This is the Vicki Vaughn Band’s eponymous and debut album. It’s high-energy bluegrass, country and Americana. Vickie Vaughn Band is an independent release and was produced by the great Ronnie McCoury (son of Del and mandolin player extraordinaire).
Members of the band are Vickie Vaughn (Vocals/Bass), Justin Hiltner (Banjo/Vocals), Zach White (Guitar/Vocals), Casey Campbell (Mandolin/Vocals) and Maggie Estes (Fiddle).
Vickie Vaughn has been singing most of her life and she has a big voice. Moving from western Kentucky to Nashville, she started playing bass and immersed herself in musical study along the way.
The Vickie Vaughn Band was formed and has consolidated its standing with a solid slate of touring and an IBMA Momentum award for Band of the Year.
Vickie Vaughn Band, the album, is short but sweet. Six tracks run at just over 21 minutes combined, four of which are band member originals, there’s a song from Cahalen Morrison and a rendition of A.P. Carter’s “Workin’ On A Building”.
“This Dance” is a traditional bluegrass, engaging opener with delightful harmonies. “Northbound 205” is a lovely ballad with charming fiddle and tight instrumental interplay. The rendition of “Workin’ On A Building” is wonderful with Vaughn’s voice stretching out and given great vocal support, an extended tribute to Carter, the head of the First Family of Country Music. Perhaps the best track is “Congaree” which is a fast and exciting instrumental where you really appreciate the quality of the playing from this quintet. Turn it up and enjoy! “Buy All The Roads” is also a highlight – another slower number, this one written by Vaughn about her heartfelt sadness about leaving the land (in western Kentucky) and coping with city life. “Won’t Be Long” follows in a similar vein, this tale about family and beliefs.
Animated, cohesive and traditional. Vickie Vaughn Band is a joy.
According to the tour dates on the band’s website, there will be a show in Nashville on 25 September, the week after I leave there to return to Australia. Now that’s annoying. I suspect that a live show from Vickie Vaughn Band would be spirited and highly satisfying.
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