, the hard work of organizers Melissa Sherman, Robin Hudec and the community of East Troy has kept this tradition alive and FREE! A perfect way to say good-bye to summer and festival season, but to also get excited for next year’s event.
Quality musicianship, fast fiddle tunes and driving banjo are synonymous with bluegrass, but the real key to the music (understood by the experts) is the singing; bluegrass is grounded in solid singing, both solo and group and this band has surely got it covered. I really don’t think I have to talk at length about Jerry Wicentowski’s stellar reputation – he is, without doubt, one the top practitioners of this art form anywhere in the country. And, it is an art form. The trio singing, with Bruce King (mandolin) and Mike Schmidt (banjo) joining Jerry is excellent – “Sitting Alone in the Moonlight” and “On & On” are just two examples of how good it gets with this band. And, the occasional duets were just as professional (and I offer this as my highest compliment).
I would be selling this band short if I didn’t mention the instrumental proficiency – and this ranges far beyond the excellent solo work done by Bruce and Mike and the stellar fiddling of Paul Kienitz, fiddler extraordinaire – beyond the leads though this band does the hard and very necessary work of solid back-up and exceptional interplay among the musicians. Mike Schmidt’s back-up banjo is hard driving and it, along with Jon Peik’s rock solid bass playing, keeps this band on track. I also want to make special mention of an often overlooked part of bluegrass; a part which Jerry has down and that is rhythm guitar. I know it’s fashionable to think of bluegrass guitar in the mold of Bryan Sutton and Tony Rice, but there is nothing more essential to the pure bluegrass sound than a guitarist, like Jerry, who knows how to ground a band and keep it centered.
I know that if you are reading this review you already love bluegrass – well, get yourself and your friends to the Café Carp on the second Thursday of each month – you will be more than pleased. And, a special message to the members of various bands around the area – come out and pay your dues; listen to some masters do it in person like it ought to be done and take some lessons, some soul, some expertise away with you.