I saw them a dozen times at that hillbilly bar in Alexandria. They used have great guest musicians play there with them also.
I woke up with this stuck in my head.
I don't listen to a lot of bluegrass, but as a long time Metalhead, it hits me the same way as a lot of the music I listen to does. I've always wondered why I've had a peculiar affectation for the style. I find this fascinating.
i love metal too. i think it's the speed of the playing that is similar to bluegrass. listen to any flatt and scruggs stuff and how fast they rip a song is impressive
In the beginning Bill Monroe had a successful traditional "old timey" band and eventually added Scruggs, who invented a rapid fire banjo technique. This created a new style of music, and that formula became what is officially known as bluegrass. Later the hippie influence brought in Clearance White and Tony Rice who gave the guitar a lead roll instead of an exclusive rhythm role. They also added some jazz and blues elements that purists reject as true bluegrass. Once this happened it started attracting shredders to a flatpick style because it's fast and technical and has to be clean because there is no amplification or effects to hide sloppiness. Just a player attacking scales. This also pushed the banjo and mandolin guys into overdrive.
And how impassive their face is while they are doing it.
