Last night I got the word from Mr. Jared McGovern to do an album feature for The Urban Pioneers second album called “Vehicle In Transit”. This album is released on Roots Union Records and was produced by them all. I got to hear one of the new songs last year at a festival and I got to talk with them about it, I’ll tell you just a little more about it in a bit.
Liz Sloan and Jared McGovern are two of the most honest and wonderful people I have EVER met in the business.I’m not just saying that to make a nice article I’m saying because it’s true, they are the most welcoming couple you will ever run into. And talented to boot I think without a doubt that Miss Liz is one of the most talented performers Roots music has to offer. They absolutely take over the stage as they perform and Miss Liz often performs in vintage clothing which brings an old timey vibe to their show that accompanies Mr Jared’s clawhammer banjo style.
They are without a doubt one of the most active bands in the independent Roots Music scene today playing over 250 shows a year and rarely having a “night off”. THEY ARE what their first album says they are..”Addicted To The Road”. I first remember them both being backup musicians with Bob Wayne and his Outlaw Carnies before they met one another and I didn’t get to know them personally until they began playing with Jayke Orvis. Jayke was a former member of the .357 String Band and had recently went solo and formed the “Broken Band”. They joined James Hunnicutt and became a solid classic lineup loved by thousands for what they were…a well oiled music machine. The Urban Pioneers were created as a side project to continue road shows when they were not playing with Jayke but sadly it was announced last year the Broken Band was leaving us and played their final show at Muddy Roots.
Since going out on their own they have received huge acclaim from critics and websites LIKE ME for their show quality and performance presence. I must disagree with one website that claimed Roots Music bands are not growing in musicianship and quality of production. If ANY band is the Urban Pioneers have surely gotten better with this album. Now honestly their first album was absolutely top notch in every way and much like Jospeh Huber I did not speculate they could beat it…and I was surely mistaken. Especially with Keith Roberts on bass (from Call Me Bronco) and an
added guitar player as well.
The first two songs I got to hear last year was “Praying For Rain” and ‘Tennessee Moon”. Now “Praying For Rain” is a good foot stomping slower song about cattle ranchers. It puts me to mind of old Hank Thompson songs in it’s style and the mention of the Brazos River. And as always it has some GREAT fiddle solos in it and it has steel guitar which was an AWESOME touch for it.
“Tennessee Moon” was another one I can remember hearing and honestly I enjoy their singing together and I think their songs are even more well written this time. They are focusing more on making the listener believe they are singing to one another or ABOUT one another much like couples like George Jones and Tammy Wynette did. This song was one of them but “What Takes A Woman” is a song about teasing her why it takes women so long to get ready,and I smiled as I listened further. Because it takes them so long to get ready cause she spends her day cleaning up after him! This song really fits these guys as they announced their engagement at the Muddy Roots Spring Weekender last year..and our whole community went completely nuts. They deserve to be happy and I love them both. You want an outright jam you can just drive to? Well “Chocolate Easter Bunny” is a completely crazy song and it is so unique I just enjoyed it. The guitar work on it was really great.
All together there are 14 songs total and one of the faster songs that resemble their classic sound was “Big Spike Hammer”. Miss Liz does many types of fiddle playing but she has a classic sound I can easily pick out of an album. This song has her sound most prevalent over all of them, you know how the older folks say that you cannot pick out an artists voice or style anymore? Well they never heard of the Urban Pioneers then cause Liz Sloan’s fiddle style sticks out like a rooster wearing socks and if you don’t like it you are crazy. Another song that showcased her fiddle style really well was “Something That’s Never Been Done”.
And what’s an album without a ballad song about someone dying? Well you got the “Ballad Of Charlotte And Charlie”? To be honest I don’t want to ruin the whole album for you GO ORDER IT NOW and help the band recover some of their production costs. This album will be available May 12th in physical form but RIGHT NOW you can send 15 dollars to the Paypal address info@urbanpioneersmusic.com. and you will receive a download of it until the album becomes available. Trust me this album truly is a great one and it will have a permanent spot in my players for the next few weeks. Here is their show schedule for 2015.
Fri, 24 Apr
Cookeville, TN
Char
Sat, 25 Apr
Johnson City, TN
The Hideaway
Wed, 29 Apr
Knoxville, TN
WDVX Blue Plate Special
Fri, 08 May
Columbus, IN
Yats
Sat, 09 May
Chicago, IL
Moonrunners Music Fest
Sun, 10 May
Springstead, WI
Chico’s North of the Border
Tue, 12 May
Green Bay, WI
Lyric Room
Wed, 13 May
La Crosse, WI
The Root Note
Thu, 14 May
Middleton, WI
Club Tavern
Sat, 16 May
Bayport, MN
bayport bbq
Sun, 17 May
St Paul, MN
Como Dockside
Mon, 18 May
Pekin, IL
THE HIGH NOTE
Tue, 19 May
Lafayette, IN
People’s Brewey
Wed, 20 May
McHenry, IL
Mackey’s Hideout
Thu, 21 May
Muncie, IN
Be Here Now
Thu, 28 May
Warsaw, PL
Dzik
Fri, 29 May
Praha 1, CZ
Rock Café Prague
Sat, 30 May
Vrchlabi, CZ
Psycho Therapy Fest
Mon, 01 Jun
Tuebingen, DE
Hausbar
Thu, 04 Jun
Lille, FR
EL DIABLO CLUB
Fri, 05 Jun
Geel, BE
Bacchus Cafe
Sat, 06 Jun
Landhorst, NL
Cafe Buitenlust
Sun, 07 Jun
Groningen, NL
EMG Factors
Tue, 09 Jun
Aalborg, DK
1000Fryd
Wed, 10 Jun
Orebro, SE
Casa De Anders
Thu, 11 Jun
Mariehamn, FI
Dino’s
Fri, 12 Jun
Tampere, FI
Kessan Baari
Sat, 13 Jun
Stockholm, SE, SE
Pick Up The Steam Festival
Sun, 14 Jun
Malmo, SE
Far I Hatten
Tue, 16 Jun
Berlin, DE
Bassy Cowboy Club
Thu, 18 Jun
Darmstadt, DE
Bessunger Knabenschule
Sun, 21 Jun
Oostkamp, BE
Cowboy Up Waardamme
Sun, 05 Jul
Winston-Salem, NC
HEAVY REBEL WEEKENDER
Fri, 14 Aug
Sherman, NY
Heron Bluegrass Festival
Sat, 15 Aug
Sherman, NY
Heron Bluegrass Festival
Thu, 03 Sep
Cookeville, TN
Char
