Steffey with Mountain Heart

[Flowerpot]

Got to see Mt Heart perform this last weekend, and Adam Steffey was in rare form. A lot of their new material has extended inprovisational breaks for mandolin and/or fiddle, and Adam got quite a bit of time to stretch out. I gotta say, I don't remember when I've heard him sounding quite so inspired -- there was a spark of creativity and drive I had not heard in quite a while.

This band is... well, incredible, and seems to be raising the bar for where you can take bluegrass without losing its roots. I mean, their arrangements are so interesting to the ear, with carefully executed rythmic accents, short interludes, and places where the song will drift into a quiet cadenza and then come back with full force. And then when they take you into left field with a challenging comtemporary number, they'll come right back with a traditional Lester Flatt number. And what intensity of delivery! These guys absolutely love to be up there, playing their guts out.

It made me realize how trite some of the song arrangements are, even for some of the better known national bands... how many times do you hear banjo intro, verse, chorus, fiddle break, verse, chorus, etc, just like a parking lot picking session, for almost every song? Not that there's anything wrong with that, but seeing Mt Heart made me glad that there are folks expanding the boundaries, putting their own stamp on the music, but leaving no room for the question "Is this still Bluegrass?". It's the real thing, but maybe on steroids.

I was a bit afraid that with the audience demographic (Bullhead, AZ, mostly snowbirds, median age around 72) that the band wouldn't be well received, but I think about 85% of the festival goers "got it". The others left to get their early bird supper.

Obligatory mandolin hardware content: Steffey's new Sim Daley sounded quite good, albeit a little new and stiff, through the sound system. I think it needs some time to mellow out before it reaches its potential.

[Mountain Air Mando]

I saw Mtn Heart in Asheville this weekend. The mando playing was nothing short of incredible! His new axe sounds great. I can't wait to see them again.

[jim simpson]

It seems like a new instrument can inspire your playing. Maybe this is what Adam is displaying.

[Doug Edwards]

I hope to see them at the Argyle Festival next weekend. There's supposed to be various workshops on Saturday, not sure who all is conducting the mandolin workshop. Maybe I'll get lucky pickup something off Steffey.

Adam is great. I love there album " Force of Nature". The banjo player amazes me. I hope to see them this year some time.

[mandopete]

Holy Cow Batman!!

Got to see the Adam Steffey show this weekend at Wintergrass...oh all right, Mountain Heart was there too! I think we have a new (or maybe not too new) mando idol. His tone all the way up and down the neck, no matter what speed he was going, was phenomenal! And the notes were all crisp and clear, you could hear every little detail of what he was playing. Given the speed he was usually cruising at, that was a feat in itself!

I really enjoyed his singing on the "Mountain Man" tune. Adam has a low, baritone sort of voice that fits that tune to a "T". He was very gracious as well, got to shake and howdy after the show on Sunday.

If you get the chance to see Mountain Heart, do yourself a favor and check 'em out and be sure to sit on the left-hand side of the stage (ifyouknowwhatimean).

[SternART]

Caught them at Wgrass, my first time seeing Steffey in person......big tone from a bigger fella.

[David M.]

I just picked up Force of Nature not long ago. Great record!

Hope to catch them somewhere one of these days. What mando was Steffey using on this record?

[Nolan]

Steffey is the best in my book, he was awesome.
I was really looking forward to Adam Steffey but Danny Roberts was awesome too! Check out the Grascals if you get a chance.

[Strado Len]

What make mandolin(s) was Adam playing?

[mandopete]

Adam was playing his new Sim Daley mandolin at Wintergrass.

[danb]

We popped 76547 in his hands after the Saturday gig.. I'll grab the picture when I'm back home at the apartment http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Curly Ray Maple]

I caught two of their sets at WG and I have to say that guy is right up there with the top pickers. Awesome speed and tone...and he can sing, too!?!?

[David M.]

...and he can sing, too!?!?

Does he sing one on "Force of Nature"? #I'm curious which is his voice. #Man, I'd like to see these boys.

[Nolan]

He has the low baritone voice. He sings Twister on Force of Nature. If you get "No Other Way" he sang some good ones on that one too...

His solo CD "Gratefull" is cool because he sings all the non-instrumental songs.

[mandopete]

He sings on the "Mountain Man" tune, which I thought was very effective. He has a baritone voice and in the key of B it really has a nice low sort of mellow growl. He also sings a version of "Don't Let Your Deal Go Down".

[David M.]

I willcheck out his solo one. He amazes me. Actually, that whole record amazes me. That guy's tenor voice is something else.

That Daley model is incredible. Nice mando.

[Nolan]

I was watching an Isaacs DVD a few weeks ago and they were interviewing Adam and he said something like..
"I don't like my singing... some people drive around in their car and think, 'Wow, I'm a pretty good singer!'.. well I don't even think that! #My voice sounds like what would happen if a weed eater and a buffalo got together and made a youngin'." # http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

I always liked his voice but apparently he doesn't think it's that great. #It's nice to have an alternative to all the high tenor voices in bluegrass, kinda like listening to Tony Rice sing.

[mandopete]

That guy's tenor voice is something else.
?

http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/coffee.gif

[mandopete]

I always liked his voice but apparently he doesn't think it's that great. #It's nice to have an alternative to all the high tenor voices in bluegrass...
I'll second that! Check out Jim Hurst on his Second Son recording. There is hope for all of us baritones out there!

http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[luckylarue]

He gave a great workshop at Joe Val Fest. last year. What a treat to see him up-close and personal. What I found most interesting was - and he talked about it - that he never uses his left-hand pinky. Obviously he doesn't need to! It's cool to have someone at his level play his own style and go against conventional wisdom of "proper" technique. I love his sound on AKUS' So Long, So Wrong cd, great production. Cheers.

[AlanN]

Does he still plant his right pinky on the top?

[David M.]

Pete, I was referring to Steve Gulley (I think that's the tenor singer's name) being a good singer, also. #I've gone back and listened a bunch to Twister and Steffey's voice is good. #What a good record. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[mandopete]

Does he still plant his right pinky on the top?
Yep, that and three fingers for the left hand.

Man, what lousy technique!

http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif