‘Rangers’ to bring unique bluegrass sound to Pittsburgh
What does North Carolina, the Best Bluegrass Album Grammy in 2013 and a legendary comedian have in common? The answer is the Steep Canyon Rangers, a North Carolina bluegrass band that will take to the stage at Pittsburgh’s Rex Theater Dec. 2.
The sextet formed in Chapel Hill, North Carolina over fifteen years ago to bring their sophisticated, bluegrass sound to the masses.
The band is comprised of Woody Platt (guitar, lead vocals), Mike Guggino (mandolin, vocals), Charles Humphrey (bass, vocals), Graham Sharp (banjo, vocals), Nicky Sanders (fiddle and vocals) and Michael Ashworth (percussion).
According to the band’s website, “A bluegrass band at their core, the Steep Canyon Rangers effortlessly walk the line between festival favorite and sophisticated string orchestra. They are as danceable as the most progressive, party-oriented string band, and equally comfortable translating their songs for accompaniment by a full symphony.”
Their 2013, Grammy awarded album “Nobody Knows You” features tracks “Rescue Me,” “Natural Disaster,” “Summer Winds,” “As I Go” and others.
Their latest album “Radio”, which came out in 2015,offers the listener a variety of musical styles, simlar to the experience of moving between radio stations.
In an interview with Eric Danton of The Wall Street Journal, Sharp said, “‘Radio’ travels the dial from top to bottom. The album tunes into the rock channel for a little while, then the blues, then country, pop and, of course, bluegrass.”
The band also caught the attention of comedic superstar and fellow bluegrass musician, Steve Martin.
Martin was impressed by the band and their music that in 2009 he asked the Steep Canyon Rangers to help him put together a band and perform with him and Edie Brickell on tour.
When the band is performing for a live audience, they promise a great show that will be memorable for everyone in attendance.
“I think we just never really have put a lot of thought into what exactly we want to call our style or what style we are going for,” said Sharp in an interview with Natalie Joseph of the Daily Press. “When we give a performance we just try to give different moments to the crowd, visually and musically. We try to make a show out of it and we use all members to create an experience for our audience.”
Joining the Steep Canyon Rangers will be the Pittsburgh area band, The Jakobs Ferry Stragglers.
Gary Antol (vocals, guitar and mandolin), Libby Eddy (vocals, fiddle and kazoo), Ed Croft (vocals and upright bass) and Joe Dep (banjo) make up the band that describes their sound as “bluegrass heavy and traditional with stirring harmonies and powerful instrumentation delivered with steaming side dishes of progressive originality and garnished with high country psychedelia and working man’s tonic.”
The Jakob’s Ferry Stragglers have opened for several musical acts including The Carolina Chocolate Drops, The Black Lillies, The Steeldrivers and more.
Tickets for the 21 and over concert are $18 in advance or $23 the day of the show and can be purchased at rextheater.com.
Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show starts at 8 p.m.