Here is the latest single from Hardwood Heart for a contemporary take on a more traditional sound. Guitarist Josh Clinger and Jed Nussbaum on mandolin started out by getting together to practise, to swap tunes. Once they joined up with bassist Caleb Mattis, these back-porch get-togethers turned into something more. They used the time and opportunity presented by pandemic lockdowns to work on perfecting harmonies and covers and on writing new, original songs. What began as a side-project to keep busy while their main band Dodgy Mountain Men couldn’t put on live shows, has proved to be incredibly fruitful. After two EPs in 2020, the trio have just released their third, ‘Walls and Picture Frames’. They have continued to develop their progressive sound, which has a bluegrass foundation, built upon with a range of other genres.
While most of their material is uptempo and energetic, ‘By the Minute’, the first single from the EP, is a more personal song that addresses challenging themes, including depression and suicide. Always difficult to tackle, these concerns have become particularly acute over the course of the pandemic. It’s relevant, relatable and, most of all, displays their fine musicianship and songcraft. Check it out.
