American Bluegrass Master's Tour
by Kyla Cook - Chugiak High School
The American Bluegrass Master’s Tour opened to a rowdy blue jean and cowboy hat crowd, excited to enjoy a night of some of the most prestigiously acclaimed blue grass players in the country.
First on stage was the Dean Osborne band. Dean Osborne, Curtis Burch, and Leona Tokutake were joined on stage by a mandolin player, a bass fiddle player and ton of energy and humor. After a routine of food related jokes the band opened with a rowdy rendition of Ridin’ Midnight Train. Between songs, Dean Osborne introduced each band member in turn. His magnetic personality and clean humor was met with plenty of laughs and applause.
Next, the band was joined by J.P. Mathes who brought a whole new jolt of energy to the Atwood stage. He wasn’t afraid to sway and stomp to the music. He was featured with his wife, Leona Tokutake, for a duet Soldier joy. Before Intermission the whole band came back onstage to ask anyone in the audience who had ever served in the armed forces to stand so the band could thank them for their service.
The second half opened with a chorus of yee-haws from the audience to welcome the Lonesome River band. They gave off a decidedly different feel than the Dean Osborne band. The Lonesome River band’s attire of jeans and western feeling shirts more closely matched the audiences own clothing choices than the jacket and tie ensemble featured by the first performers. The Song choices gave off a different feeling as well. Where the first band frequently played “blue grass gospel” The Lonesome River band chose songs with themes of, in the band’s own words: “killing”, a “Mean Old Women”, and a “Good Ol’gal”. However, the bands proved these differences were, in fact, reconcilable. All performers got up onstage together for one last song, “Nine Pound Hammer”.
Overall, both bands kept the audience energized and wanting more. This evening of Bluegrass was definitely not wasted on it’s Alaskan audience.
The American Bluegrass Master’s Tour
Anchorage Concert Association
Saturday, November 6, 2010 at 7:30pm
Atwood Concert Hall
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