Though they may be led by Woody Guthrie’s incredible grandson on vocals and guitars, Cole Quest & the City Pickers are a true ensemble collaboration, sporting buoyant harmonies and virtuoso harmonica, Dobro, and banjo playing, and with multiple members singing lead. And like Cole’s grandfather, the folk and bluegrass group calls NYC home. In fact, Quest didn’t even play folk and bluegrass music until one day when he wandered into a pub in Astoria, Queens, to hear a band playing one of his grandfather’s songs.
Their first album in four years, Homegrown, will be released on July 18 via Jalopy Records. It features three Woody Guthrie songs (including Woody’s iconic “Pastures of Plenty”), a Woody Guthrie/Arlo Guthrie co-write, songs by Peter Rowan and John Hartford, and new songs written by Quest that draw on tradition but come from his own life experiences.
“I Ain’t” is a single from the band’s upcoming LP, and one of the originals penned by Quest and the gang. The band beautifully blends traditional bluegrass with a sense of modern urgency, highlighting the unique ground the band can cover. Without hesitation, the twangy collective launches into an anthem of self-reflection and learning your personal limitations. High-flying guitars and soaring harmonies complement each other to give the tune that nostalgic bluegrass feel, but once those stunning harmonies kick in, Quest and The City Pickers bring you right back to modern times. “I Ain’t” battles the idea of instant gratification and opts to look at the larger picture, and what they say is laid out beautifully. The band croons about self-discipline in a way that keeps the tune from sounding preachy. Instead, the listener is thrown into a head-spinning display of The City Pickers’ prowess as acrobatic harmonica melodies collide with the toe-tapping tempos. Homegrown is just over a month away, and “I Ain’t” is the exciting preview of what is sure to be a landmark release. Quest and The City Pickers whittle everything down to the necessary and emerge with an anthem for all on this lively performance with impeccable musicianship.
“‘I Ain’t’ was born in a moment of personal and societal upheaval—when activist voices were rising, and I was reckoning with my own health and habits. I found myself asking: What should I be doing to help right now? All I could think of were things I shouldn’t be doing,” explains Quest. “That shift led me from a ‘To Do’ list to a ‘To Don’t’ list. This song is a reminder to myself that” sometimes the best way to move forward is by stepping back, listening deeply, and choosing what not to do.”
