There’s more to go around, so share it if you would, sings a warm male voice in the new single “Pass Along The Good”. It’s the latest offering from the ‘brewgrass’ sound of the multi-generational band Gary Brewer & The Kentucky Ramblers Featuring Jim Lauderdale. It’s an instant bop and toe-tapping sing along gem. “Pass Along The Good” straddles the line between roots and bluegrass, and side-steps the overpass to a bit of that Kentucky coal mining fire. If you want a song that lights up the night and makes you feel good, well, “Pass Along The Good” fits the bill. And then some.
The bend of the steel pedal is the perfect embellishment to the steady-beat and rhythm. The vocal crooning is contained and this sounds more like a church BBQ event, then a rowdy corner dive bar song. Within the song’s walls is a natural sense of community. The guitars – both acoustic and electric – play along like dancers across a wooden flow. The bounce of the drums, yet again that steady draw, is right there to pick up the pieces and create this whole ecosystem of organic sound that meets the electric twang. You might be thinking that there isn’t a tipping point, that the song just streams along steadily. No, there are hills and some beat drops, but for the most part that steady percussion and rhythm is assuring. It’s also quite infectious.
A prolific songwriter-singer, Lauderdale is considered a ‘songwriter’s songwriter’. He has more than 30 albums under his belt and has collaborated with the likes of Vince Gill, The Chicks, Patty Loveless and more. Gary Brewer & The Kentucky Ramblers are a family band ‘dating back six generations’. You can hear that honor and their nod to keeping the music going in the tenor of the voice and in the magic of the arrangements. They have just a tinge of nostalgia running through the center of this track. Say what you want about country music or Americana music, but in the bluegrass world it always seems to be about the feeling and the way the music makes you feel a part of the story is like no other genre. You feel a part of something – like the music tapestry isn’t just about one person. It’s about sharing an experience. I think both the music and the lyrics further illustrate that connection so well in “Pass Along The Good”.
This song has a lot ‘brewing’ for it and a generous amount of style. And like a great brew, especially amongst friends, the longer you sit there and enjoy it, the better it goes down. “Pass Along The Good” steadies the listener into a fulfilling blend of lush harmonies and a tight backing band. Just as the song suggests, it sure makes the listener feel good. This song really grew on me and with each listen I couldn’t help but keep smiling and keep riding into that steady flow of country goodness. And yes, it’s better with friends.
Chadwick Easton