Blueridge Express, CKWR-FM
Waterloo, Onatrio, Canada
Don't be fooled by their name - this band is much more than a string band. The Pigs are a solid bluegrass, old-tyme country and swing band. The 17 tracks on this project will satisfy fans of all of these genres. This is one of those CDs that seems to get stuck in your player because it's THAT good!
Dan Joseph
A Recording Review published in "Inside Bluegrass" April, 2008
By Jerry Barney
Fenceline
By The Whistlepigs String Band
As I write this, I am listening to “Fenceline” by The Whistlepigs String Band for the fourth consecutive time with only one brief break.
Dang, I like this CD. It’s got spirit, creativity, variety, all-around instrumental expertise, supercharged singing by four lead vocalists, excellent original songs (and tunes) of several types, a good selection of “cover jobs” of well-known and lesser-known songs, and a whopping 17 tracks (plus a partial “bonus track”).
In other words, it’s pretty much everything one would hope for on a recording by a foursome that plays what has been described as “bluegrass with a jug band feel.” In the accompanying publicity sheet, one of the members says, “We don’t sound exactly like anybody else, but we have the rootsy qualities of the Nashville Bluegrass Band, the style breadth of a band like Hot Rize, and energy similar to the Old Crow Medicine Show.” If that statement sounds a bit boastful, listening to “Fenceline” instead makes it sound overly modest. (Hey, these guys are from Minnesota, after all.)
Probably the known band comes to my mind after listening to the Whistlepigs is (are?) the Grascals, the hottest group in bluegrass
today. Both bands have a similar punch to their music. (I could make favorable comparisons to many other groups, too.)
Before I go any farther, I should note that The Whistlepigs String Band consists of Fred Keller, mandolin; Joel Olson, banjo; Chris Jones, guitar; and Ross Willits, bass. They all sing, both lead and harmony. Guesting on one track of “Fenceline” is State Fiddling Champ Catie Jo Pidel. Okay, to the specifics: For each individual song, the solo and harmony singing is totally appropriate; and instrumental work and arrangements are pretty much perfect. To me, though, what really stands out is the top-quality original songwriting and the variety shown in the song selection.
The original songs deal with subjects like the heartbreak of losing a family farm little by little; a tongue-in-cheek comparison between financial and romantic cheatin’; the logic of playing southern-rooted music in Minnesota; a romantic infatuation brought to an end by the end of a life; a “brave engineer” story that must be true because it would be difficult to fabricate; the heartbreaking suicide of an emotionally-disturbed person; and a comparison between traditional and contemporary religious worship. The riginal instrumentals take a variety of twists and turns, too. (Altogether, nine of the numbers were written by the band members.)
Others whose numbers are represented include Lester Flatt and Jimmie Skinner, and also less-expected sources like Blind Boy Fuller, Steve Earle and Bob Wills (in one of his catchier numbers, written by Cindy Walker). The “covers” represent real variety, too. In fact, this CD jerks a listener from mood to mood, inspiring chuckles one minute and tears the next.
If the Whistlepigs know anything about my review standards, they’ll know I’ll grouse about the sin of doing two consecutive numbers in the same key. However, the fact that the two numbers are extremely different reduces the crime from a felony to a misdemeanor. And hey, two out of 17 songs isn’t too bad.
I don’t know the Whistlepigs--whether their schedules will allow them to promote this recording in exotic place, but if it were possible, I think “Fenceline” gives the Minnesota band potential of positive recognition on a national level. In the meantime, I’d recommend it to anybody.
By the way, now I’ve listened to this CD eight times.
Review From "Sing Out!" Magazine, Summer 2008
"There are a great number of fine regional bluegrass bands out there playing at the clubs and festivals nationwide. The Whistlepigs String Band is one of the best. They hail from the upper Midwest, and Fenceline includes a number of classic and self composed songs and tunes. Best among them are the instrumental “Fred Digs Up A Hornet’s Nest” and “Sarah Jane” both written by mandolinist Fred Keller. Catch the ‘pigs at a festival near you this Summer."
Review From "Bluegrass Music Profiles,"Sept/Oct 2008
"This is old-time music recorded the old-time way--every part at once with no second takes, overdubs or fixing mistakes. The Whistlepigs String Band wanted a CD that would sound the same as their stage show and I give them credit for the ability and courage to try to do it and do it well.
They have included nine original pieces on a project that is fun loving as well as enjoyable to listen to… Overall, well-presented and likeable. I will be uploading it to my MP3 player."
Review From "Bluegrass Now,"Sept 2008
According to the liner notes, the members of Whistlepigs String Band drank "a fair amount of beer" and "just the right amount of whiskey" before recording their sophomore release. Between the requisite bathroom breaks, the Minnesota quartet managed to cut 18 loose and lively tracks in a series of single takes.
Fenceline is intended to capture the spirit of the Whistlepigs' live performances, which have been staged throughout the upper Midwest and into Canada. Initially the adrenaline rushes a bit too freely on the title track, "Walking Cane," and "Stone Broke." However, the band then settles into a solid set of bluegrass, old-time, and blues.
Fred Keller (mandolin), Chris Jones (guitar), Joel Olson (banjo) and Ross Willits (bass) capably cover Fiddling Arthur Smith, Steve Earle and Cindy Walker. Yet "Engineer Best," "That Water," and "Fred Digs Up a Hornet's Nest" (with 14-year-old fiddle phenom Catie Jo Pidel) are among nine originals that most exemplify the tandem's talents.
Closing versions of Blind Boy Fuller's "Step It Up and Go" and Lester Flatt's "Get in Line Brother," along with a sweet little hidden track, underscore the essence of the Whistlepigs String Band. These are friendly folks simply having a good time playing good music.
