Written by Ryan Neeley
Photo by Scott Preston
When Vince Herman of Leftover Salmon recommends a band, people tend to pay attention. “High Energy, Hot Licks, Cool Tunes, a Party waiting to happen,” is how Herman described the Rumpke Mountain Boys in an interview with Cincy Groove Magazine held after Salmon’s impressive show Wednesday at the Newport Music Hall in Columbus, OH. Described as foot stompin’, whiskey spillin’, old timey, psychedelic trashgrass music from Cincinnati and beyond, The Rumpke Mountain Boys defy genre, pulling inspiration from bluegrass acts like the Stanley Brothers and Bill Monroe to Tom Waits and the Grateful Dead. Winner of Cincinnati Entertainment Awards Best Bluegrass Band award for the past 7 years and energized from their performances at some of the largest festivals in the east, the Rumpke Mountain Boys are releasing a new album on November 2nd, aptly called TRASHGRASS, the name given to their style of music, and the much anticipated album is receiving positive reviews from music critics – “while the Rumpke Mountain Boys are known for their fun-filled live shows, the new release captures the Rumpke magic well, oozing with fiery banjo picking, amazing vocal harmonies, and impressive songwriting done by all four members – Adam Copeland on acoustic guitar, Ben Gourley on mandolin, Jason “Wolfie” Wolf on banjo, and (JD) Westoreland, the lone member of the percussion section on upright bass….. Trashgrass is organic, balanced, and most of all, FUN and their energy shines through on this release. It seemed that these accomplished musicians honed their skills performing together over the course of the past year and actually ENJOY jamming with each other. – Grateful Web
But don’t think for a second that the Rumpke Mountain Boys have not worked hard to get where they are today, releasing their first major studio album since Memphis-bred upright bass player JD Westmoreland joined the band and embarking on a regional tour that will bring them to a venue near you. In fact, they are one of the hardest working bands in Ohio, playing major productions like All Good and Terrapin Hill, bluegrass festivals, mid-size venues and holding a weekly residency at Stanley’s Pub in their hometown of Cincinnati each Tuesday. Entertaining people at a variety of music festivals, where electronic dance music merges with jambands and bluegrass acts, have introduced legions of fans who would normally have never picked up a bluegrass album to download Bill Monroe or the Stanley Brothers after seeing the Rumpke Mountain Boys. The quartet is heading out on a regional tour that will bring them to a town near you, so get out and see them while you can still catch them in a smaller venue. It won’t be long until the Rumpke Mountain Boys are playing large theaters, music halls and amphitheaters throughout the country and you can brag to all your friends that you were there in that sold out club for the boy’s first major tour in support of Trashgrass. And tell them Rumpke Mountain Boy that Vince Herman sent you.
For tour information, go to www.rumpke.ning.com
