CD Reviews for 09/14/09 – Amy Speace, Emmitt-Nershi Band
Compact Capsules for Sept 14, 2009
by Dan Ferguson
Amy Speace
The Killer in Me
Wildflower Records
The 2006 release Songs for Bright Street from Amy Speace was a breakout of sorts. The combo of solid, headstrong original songs and vital assists from name players like Gary Louris (Jayhawks) and James Mastro (The Bongos) found Speace forging a sound that piqued ears on the Americana front. Mining similar sonic terrain, the new The Killer in Me finds Speace opening a vein and letting her emotions pour out in song. The result is a dark and deep outing on which Speace takes another giant leap forward as a writer and singer. With a move to Nashville coming soon, one only wonders how long it’ll take for a Faith Hill or someone of that ilk to discover Speace’s songwriting talent. Visit www.amyspeace.com.
Emmitt-Nershi Band
New Country Blues
SCI Fidelity Records
Mix one part Leftover Salmon and one part String Cheese Incident and you get the Emmitt-Nershi Band. Call the debut from the duo titled New Country Blues a side project of newfangled bluegrass music on which two vital components of those aforementioned jam bands, Drew Emmitt and Bill Nershi, join forces with winning results. Not surprisingly, the recording leans towards the newgrass side of the tracks featuring an appealing assortment of tunes loaded with sweet harmonies and sizzling chops.
The Emmitt-Nershi Band appears at the Calling Planet Earth Festival at Ninigret Park in Charlestown, R.I. on September 26.
(Dan Ferguson is a free-lance music writer and host of The Boudin Barndance, broadcast Thursday nights from 6 – 9 pm on WRIU-FM 90.3. He lives in Peace Dale and can be reached at [email protected].)
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