[rating=4.00]
Emmitt Nershi Band is a newly assembled outfit that is comprised of two of the founding members of Colorado’s biggest acts on the 
jamband circuit, Drew Emmitt (Leftover Salmon) and Bill Nershi (String Cheese Incident). On their studio debut, New Country Blues, they deliver a slice of breezy Rocky Mountain Americana complete with their blend of pickin’ and grinnin’. The majority of the album’s tracks were written over a three day songwriting retreat in Rocky Mountain National Park in Estes Park, Colorado.
The title track, "New Country Blues," features Del McCoury Band’s, Jason Carter, on fiddle and features Emmitt’s trademark high lonesome vocals and it also gives the band a chance to flex their bluegrass chops. "Surfing the Red Sea" and "Mango Tango" blend dawg-style grass and jazz that are not your typical instrumentals found on a bluegrass release. The album features some breathtaking mandolin work by Drew Emmitt (which we don’t get to hear on many of Emmitt’s solo studio albums). Bass player,Tyler Grant gets a chance to show off his flat-picking skills on guitar on his country romp, "I Come from the Country." Bill Nershi comes to the forefront on "These Days," with an irresistible hook and melody. Emmitt Nershi Band’s, New Country Blues, sets the bar high by creating the standard for newgrass music to come.
