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Thread: Ronnie McCoury

  1. #1

    Default Ronnie McCoury

    I posted elsewhere how much I enjoyed Ronnie's playing on his dad's new album. but a few days ago I received the Travelin McCourys new CD. Have been away for three days listening to nothing but this album, and it has become my all-time favourite bluegrass album. HERE'S WHY.
    1 The lyrics have a modern sensibility that remains true to bluegrass traditions but incorporates ideas beyond what might ordinarily be found in bluegrass twenty years ago. The likes of Greensky have had an influence and the songs are all the better for it.
    2 The lead vocals are shared across the album which creates a good variety. Ronnie has moments where he sounds like Del, but without the same power in his voice and so they wisely support him with effective harmonies - and each time the songs go up a notch.
    3 The musicianship is second to none. There have been moments where I consciously thought I was listening the greatest group of players in the world - just outstanding. Ronnie's playing in particular stood out (but then my ears are trained to listen for mandolins).
    4 The album is over an hour long and there isn't a single track that feels like filler. Each time I came to the end I couldn't face listening to anything else.
    It is very reassuring to know that when Del eventually decides to take a rest, the band can create music as good as this. If you haven't heard it yet you owe yourself a favour. The IBMA must be rethinking their choices.

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  3. #2
    Registered User Mando Mort's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ronnie McCoury

    Right on, Darren! Particularly numbers 2 & 3 and I also love the Dead covers.
    "All of us contain Music & Truth, but most of us can't get it out." - Mark Twain

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  5. #3
    mandolin slinger Steve Ostrander's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ronnie McCoury

    I've always been a fan of Ronnie. His playing is always tasteful but not overdone. His tone is killer.
    Living’ in the Mitten

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  7. #4
    Fatally Flawed Bill Kammerzell's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ronnie McCoury

    Excellent CD. The best band I have seen live in many years. Ronnie's playing is killer. Kilby's guitar is pretty impressive, the other soloists not withstanding. Robbie's banjo is just so fluid and I'd have to say just as understated and tasteful as Ronnie's mandolin. Every time I hear Ronnie he sounds better. To me his singing voice has improved. Their harmonies are better also.
    Ray Dearstone #009 D1A (1999)
    Skip Kelley #063 Offset Two Point (2017)
    Arches #9 A Style (2005)
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  9. #5
    Registered User JAK's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ronnie McCoury

    What is the name of the new CD?
    John A. Karsemeyer

  10. #6
    Fatally Flawed Bill Kammerzell's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ronnie McCoury

    Quote Originally Posted by JAK View Post
    What is the name of the new CD?
    Travelin' McCoury's. Self named.

    http://www.thetravelinmccourys.com/new-album/
    Ray Dearstone #009 D1A (1999)
    Skip Kelley #063 Offset Two Point (2017)
    Arches #9 A Style (2005)
    Bourgeois M5A (2022)
    Hohner and Seydel Harmonicas (various keys)

    "Heck, Jimmy Martin don't even believe in Santy Claus!"

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  12. #7

    Default Re: Ronnie McCoury

    I have come to the conclusion there are two features of Ronnie's playing that give him a distinctive sound - apart from his excellence in every other aspect of playing the mandolin, he is particularly adept at the use of double stops and his chops actually sound like chords rather than the completely muted chops so common amongst other players. There's so much more of course, but these two aspects stand out in this music.

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  14. #8
    Registered User Ivan Kelsall's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ronnie McCoury

    Hi Darren - It sounds as though it's a good one to me - i might just have to buy it - however,at £18.33 via Amazon ????,
    Ivan
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  15. #9

    Default Re: Ronnie McCoury

    Hi Ivan, look in the "other buying options" section - it's £8-50 new with £1-50 postage. Worth every penny.

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  17. #10
    Fatally Flawed Bill Kammerzell's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ronnie McCoury

    I was reading the liner notes on the CD. Looks like Robbie McCoury named his three children, Monroe, Del, and Vassar. I had thought Ronnie's guitar playing son was named "Evan" from when Grisman had introduced him at the Ryman. Apparently, again from the liner notes, his first name is actually Heaven.
    Ray Dearstone #009 D1A (1999)
    Skip Kelley #063 Offset Two Point (2017)
    Arches #9 A Style (2005)
    Bourgeois M5A (2022)
    Hohner and Seydel Harmonicas (various keys)

    "Heck, Jimmy Martin don't even believe in Santy Claus!"

  18. #11
    Fatally Flawed Bill Kammerzell's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ronnie McCoury

    My purchase of the hard copy CD at Amazon came with an instant MP3 download. Love those hard copies though. So much information on the band, instruments played, guest artists, song writers, etc.
    Ray Dearstone #009 D1A (1999)
    Skip Kelley #063 Offset Two Point (2017)
    Arches #9 A Style (2005)
    Bourgeois M5A (2022)
    Hohner and Seydel Harmonicas (various keys)

    "Heck, Jimmy Martin don't even believe in Santy Claus!"

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  20. #12
    Registered User jdchapman's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ronnie McCoury

    If you have a chance, see them live. They are almost surreal in their tightness.

