King Wilkie

From the outset of Low Country Suite King Wilkie boldly displays a darker and richer tone to their music and its that tone that characterizes the overall feel of their latest effort. The driving bluegrass numbers that earned the band an Emerging Artist of the Year award from the International Bluegrass Music Association back in 2004 are now replaced by thoughtful, introspective songs that seem to flow with a feeling that is best described as a slow rolling Southern river. These songs pull you in and surround you, they float above you and carry you away. But more than anything, these songs demonstrate the band�s growth not only as musicians but as song writers. Take for example the opening lines of one of the album�s standout tracks "Rockabye (Farewell Lonesome Dove)":

"Look how far the shadow grows / There is no setting sun, no path to lead the way / O how I miss those happy days / When I find some peace of mind / I�ll be on my way again / I won�t be here no more / The sun�s gonna shine on my front door...I�m gonna rock all my troubles away."

Written by King Wilkie�s two principal song writers, mandolinist Reid Burgess and guitarist Ted Pitney, "Rockabye" is filled with an aching beauty, a longing, and a sense of journey that seems to be born out of a great deal of soul searching and maturity. Adding to the desired effect is the crystalline sound crafted by producer Jim Scott, who allows the music to weave into one but still manages to highlight the thread of each individual instrument. On "Rockabye" it�s the interplay between guest steel guitarist Greg Leisz and fiddle player Nick Reeb that gives the song an added lonesome aura .

That lonesome aura makes its way into a number of the album�s best tracks and as a result Low Country Suite is indeed at its heart a somewhat dark record. But in that darkness there is always the presence of a shimmering light.

It�s almost impossible for me to pick a favorite song among the album�s eleven new cuts, but if forced to choose one I�d have to say that "Savannah" with its wonderfully heartbreaking vocals shines above the rest. Stepping into the spotlight for the band this time around is another of King Wilkie�s stand-out performers, guitarist John McDonald. "Savannah" is one of two songs that McDonald co-wrote with band mate Burgess and it�s also this duo that shares many of the band�s vocal duties. When put together their two voices bring to mind the best of countless duets that populate much of the early years of country music from the Delmore Brothers to the Louvins, to the Monroes, and on and on and on...but here on "Savannah" it�s McDonald who does most of the song�s heavy lifting. Sounding like a lost gem from Ryan Adams�s solo classic Heartbreaker, the vocals are at times a whisper of wind and at other times a strong declaration of wounded desire. By the time the harmonica comes in following the initial chorus, the strength of McDonald�s voice seems to build with each passing verse while behind him the music rises to meet each new lyric.

And while much of Low Country Suite is filled with an inward looking, confessional tone, that doesn�t mean that the boys in King Wilkie have forgotten how to let it all hang out. If the fans of the band�s old bluegrass ways are looking for a little something to make them rejoice then they�ll have to check out "Wrecking Ball" highlighted by Abe Spear�s ringing banjo and a host of driving guitars and mandolins. And a little later on we come to the rough stomping rhythm of "Angeline" which finds the band channeling the spirit of the Rolling Stones� rollicking "country tonk", but dresses it up with the finest in Blue Ridge Mountain acoustic fashion.

When asked how he would describe the overall theme of Low Country Suite, Reid Burgess responded with "We�re not in Kansas anymore." The quote refers of course to the sense of surprise and wonder that Dorothy felt when she finds herself transported from her country home to the magical world of Oz. What she discovers there is herself and that her identity was inside her all along, she just had to look deep down and find it. Over the last three years, King Wilkie has been looking to find themselves as well and with their brand new record it appears that they to have discovered their true identity. As it stands now they�re just beginning to head out on a brand new road...one paved with bricks of golden yellow...here�s hoping that Low Country Suite is just the first stop of many more to come...