Search - The Morgantown Rounders :: The Morgantown Rounders

Plenty of rootin' and tootin' on their debut album

J. Ross | Roseburg, OR USA | 12/18/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Playing Time - 37:29 -- Rounders can refer to people of many, mostly undesirable, characteristics - informers, convicts, and lazy loungers. This group even sings about such a rounder in the song, "Sugar Babe." But, in this album's case, there's another definition of the slang term that certainly applies -- pleasure seekers. "Dance All Night With A Bottle in Your Hand" is the kind of perfect signature tune for the Morgantown Rounders to demonstrate their melodic mettle to give them and us gratification. Their set of twelve traditional rousers embraces many sounds from the past, tapping the roots of Appalachian and Cajun music. Band members include Rachel Eddy (fiddle, guitar, triangle), Scott Phillips (banjo, Cajun accordion), Jason Jaros (guitar, mandolin), and Walt Sarkees (bass). Instead of singing, the liner notes indicate that band members sang, cackle, holler, and squawk.



It's a treat to hear these younger funsters presenting traditional music in West Virginie. Rachel Eddy sings with a precocious style on "Uncle Ned" and "Silver Dagger." If the full-time private music teacher's fiddle is the spark plug of this band, then it is Scott Phillips' clawhammer banjo that is a driving piston. Operating on all cylinders, the quartet knows that a successful old-time band has to operate much like a well-oiled engine. In true old-time fashion, they sing with biting vengeance. Jason Jaros' previous performance experience has been with Halftime String Band and The Hillbilly Gypsies. Imparting a rock and roll edge to upright bass, Walt Sarkees is affectionately known by his bandmates as Captain Rounder.



While some songs work better for them than others, I'm certain that The Morgantown Rounders' music will further develop and mature in the years ahead, and they'll find their niche in the old-time music scene in their neck of the woods. There's plenty of rootin' and tootin' on their debut album, and I'm certain that they're a big hit at parties and watering holes. This is real heel-kicker-upper music. (Joe Ross, staff writer, Bluegrass Now)

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