Katie Petersen and her bandmates serve up a delicious new Bluegrass version of the traditional folk song Shenandoah.
She and her band, the Petersens, performed this number beautifully years ago, before the group had its own Youtube channel and before dobroist Emmett Franz joined the gang.
This version is another delight, augmented by the image of the hugely due Ellen, who has to play her banjo side-saddle. A girl, Macy Katherine, is now ensconced with Ellen and her husband Mike, who performs with another family band, the Haygoods.
Katie is in top-notch singing form here. And being fit as a fiddle, she's in top-notch form generally.
Brother Matt is the understated glue on this video, as he is in many of the band's performances. Aside from keeping everybody in key, Matt uses his guitar to craftily complement everyone else, and will never upstage anyone (except with his jokes between songs). But watch this guy. He's a true-blue flat-picker. And when he sings lead, what comes out can only be called art.
Of course, the masses will dig Emmett's dobro bridge/break. He's definitely an income-generator.
Mandolinist Julianne is a lot like Matt. She gives understated but steady support on backup, deftly complementing her clan. But when she's singing lead, she's outta sight, man!
Bassist Mom (Karen) is a highly trained musician, who has steadily improved her playing during her run as group bassist. Everyone counts on her to keep the time. No drum to hold the beat.
This is a pure string band; no snare drum allowed! And even tho Matt's idol Merle Haggard played an electric guitar, no ax will be seen here! These string purists are a bunch of hypocrites: A resonator guitar, or dobro, does almost the same thing as an electric guitar. Both amplify the sound -- one with a resonator and the other with an electric amp, and both produce a variety of sharp, twangy tones.
But then again, the fans are often purists. So whaddayagonnado?
She and her band, the Petersens, performed this number beautifully years ago, before the group had its own Youtube channel and before dobroist Emmett Franz joined the gang.
This version is another delight, augmented by the image of the hugely due Ellen, who has to play her banjo side-saddle. A girl, Macy Katherine, is now ensconced with Ellen and her husband Mike, who performs with another family band, the Haygoods.
Katie is in top-notch singing form here. And being fit as a fiddle, she's in top-notch form generally.
Brother Matt is the understated glue on this video, as he is in many of the band's performances. Aside from keeping everybody in key, Matt uses his guitar to craftily complement everyone else, and will never upstage anyone (except with his jokes between songs). But watch this guy. He's a true-blue flat-picker. And when he sings lead, what comes out can only be called art.
Of course, the masses will dig Emmett's dobro bridge/break. He's definitely an income-generator.
Mandolinist Julianne is a lot like Matt. She gives understated but steady support on backup, deftly complementing her clan. But when she's singing lead, she's outta sight, man!
Bassist Mom (Karen) is a highly trained musician, who has steadily improved her playing during her run as group bassist. Everyone counts on her to keep the time. No drum to hold the beat.
This is a pure string band; no snare drum allowed! And even tho Matt's idol Merle Haggard played an electric guitar, no ax will be seen here! These string purists are a bunch of hypocrites: A resonator guitar, or dobro, does almost the same thing as an electric guitar. Both amplify the sound -- one with a resonator and the other with an electric amp, and both produce a variety of sharp, twangy tones.
But then again, the fans are often purists. So whaddayagonnado?
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