  21. #13
    Fatally Flawed Bill Kammerzell's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ronnie McCoury

    Quote Originally Posted by jdchapman View Post
    If you have a chance, see them live. They are almost surreal in their tightness.
    Yup. Saw them close to two years ago. Annapolis. With Jeff Austin band on the same bill. Three set show. Austin opened. They followed. Then the two groups shared the third set. They were fabulous. "Tight" is the perfect description.
    Ray Dearstone #009 D1A (1999)
    Skip Kelley #063 Offset Two Point (2017)
    Arches #9 A Style (2005)
    Bourgeois M5A (2022)
    Hohner and Seydel Harmonicas (various keys)

    "Heck, Jimmy Martin don't even believe in Santy Claus!"

  22. #14

    Default Re: Ronnie McCoury

    The opening track “Let Her Go” totally knocked me over.

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    Fatally Flawed Bill Kammerzell's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ronnie McCoury

    Quote Originally Posted by Chris Bowsman View Post
    The opening track “Let Her Go” totally knocked me over.
    Everything about this CD just amazed me. As good as I've always believed these guys were, they have actually improved exponentially from when I heard them two years ago. The harmonies are better, they are writing their own stuff, their musicianship is even better. I've heard the Dead covers a number of times but these was the best. Just real pros.
    Ray Dearstone #009 D1A (1999)
    Skip Kelley #063 Offset Two Point (2017)
    Arches #9 A Style (2005)
    Bourgeois M5A (2022)
    Hohner and Seydel Harmonicas (various keys)

    "Heck, Jimmy Martin don't even believe in Santy Claus!"

  25. #16
    Registered User Denman John's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ronnie McCoury

    Read this thread today and previewed the album on iTunes. 2/3 of the way through I hit purchase. Great stuff! Thanks for sharing!

    John
    ... not all those who wander are lost ...

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  27. #17
    Registered User Ivan Kelsall's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ronnie McCoury

    I just placed my order,so i've got some new pick-along to tunes coming up !,
    Ivan
    Weber F-5 'Fern'.
    Lebeda F-5 "Special".
    Stelling Bellflower BANJO
    Tokai - 'Tele-alike'.
    Ellis DeLuxe "A" style.

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  29. #18
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    Default Re: Ronnie McCoury

    Just picked up Travelin' McCoury's, first song has me up front and center! Love the new Del Album as well, really strong song writing on that.

    Caught them at Grey Fox this year, and a lot of times in years past its like yeah its Del its good but is the same thing every year, but this year they really played a great set, a lot of new stuff, was really a treat, and Ronnie is the MAN no questions.

    The one thing I can say about the McCoury's is they make Genuine American music.

    Thanks Darren for suggesting !

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  31. #19
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    Default Re: Ronnie McCoury

    Love that cover of John Hartford's "Natural to be Gone" one of my favorites

    really like Borderline too but the whole album is refreshing!

  32. #20
    Registered Muser dang's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ronnie McCoury

    I have to agree with everything said here already.

    I saw them play with the Infamous Stringdusters and they did the same three set setup. When everyone came out at the end I thought there was no way it could be anything but chaos, but it was great!
    I should be pickin' rather than postin'

  33. #21
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    Default Re: Ronnie McCoury

    These folks are tight. It comes from playing together for decades and doing thousands of gigs both with Pa Del and with stand in guitar players. Not to mention the thousands of hours that these musicians spent honing their individual skills. GOOD MUSIC! R/
    I love hanging out with mandolin nerds . . . . . Thanks peeps ...

  34. #22
    Registered User Ivan Kelsall's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ronnie McCoury

    What U.P. states above holds for using I/net radio stations as a source of 'pick along' tunes. Different bands / different styles,use those to pick along to & you get to know a great variety of stylings,
    Ivan
    Weber F-5 'Fern'.
    Lebeda F-5 "Special".
    Stelling Bellflower BANJO
    Tokai - 'Tele-alike'.
    Ellis DeLuxe "A" style.

  35. #23

    Default Re: Ronnie McCoury

    Quote Originally Posted by UsuallyPickin View Post
    … stand in guitar players.
    Just to give credit where credit is due, I think their days of stand ins are over. The guitarists name is Cody Kilby, and he's a baaaad dude.

  36. #24
    Fatally Flawed Bill Kammerzell's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ronnie McCoury

    Quote Originally Posted by Chris Bowsman View Post
    Just to give credit where credit is due, I think their days of stand ins are over. The guitarists name is Cody Kilby, and he's a baaaad dude.
    I know. He was with them when I saw them two years ago in Annapolis. He's not going anywhere. I recall he was with Ricky Skaggs.
    Ray Dearstone #009 D1A (1999)
    Skip Kelley #063 Offset Two Point (2017)
    Arches #9 A Style (2005)
    Bourgeois M5A (2022)
    Hohner and Seydel Harmonicas (various keys)

    "Heck, Jimmy Martin don't even believe in Santy Claus!"

  37. #25
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    Default Re: Ronnie McCoury

    Quote Originally Posted by Darren Bailey View Post
    I have come to the conclusion there are two features of Ronnie's playing that give him a distinctive sound - apart from his excellence in every other aspect of playing the mandolin, he is particularly adept at the use of double stops and his chops actually sound like chords rather than the completely muted chops so common amongst other players. There's so much more of course, but these two aspects stand out in this music.
    Plus one on the chops sounding like chords. I don't know where this total muted chops came from but I wish it would go back. Maybe those that do it ( way too many nowadays) can't chord so they just mute and slap.

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