The Dirty Grass Players Deliver Powerful Prog Bluegrass Chops To Baltimore’s Recher Theatre (SHOW REVIEW)

Photo by Chris Gamber

The Dirty Grass Players brought their unique brand of progressive bluegrass to the Recher Theatre, in Towson, MD, on Friday (1/20) with an adventurous set teeming with a choice blend of the group’s jamgrass-infused originals and some surprising covers. 

Celebrating the recent release of the Baltimore-based quartet’s highly anticipated sophomore studio effort, Shiny Side Up, a follow-up to the group’s impressive 2020 debut album Beneath the Woodpile, Friday night’s show marked the latest in a series of high-profile gigs for the newgrass firebrands, including a legendary performance at Delfest last summer as well as an appearance on NPR’s nationally syndicated program Mountain Stage earlier this month. 

Following a pair of inspiring opening sets from similarly-progressive folk and bluegrass ensembles Wicked Sycamore and Fireside Collective, the Dirty Grass Players took to the stage shortly after 10pm to a near-full house and immediately kicked things into high gear with the title track from their latest album. 

“Shiny Side Up”, a bluesy banjo-driven original number, did a fine job showcasing the band’s formidable instrumental and vocal abilities, particularly those of banjoist and lead singer Alex Berman, whose powerful delivery added an element of authenticity to the material. 

A quick, and hilarious, tease of George Michael’s “Careless Whisper” from guitarist Ben Kolakowski preceded a red-hot take on the Shiny Side Up instrumental “Pockets In Retrograde” which featured Kolakowski, Berman, and mandolinist Ryan Rogers making some impressive runs up and down their respective fretboards. 

“Carlos”, an endearing tribute to the band’s beloved touring van composed by Rogers produced some impressive three-part vocal harmonies thanks, in part, to bassist Connor Murray. As the newest member (he took over bass duties in March 2021) Murray has played a pivotal role in helping define the group’s unique sound with a strong vocal presence as well as his employment of an electric bass, which adds an extra layer of “oomph” that is sometimes missing from like-minded acts.

A trio of Beneath the Woodpile tunes, “When I’m Free”, “On the Other Side” and “Grand Voyager”, the latter of which is an instrumental powerhouse that has become a bonafide show-stopper over the course of its live performances, preceded the first cover of the evening, a scorching rendition of Bill Monroe’s “Rawhide”. 

A reggae-tinged interpretation of the Talking Heads’ “This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)” stood among the evening’s highlights with Kolakowski deftly reimagining the song’s iconic melody on guitar before leading the group into an extended jam that was oozing with psychedelia. 

The remainder of the set evinced the band’s strong songwriting skills with material that spanned a wide array of styles. From the relatively somber “Cold Wind Blowing”, which featured another round of serene vocal harmonies, to “Backwards Drifting”, a longtime jam vehicle for the group that contained snippets of Afroman’s “Colt 45” and the Sugarhill Gang’s “Rapper’s Delight”, the band managed to keep things fresh and interesting for the full course of their nearly two-hour performance. 

Following a set closing instrumental take on another Shiny Side Up track, “Riptide”, the group invited members of Fireside Collective on stage for some on-the-fly performances of Bill Monroe’s “Roanoke” and the Grateful Dead’s “Eyes of the World” before also including Wicked Sycamore for an emotional rendition of John Prine’s “Angel from Montgomery”. 

After managing to earn a reputation as “Baltimore’s best-kept bluegrass secret” since their 2015 formation, The Dirty Grass Players finally seem to be on the verge of a well-deserved national breakthrough. If Friday night’s performance was any indication, this band will be more than ready for the spotlight. 

Photos by Chris Gamber

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One Response

  1. It’s amazing The Recher was still standing after The Dirty Grass Players finished playing—they brought so much heat, I thought the place would catch fire. Sky is the limit for this band!

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