Friday Videos: Karl Shifflett and the Big Country Show
Bluegrass Stomp & The One I Love Is Gone
I shared the stage three time with Karl Shifflett’s band back in 2000. This is the classic lineup with Lyle Meador on mandolin, the great Jake Jenkins on banjo (who also writes songs and cowboy poetry), Chuck Westerman on fiddle, and Karl’s son Kris on bass. You can read more about KSBCS here. They dress the part of a 1950s honky tonk bluegrass band, and have the perfect sound. They use one microphone on stage, and only four in the studio: three classic ribbon mics in front of the musicians. If you know what to listen for, you can hear the each musician step close to the mic for solos, and away during rhythm. A fourth overhead mic was used to fill out the bass. No overdubs.
I have never once seen this band put on a dud of a performance. Probably one of the most exciting bluegrass bands I’ve ever seen. I’m not sure who’s playing with Karl these days: sometime in 2001 or 2002, a number of bandmembers left. I’ve stayed in touch with Chuck here and there, and have been in touch with Jake, but as for the rest, that’s anyone’s guess.
Two minutes of MC patter, Ain’t Nobody Gonna Miss Me When I’m Gone
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