Blue highway concert - shawn lane rocks!

[bkhooper]

I was fortunate enough this past weekend to catch "Blue Highway" at the Fairview Ruritan bldg in Galax, VA. It was a great concert with some of the tightest vocals and instrumental work I have heard in a live setting. What I enjoyed the most was Shawn Lane playing his "Dearstone" mandolin. That thing sounded great. He was gracious enough to let me look at it after the show and it is definately a broken-in road warrior. It has a redwood top and the reddish colored varnish finish is worn through and rough feeling in several places. He said that he had owned it since 1998 and that it had definately served him well over the years. These guys are great in concert and I would reccomend anyone go see them if you have the opportunity.

ken

[chip]

I overwhelming agree. Blue Highway and IIIrd Tyme Out, in my opinion, are two of the best bands in the universe. The harmonies and musicianship of Blue Highway's members are outstanding and Russell Moore with IIIrd Tyme Out has to be the best vocalist in Bluegrass ever. Shawn Lane is one talented dude isn't he! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[bkhooper]

He is definately talented and has such a distinctive voice...seems like a nice guy too. He was very willing to show me his mandolin and even insisted that I also take a look at his custom guitar as well.

[jaco]

I recently discovered these guys and couldn't agree more. I have several of their cds now and not a weak one in the bunch. Great songwriting, picking, vocals, it's all there in spades.

[Chris Biorkman]

I love them but I can't stand their new release.

[Gutbucket]

Doesn't Dearstone currently make a Shawn Lane model with Redwood top?

[bkhooper]

Yes, I noticed on his website that he is making a "Shawn Lane model" with a Redwood top and the price is $7500 however, there are no pictures:( .

[chip]

When I first listened to Blue Highway's new release my inital reaction was moderate but after listening to it again and again I think it's the best to date. Sycamore Hollow, Homeless Man, My Ropin'Days are done, all great songs along with Two Soldiers...just superb.

[AlanN]

Blue Highway is a good band.

I have this old, grainy video (pre-DVD) of I guess a TV show, with Larry Sparks Band (Joe Clark on mando, good picker) and Skaggs band, with Bobby Hicks, Billy Jo somebody on banjo and Shawn Lane on mando. Ricky on guitar, he and Shawn vocally blend like nothing else!

[bkhooper]

Didnt Shawn Lane sing for a while with Doyle Lawson??

[David Newton]

"Tears fell on Missouri" makes me cry.

[Christian]

Yes he did play guitar and sing with Doyle for a while. I have some video footage of that version of Quicksilver somewhere.

[Scotti Adams]

Yes he did play guitar and sing with Doyle for a while. I have some video footage of that version of Quicksilver somewhere.
Yes...and hes very, very under-rated in my book.
On their new release it doesnt sounf like his Dearstone to me..it doesnt have that distinctive sound I have grown accustomed to on previous releases.

[Scotti Adams]

"Tears fell on Missouri" makes me cry.
If some one can listen to that song and not cry they aint human.

[chip]

If you think "Tears fell on Missouri" is a tear jerker try "Goodbye for awhile" off their Still Climbing Mountains CD...that's one of the best songs I've ever heard...

[Ken Berner]

AlanN, I have a copy of that Austin City Limits show, too, and Joe Clark really showed us what a mandolin player is! I had searched out some of his music and found that he had been playing with Honi Deaton until recently. I hope he emerges again, soon.

[AlanN]

Thanks for the insight, Ken, I always wondered about that video, must be 15+ years old by now.

Search Youtube on Joe Clark, he's there demoing some of Pete Hart's F-5 mandolins.

[bkhooper]

Regarding the "Blue Highway" concert at Galax, the only small dissapointment I had was the guitar that Tim Stafford was playing, It was some kind of Carbon fiber electric and IMHO the tone just didnt blend as well as it could have with someone of his talent. It may just be me..???

[Mattg]

Shawn Lane is one of the best kept secrets of bluegrass mandolin. I'm blown away by his playing and singing yet he hardly gets mentioned. I think Shawn has one of the cleanest styles on the mandolin and a really strong "high lonesome" tenor voice. Blue Highway was one of the teaching bands at Rocky Grass a few years ago so we got to see em all up close. I will never forget how gracious they all were. By the way, the banjo player plays a pretty mean mando too.

[bkhooper]

Yes he does indeed...He played Shawns' mandolin on a couple of their songs while Shawn played either fiddle or guitar.

