"Clean, Clear & Strong" - Bob Doran, North Coast Journal Weekly

12 MP3 Songs
COUNTRY: Bluegrass, COUNTRY: Old-Timey



Details:
To be in the presence of Huckleberry Flint is to be in the presence of something special. Something pure and earnest and good. And thats before they start playing. Jennifer Savage-Arcata Eye. A few years ago, they were just a few friends growing up in the same neighborhood of a small town in northern California. Theyd while away many evenings playing old gospel songs and fiddle tunes, filling the house with warm, youthful harmonies. Then one day, they took their songs to an old town street corner and in the blink of an eye became one of Humboldt Countys favorite string bands, breathing fresh life into old-time music. From honky-tonk swing to tender mountain ballads, with plenty of selections pulled straight from the hymnal, Huckleberry Flint cant easily be defined by a particular genre, but rather draws from the whole cannon of traditional American music. Unlike some well-seasoned string bands, their zeal and enthusiasm shake the dust right off these antique melodies, creating a sound and charisma that draws young and old alike to kick up their heels and hoot and holler. Marybeth Taylor (fiddle, vocals), Adam Dick (mandolin, banjo, vocals), Dustin Taylor (guitar, harmonica, vocals), Kevin Porter (dobro, guitar, vocals), and Nick Hoffman (upright bass) are the bands members, and the interactions between these five form the basis of their live show. Dressed finely in old-time garb, one can hardly imagine them in any more fitting attire. Thus, to at once watch and listen to them is to be truly transported to another time and place. One of the first organizations to take notice of Hucklberry Flint was the Humboldt Folklife Society. They invited the old-timey youngsters to perform in their annual bluegrass festival two years in a row for a sold out audience. They also had the band play for a Valentines Day contra dance with over 100 dancers. This same organization brought the up-and-coming Old Crow Medicine Show to a local stage, and invited Huckleberry Flint to provide the opening set. Several local radio stations have also seized on these musicians popularity, playing their recordings daily, thereby linking Huckleberry Flint to an abundance of performance opportunities throughout the surrounding counties. Huckleberry Flint has spent their first two years with a booked schedule. Their shows include festivals, fundraisers, dances, farmer's markets, weddings, business events, coffee houses, church services, and just about any place that offers an audience. Now, with the 2004 release of their debut album, A Brief and True Report Concerning Huckleberry Flint, they are taking their show on the road.