here’s our review in the recent releases offerings of County Sales…
Here’s another fine old-time band from the west coast (San Francisco) that adds to the evidence that the old-time scene in the west and Northwest is quite healthy. The three member group is made up of Bill Foss (mandolin, banjo, and banjo-mandolin), Karen Celia Heil (fiddle & guitar) and Martha Hawthorne (guitar and banjo), with Brendan Doyle added as a guest on banjo for the fiddle tunes on 3 tracks.
The music is laid back and unpretentious, with a nice selection of material including 3 Carter Family style cuts (CYCLONE OF RYECOVE, CAN’T FEEL AT HOME, and CANNONBALL BLUES).
Vocals are nicely handled by all three members of the band, but the feature of the group’s output here are the four fiddle tunes that are very nicely played: SHIPPING PORT, BRUSHY FORK OF JOHN’S CREEK, CHRISTMAS TIME IN THE MORNING and especially STEP IN A HOLE—a really neat original tune by Ms. Heil. Other songs include ALL NIGHT LONG, GEORGIA BLUES, SOLDIER GIRL, etc.
Bluegrass Unlimited, premier B’Grass publication of the Californis Bluegrass Assoc., Knucs CD review from May 1st, 2011…
The CD opens with a lovely version of Samantha Bumgarner’s “Georgia Blues.” Next is “Shipping Port,” a fiddle tune from Johnny Johnson’s String Band. Their version of “Little Black Train” is laid-back but powerful. There are two originals, “Soldier Girl” by Martha, which is a female take on a child lost to war, and “Step In A Hole,” a lively and crooked tune by Karen. They do a nice job with the Carter Family’s “The Cyclone Of Rye Cove” and with the rhythmically complex “Christmas Time In The Morning” from Stephen B. Tucker. “Can’t Feel At Home” is a simple arrangement, but powerfully sung gospel number, also from the Carters. Dee Hicks’s “In The Pines” is quite different from the other slower song of the same name, though they share lyrics. Bill’s rag mandolin is showcased on “Wildcat Rag.” Karen shows her strong fiddling on “Brushy Fork Of John’s Creek” and “Little Bobby,” both from John Salyer and then on “All Night Long” from Burnett and Rutherford. The last of the 16 cuts is “The Hometown Waltz.”
All three sing lead. Each has a different style, and each is excellent. It’s a given that their harmonies are great in all combinations. This is old-time ensemble singing and playing at its best.
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The California Bluegrass Association’s newspaper “The Bluegrass Breakdown” calls the Knuckle Knockers….
“One of the city’s foremost Old-Time string bands” that gets “even the stodgiest audience tapping their toes and bouncing in their seats.” They describe a Knuckle Knocker performance as “Old-Time music played expertly” as well as “rich, complex and innovative.”*************************
from Ray Edlund, ‘Pig in a Pen’ KPFA-FM, Summer 2010:
“Old Time music is a wave, once before and now again, breaking upon the shores of Northern California. Riding on the crest of that wave is a trio of extremely talented, dedicated and totally awesome players… the ‘Knuckle Knockers.’
These folks, holding true to tradition and respect for their forebears, would certainly have set the hook in my gaping mouth, had I not already been enamored of these styles of traditional American music.
Two Pig Knuckles Up!! WAY Up! “
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Leslie Keir says…
You know how when someone hands you a plate of food it usually tastes better than your own, very similar self made food? I think there’s a parallel to be found when your friends hand you a cd of such amazing artistry, feeling, depth, soul, on a disc. Your music tastes really good, and its local, organic, 2/3rds union made and mostly vegetarian. Pleasant and Effective.
Maxine Gerber…..
wowie, zowie Knuckle Knockers!
We just had our first listen to the new CD and it’s fabulous, absolutely fabulous! The music and recording quality are all wonderful and we’re honored to have been part of the project.
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Elderly Instruments says…
“Great stuff!”