It’s time for Episode 7 of Roots Music Rambler! Join us – hosts Francesca Folinazzo, who Jason calls “Frank,” and Jason Falls, who goes by “Falls” most of the time, as we explore the real roots of the music we love.
On this episode, Ben Weiss of the Utah-based bluegrass group Pixie & The Partygrass Boys joins Frank and Falls to talk about perhaps the best bluegrass cover album of all time. The Chicken Coop, Vol. 1 is and 11-track toe-tapper that puts a guitar-mandolin-banjo-fiddle spin on everything from “Gimmie Shelter” by the Rolling Stones to The Talking Heads’ “Psycho Killer.”
Intentionally silly and fun, Pixie & The Partygrass Boys took their bars and weddings gigs and jazz backgrounds and flipped them into a novel, but serious musical take on bluegrass music. In fact, they have a new album on the horizon that isn’t as cover and gimmick-driven.
Weiss, who plays mandolin and provides some vocals for the band, joined the show on the eve of a Pacific Northwest jaunt for the group. He talked about the background of the band, their treatment of a recent version of The Nutcracker and the commonalities in jazz and bluegrass.
Frank and Falls also spent time lamenting the TikTok-ificiation of Americana music shows and concerts, from tickets to crowds, and Falls shared his experiences watching Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour movie with his daughter at a Drive-In Theatre.
(And stick around for the outtakes as he almost embarasses a former teacher!)
As usual, the two have some recommendations for new music in the Pickin’ the Grinnin’ segment as well that includes a new album from a notable Americana singer.
Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.
Some other notes and links:
Pixie and the Partygrass Boys online – https://www.pixieandthepartygrassboys.com/
The Chicken Coop, Vol. 1 on Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/album/6HNTRFB7xA4QHThFQPmUKI
The Run Pee App – https://runpee.com/
Sauerbeck Family Drive-In – LaGrange, Ky. – https://www.sauerbeckfamilydrivein.com/
The Bloodhound Gang – The Bad Touch – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xat1GVnl8-k
The River of Rosewater – Nutcracker spin featuring Pixie & The Partygrass Boys music – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqVR4JOAjHk
Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Recommendations
Sara Jean Stevens – https://www.sarajeanstevens.com/
Margo Price – Strays II (Album) – https://open.spotify.com/album/6O4somF5cgA58eOK1wWdmJ
Margo Price’s Strays (Song) – https://open.spotify.com/track/3yrWsPobebxkapvqyO6R4a?si=e3567be7d5c341e0
And be sure to get your MuskOx premium flannel shirts just in time for fall. Use the code RAMBLER on checkout for a discount! – https://gomuskox.com/rambler
Roots Music Rambler is also sponsored by Sonos. Put high quality speakers in every room of your house for a seamless listening experience while you party, work, laundry, clean and more. Go to https://rootsmusic.link/sonos to get your first speaker and experience the difference of Sonos.
Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.
Theme Music: Sheepskin & Beeswax by Genticorum
