Railroad Earth returned to Charlotte, N.C. for their first show here since the release of new album The Last of the Outlaws. The intimacy of The Fillmore in contrast with their last time in Charlotte, at one of the U.S. National Whitewater Center River Jams in 2013, provided a compelling performance delivered by the New Jersey natives. Even before they started, the stage beckoned the crowd forward with shallot-shaped lanterns hanging from the ceiling and psychedelic paisleys that formed a huge symmetrical bear paw.
They opened with an ode to the early railroad, “The Jupiter and the 119.” This song showcases their ability to go from whimsical string intro (thanks to the violin of Tim Carbone), straight into a deep rhythm that got the crowd moving immediately. They master the transition; first with Todd Shaefer’s effortless vocals and guitar strumming, then slowly with John Skehan on mandolin and Andy Goessling’s rolling banjo. By the time Carey Harmon comes in on the drums, the whole crowd is already dancing and singing the lyrics back to Shaefer. You could literally feel the boot-stomping energy as they went into “Cold Water,” an oldie but goodie off of their debut album The Black Bear Sessions. If you’ve ever struggled labeling Railroad Earth as “bluegrass”, this song is a nod to their roots in the traditional genre.
As the first set grooved through “Been Down This Road Before” into the tropical-sounding “Old Man & The Land,” it was clear these guys have some serious musicianship and mastery of their respective instruments (Goessling plays up to 8, including the dobro, flute and saxophone), but somehow still make it look like an informal jam session as a couple of old friends. They chugged through “Goat” and “1759,” wrapping up the first set with the sweet ballad “Hangtown Ball” and the old-time sounds of “Daddy-O,” held together by Andrew Altman’s hearty stand-up bass.
Set two opened up with “Potter’s Field,” and they went straight into the catchy hook of “Lone Croft Farewell.” Then “Bread and Water” (Goessling on banjo) and finally “Donkey For Sale.” “Carrying Coal to Newcastle” went straight into “Chasin’ a Rainbow” and then “Any Road.” The funky electric bass jam of “Birds of America” lead straight into the feel-good “Like A Buddha”.
They wrapped up the set list with “Grandfather Mountain,” that resonated well with the many North Carolinians in the crowd. Finally, they took the stage for their encore, which was more like an upbeat blessing to the enthusiastic crowd, and played “Peace on Earth.” The beauty of Railroad Earth is that they defy the confines of a particular genre. But they do evoke a commonality of Americana and folk with a flair for improvisation, similar to the Kerouac poem from which their name was inspired.
