‘Through The Smoke’ is the fourth album from a five-member Bluegrass-influenced ensemble from Montana.They are: Lena ‘Laney’ Schiffer (guitar); Josh Moore (guitar); Brian Kassay (fiddle, harmonica, mandolin); Matt Demarais (banjo) and Ethan Demarais (bass).
Lead vocals alternate between males and female but there’s a strong focus on harmonising. Only Ethan,the bassist, is not credited as a singer.
Although they emphasise the traditional folk roots, this is not a record for purists. “We expanded on what the bluegrass genre typically sounds like by taking creative liberties with each song, adding pop and rock influences throughout the album” says Schiffer.
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Above all, this is good-time party music even when the thoughts turn to mortality on Alive and they sing of the reality that “Ain’t nobody gonna make it out alive”.
The modern-day hoedown of Burn It Down is a good place to start in that it perfectly exemplifies the energy and devil may care spirit of the band.
The focus is more on silver linings than clouds.
Laney Lou & the Bird Dogs’ website
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