Stillhouse Junkies – Small Towns
Since this week’s theme is “It’s been a long time”, the first Roots Music charts I looked at this week we’re the Folk and Bluegrass Charts. Those charts along with the Folk DJ and Euro-Americana charts were where I found most of the new music I liked. However over the last several years, I have listened to more Blues, Jazz and New Age music. One of the reasons is many of my favorite artists including; Jerry Jeff Walker, Guy Clark, John Prine, Leonard Cohen and Jesse Winchester have passed away and I can’t seem to find replacements for them.
Anyway, in the early part of this week I gave several albums the 30-45 second test and came up with a few albums to explore in more depth. And some that will be in my music rotation for a while. The first album I’m going to write about is Small Towns the latest release from Stillhouse Junkies. Currently, the album sits at number 3 on the chart. Since I had never heard of the band I had to do a little exploring, Here’s what I found!
About Stillhouse Junkies
The band was formed in a distillery in Durango, CO and have garnered a good deal of notoriety. They were named a 2021 IBMA Momentum Band of the Year, Additionally they have been a two-time Telluride Bluegrass band contest finalists. As well as, Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival showcase artist and 2020 & 2021 IBMA World of Bluegrass showcase artists. Not bad for just starting out, eh?
Stillhouse Junkies is comprised of three very talented musicians and songwriters. As such they share both lead vocal and songwriting duties. The three band members are fiddler Alissa Wolf, bassist Cody Tinnin and and quitarist, banjo and mandolin picker Fred Kodak. Together, according to their website, they play a “delirious, head-spinning mixture of original roots, blues, funk, swing, and bluegrass music.” Again from their biography>>>>
the Junkies conjure a wide range of tonal landscapes that pay tribute to the iconic sounds of Gillian Welch, the Allman Brothers, Tim O’Brien, the Wood Brothers, John Hiatt, and countless others while breaking new musical ground with their genre-bending original material.
The Bottom Line
I’ve only listened to Small Towns a few times but each time I listen to the album I discover something new. On the first listen the first thing that caught my attention was Alissa’s fine fiddling and Cody;s bass. However, on subsequent listens Ive heard some good picking from Fred!
Favorite tracks right now are “River of the Lost Souls” and “Colorado Bound”. I do think though as I listen to more songs several more may become favorites! So Check It Out!
However, don’t just take my word to it! Here’s what some others say about Stillhouse Junkies
Listeners can expect a riveting ride through the terrain Stillhouse Junkies bring to life in their music, and a confirmation of why the group was voted the 2021 IBMA Momentum Band of the Year. — No Depression
Stillhouse Junkies make a mighty big joyful noise for a trio! There is some really fine pickin’ and songwritin’ within. That riff from the title cut, ‘Hillbilly Poetry’, especially grabbed my ear. Y’all really need to check them out.
— Becky Buller, The Becky Buller Band
Here’s one of my favorite tracks on Small Towns “Colorado Bound”