[Wesley]

Blue Highway is a featured performer at the Argle Bluegrass Festival this Saturday. Along with The Stringdusters, Cherryholmes and Del and the Boys. Saturday is shaping up to be a mighty fine afternoon of music. I can't wait.

[PineTar]

The whole festival should be great. I was planning to skip Blue Highway in favor of the Ronnie McCoury workshop, but I'm not sure after reading these comments. May just sit in on Jesse Cobb's and catch Blue Highway.

[tterral]

I saw Blue Highway a few years ago with Mountain Heart the same night, both incredible bands with great energy. I have to agree that "Goodbye For Awhile" is an incredible song that defintiely can make a grown man cry. Shawn came out at the end of their set and played it by himself - just him on guitar and his great voice. Amazing.

[Crowder]

When I first listened to Blue Highway's new release my inital reaction was moderate but after listening to it again and again I think it's the best to date. Sycamore Hollow, Homeless Man, My Ropin'Days are done, all great songs along with Two Soldiers...just superb.
Agree with you about the record....disagree about Sycamore Hollow. Can't stand that cut. The rest of it is very strong, just like most of the stuff they've released.

I'm also a Shawn Lane fan. I think it's great that Blue Highway has been able to stay together for quite a while with the same lineup.

[Chris Biorkman]

Shawn Lane is one of the best kept secrets of bluegrass mandolin. I'm blown away by his playing and singing yet he hardly gets mentioned. I think Shawn has one of the cleanest styles on the mandolin and a really strong "high lonesome" tenor voice. Blue Highway was one of the teaching bands at Rocky Grass a few years ago so we got to see em all up close. I will never forget how gracious they all were. By the way, the banjo player plays a pretty mean mando too.
I'm kind of surprised that you don't hear more about Shawn's playing on this board. I think he's great and I love his tone.

Rob Ickes ain't too shabby either.

[bkhooper]

Yes, Rob Ickes is the man on the "resophonic guitar". Wayne Taylor went into a long discussion about how Gibson wouldnt let them call it a Dobro because they owned the word "Dobro".

Rob Ickes played an awesome 5 minute solo on "The old Rugged cross" by himself on the stage before the rest of the band came out and joined in.

[red7flag]

I just heard on Sirius Bluegrass that Wayne Benson is back with Blue Highway. Wayne is a great guy. If you have not heard his solo CD, I recommend it highly. There is some really nice original tunes on it. He plays a really nice '23 Fern.
Tony

[nashvillebill]

Funny how widely opinions can differ. I saw these guys at the Station Inn last month and while their energy didn't compare to the last Mountain Heart show I attended, they were very tight. However, the new album isn't as good as "Marbletown" IMHO. The new record has grown on me some, but not one of my favorites. Several of the songs- "Homeless Man", "My Ropin' Days are Done", and "Blues on Blues" just don't do anything for me- too contrived. Pretty much every tune on "Marbletown" stands up. "Goodbye for Awhile" from "Still Climbing Mountains" is an awesome song and I'm a pretty big Shawn Lane fan, but he'd be behind Tim O'Brien, Steffey, McCoury, Skaggs and several others in my rankings.

[nashvillebill]

I just heard on Sirius Bluegrass that Wayne Benson is back with Blue Highway. Wayne is a great guy. If you have not heard his solo CD, I recommend it highly. There is some really nice original tunes on it. He plays a really nice '23 Fern.
Tony
No- he's back with IIIrd Time Out.

[AlanN]

Uh, check your facts.

Wayne is the mando man with 3TO. And his vintage Gibson is a 26.

[dmamlep]

well I like blue highway seen them several times, but mt heart, their songs are more driving,up tempo, still will go to see them all.

[red7flag]

I stand corrected, it was a brain ####. #Thanks for correcting my facts Alan. Last time I saw him he was the John Cowan Band and no long with IIIrd Tyme Out. He showed me the Fern. A great sounding instrument.
Tony

[bkhooper]

Wayne Benson, awesome mandolin player- he is alot like Shawn Lane when talking to him, very approachable. I would like to see some up close pics of his 26 Gibson. I wonder if it is on the F5 Journal.

[AlanN]

I played that mandolin many years ago, when we swapped F-5s on the bus. It was clean, all original and strong sounding.

[Satchel]

Big Blue Highway fan here...."Midnight Storm" & "Long Long Road" are my top 2 fav's of there many albums.

I will have to agree with one of the earlier posts about Tim's new carbon guitar. I saw them last month and the new guitar just didnt blend well.

[Daniel Wheeler]

Its a CA guitar. I may be mistaken but I believe I have seen mandos made by them or someone like them.