Over the Mountain

Local band Overmountain Men, featuring David Childers and Bob Crawford (the latter of the Avett Brothers) have a glorious new release

February 15, 2010

Courtney Devores,

Local band Overmountain Men isn't just a simple side project for Concord-based Avett Brothers bassist Bob Crawford. It's clear from the solid classic country songs that Crawford's heart was in the band's new release, Glorious Day, a collaboration with singer-songwriter David Childers, Childers's drummer son, Robert, and string picker Randy Saxon. The foot-stomping tempo and driving banjo of "Some Place Along the River" is the kind of swinging acoustic jam that'll have crowds sloshing raised beer mugs while belting the "We'll all be moving on" chorus. The picking is impressive as well on mandolin and banjo solos and the fluttery Spanish guitar on the instrumental version of "Angola." Robert Childers's experimental "aural collages" add an unusual layer between tracks. The tribal percussion, samples, and faraway screams provide a surprisingly fitting transition from the bluegrass stomp of "River" to the R&B groove of "Coney Island Express." The entire album is an eclectic, quality project.

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