Way Up On A Mountain

After all these years, there are still some bluegrass purists who insist that bluegrass recordings cannot be authentic if the artist isn't from Appalachia. Their argument is that if artists haven't been living and breathing the Appalachian experience night and day, they won't be able to play bluegrass authentically — which is sort of like saying that artists cannot play Dixieland if they aren't from New Orleans or can't play son, mambo, or cha-cha if they aren't from Cuba. But thankfully, most bluegrass aficionados reject that sort of dogma — and on Way Up on a Mountain, lacking an Appalachian address certainly doesn't prevent Spring Creek from providing hardcore bluegrass of the neo-traditionalist variety. This band is from Lyons, CO, which is a long way from Appalachia; regardless, the foursome excels on original gems like "Slow Down," "It's Alright My Darlin'," and "Drivin' Me Crazy," and also excels on an inspired performance of the Bill Monroe-associated "In Despair." Although Way Up on a Mountain contains a few instrumentals (including the bluesy "Under the Gun" and the Western swing-influenced "Cuba Vera Swing"), vocal offerings dominate this 39-minute CD — and in fact, all four members of the band (banjo player Chris Elliott, bass fiddler Jessica Smith, guitarist Taylor Sims, and mandolin player Alex Johnstone) contribute to the lead vocals. Spring Creek's lyrics are modern (by late-2000s standards) and edgy in a way that suggests alternative country; in that respect, they are bluegrass neo-traditionalists rather than the sort of traditionalists who try to offer an exact replica of bluegrass as it sounded in the 1940s and 1950s. But Spring Creek's respect for bluegrass history is never in doubt, and the lack of an Appalachian address doesn't hurt these Colorado residents a bit on the consistently rewarding Way Up on a Mountain.