The Virginia Ramblers: Press

About our predecessor band, the Virginia Cutups, this was written in a cd review:
There are perhaps dozens of excellent young, neo-traditional bluegrass bands out there today, with fine lead singers, gorgeous harmonies, accomplished instrumentalists, and interesting new material. Yet almost none of them, to the ears of geriatric curmudgeons who grew up in the ?50s, really nails the traditional sound. ...These guys are the Real Thing, lifted straight out the golden age of bluegrass. They?ve got the fire, the edge, the intensity that turned a bunch of us onto the music 40 years ago. Breeden?s banjo playing reincarnates Don Reno up and down the neck, with a healthy spice of Stanley rolls fingered into the mix. -Bluegrass Unlimited cd review, 1999

The bandname Virginia Ramblers has enjoyed a long history in the Commonwealth. I recall hearing the original Virginia Ramblers, a string band, on WRVA Richmond, Va., in the early 1940s, and they'd been around a while then. Over the years, there's been several other Virginia Ramblers, notably the late Ted Prillaman's group from Martinsville, Va., but none are related to the current band.
The first dozen times I saw these fellows, they were banjoist Alvin Breeden's Virginia Cutups. They were a solid group then and remain so today. After Breeden retired, a name change seemed to be in order, so they became the Virginia Ramblers; an excellent choice, as they do the name justice.
Guitarist Charles Frazier carries most of the lead vocal work. To me, he's one of the finer singers around today. There's some switching of vocal parts with bassist Donnie Shifflett, and mandolin picker Jeff Vogelgesang—even banjoist Zack Deming takes a turn as lead singer. Whatever the combination, resulting harmonies are always tight and precise.
The Ramblers display a deep respect for the pioneer bluegrass groups, especially, it seems, for the Stanley Brothers. They revive two of Carter Stanley's songs including the littleknown "Let's Part The Best Of Friends." I'm not sure if their reading of "I Am Weary (Let Me Rest)" is a nod to the film O Brother, Where Art Thou? or was simply chosen because it's a good song. It turns out as one of the better numbers here, but if I have a favorite. It's their version of "The First Fall Of Snow."
The instrumental work of the Virginia Ramblers is flawless. However, when I review a record, the vocals come first. If bands don't pass muster there, it doesn't make any difference to me how well they pick. But happily it's not a problem on this set—these guys can sing bluegrass. Recommended. (Hay Holler Records, P.O. Box 868, Blacksburg, VA 24063, www.hayholler.com.)WVS
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