--Tim Walsh
Bluegrass Now, Sept. 2008
Waterloo, Onatrio, Canada
Don't be fooled by their name - this band is much more than a string band. The Pigs are a solid bluegrass, old-tyme country and swing band. The 17 tracks on this project will satisfy fans of all of these genres. This is one of those CDs that seems to get stuck in your player because it's THAT good!
Dan Joseph
A Recording Review published in "Inside Bluegrass" April, 2008
By Jerry Barney
Fenceline
By The Whistlepigs String Band
As I write this, I am listening to “Fenceline” by The Whistlepigs String Band for the fourth consecutive time with only one brief break.
Dang, I like this CD. It’s got spirit, creativity, variety, all-around instrumental expertise, supercharged singing by four lead vocalists, excellent original songs (and tunes) of several types, a good selection of “cover jobs” of well-known and lesser-known songs, and a whopping 17 tracks (plus a partial “bonus track”).
In other words, it’s pretty much everything one would hope for on a recording by a foursome that plays what has been described as “bluegrass with a jug band feel.” In the accompanying publicity sheet, one of the members says, “We don’t sound exactly like anybody else, but we have the rootsy qualities of the Nashville Bluegrass Band, the style breadth of a band like Hot Rize, and energy similar to the Old Crow Medicine Show.” If that statement sounds a bit boastful, listening to “Fenceline” instead makes it sound overly modest. (Hey, these guys are from Minnesota, after all.)
Probably the known band comes to my mind after listening to the Whistlepigs is (are?) the Grascals, the hottest group in bluegrass
today. Both bands have a similar punch to their music. (I could make favorable comparisons to many other groups, too.)
Before I go any farther, I should note that The Whistlepigs String Band consists of Fred Keller, mandolin; Joel Olson, banjo; Chris Jones, guitar; and Ross Willits, bass. They all sing, both lead and harmony. Guesting on one track of “Fenceline” is State Fiddling Champ Catie Jo Pidel. Okay, to the specifics: For each individual song, the solo and harmony singing is totally appropriate; and instrumental work and arrangements are pretty much perfect. To me, though, what really stands out is the top-quality original songwriting and the variety shown in the song selection.
The original songs deal with subjects like the heartbreak of losing a family farm little by little; a tongue-in-cheek comparison between financial and romantic cheatin’; the logic of playing southern-rooted music in Minnesota; a romantic infatuation brought to an end by the end of a life; a “brave engineer” story that must be true because it would be difficult to fabricate; the heartbreaking suicide of an emotionally-disturbed person; and a comparison between traditional and contemporary religious worship. The riginal instrumentals take a variety of twists and turns, too. (Altogether, nine of the numbers were written by the band members.)
Others whose numbers are represented include Lester Flatt and Jimmie Skinner, and also less-expected sources like Blind Boy Fuller, Steve Earle and Bob Wills (in one of his catchier numbers, written by Cindy Walker). The “covers” represent real variety, too. In fact, this CD jerks a listener from mood to mood, inspiring chuckles one minute and tears the next.
If the Whistlepigs know anything about my review standards, they’ll know I’ll grouse about the sin of doing two consecutive numbers in the same key. However, the fact that the two numbers are extremely different reduces the crime from a felony to a misdemeanor. And hey, two out of 17 songs isn’t too bad.
I don’t know the Whistlepigs--whether their schedules will allow them to promote this recording in exotic place, but if it were possible, I think “Fenceline” gives the Minnesota band potential of positive recognition on a national level. In the meantime, I’d recommend it to anybody.
By the way, now I’ve listened to this CD eight times.
Review From "Sing Out!" Magazine, Summer 2008
"There are a great number of fine regional bluegrass bands out there playing at the clubs and festivals nationwide. The Whistlepigs String Band is one of the best. They hail from the upper Midwest, and Fenceline includes a number of classic and self composed songs and tunes. Best among them are the instrumental “Fred Digs Up A Hornet’s Nest” and “Sarah Jane” both written by mandolinist Fred Keller. Catch the ‘pigs at a festival near you this Summer."
Review From "Bluegrass Music Profiles,"Sept/Oct 2008
"This is old-time music recorded the old-time way--every part at once with no second takes, overdubs or fixing mistakes. The Whistlepigs String Band wanted a CD that would sound the same as their stage show and I give them credit for the ability and courage to try to do it and do it well.
They have included nine original pieces on a project that is fun loving as well as enjoyable to listen to… Overall, well-presented and likeable. I will be uploading it to my MP3 player."
Review From "Bluegrass Now,"Sept 2008
According to the liner notes, the members of Whistlepigs String Band drank "a fair amount of beer" and "just the right amount of whiskey" before recording their sophomore release. Between the requisite bathroom breaks, the Minnesota quartet managed to cut 18 loose and lively tracks in a series of single takes.
Fenceline is intended to capture the spirit of the Whistlepigs' live performances, which have been staged throughout the upper Midwest and into Canada. Initially the adrenaline rushes a bit too freely on the title track, "Walking Cane," and "Stone Broke." However, the band then settles into a solid set of bluegrass, old-time, and blues.
Fred Keller (mandolin), Chris Jones (guitar), Joel Olson (banjo) and Ross Willits (bass) capably cover Fiddling Arthur Smith, Steve Earle and Cindy Walker. Yet "Engineer Best," "That Water," and "Fred Digs Up a Hornet's Nest" (with 14-year-old fiddle phenom Catie Jo Pidel) are among nine originals that most exemplify the tandem's talents.
Closing versions of Blind Boy Fuller's "Step It Up and Go" and Lester Flatt's "Get in Line Brother," along with a sweet little hidden track, underscore the essence of the Whistlepigs String Band. These are friendly folks simply having a good time playing good music.
--Tim Walsh
Bluegrass Now, Sept. 2008