Blue Moon Rising - On The Rise

by Gracie Muldoon

Blue Moon Rising - one of the hottest new groups in bluegrass music today is definitely on the rise. Getting a lot of attention is their new CD "On the Rise" which has been growing in popularity, as folks hear about the great music the group provides on this CD.

Blue Moon Rising consists of members Chris West, lead guitar and vocals; Keith Garrett, mandolin, guitar and vocals; Randall Massengill, guitar and vocal harmonies; Justin Jenkins, banjo and Tim Tipton, bass. On this CD, Randy Kohrs guests on the dazzling dobro and Ron Stewart add finesse, with fantastic fiddlin' to the project. Six of the thirteen songs were written by West, and he has done Bluegrass, right, on them. This project only proves, that Bluegrass Music continues to progress and produce some great new songs, that its history reflected in its new music, and that it is not only surviving in this high tech age, but it is growing and flourishing. Bands like Blue Moon Rising, are instrumental in seeing that, the growth of Bluegrass continues on for the new generations of b'grass lovers.

The songs on the CD are a great mix of mostly traditional and contemporary b'grass sounds. Songs listed are : This Old Martin Box,(for the songwriter in you) Papaw Taught Me,(sure to please grandfathers everywhere) The Next Big Thing, (Awesome) The Crime I'm Guilty Of, (true bluegrass love/hate story song), Cold Kentucky Night,(my personal favorite), He Arose,(a goose-bumps gospel) I Keep Callin',(upbeat tempo & FUN) Sling Blade, (sparkin' instrumental) The Old Time Preacher Man,(I know this man, you probably knew one just like him) Modern Day Outlaw, (Great!) Far Away From Home, (for the troops and those left behind) Holy Manna, (uplifting) Big Wheels Turnin' (for the everyday road warriors). WOW.. is all that is left to say!

Randall Deaton, the owner of Lonesome Day Records, has a knack for finding great talent, and signing them to his fairly new label. Lonesome Day had quite a few of their bands up for IBMA 2005 nominees for IBMA awards and that has received alot of attention from the Bluegrass community this past year. Looks like the snowball will keep rolling & growing with these LD groups, including BMR, The Boohers, Lou Reid & Carolina, Randy Kohrs, Darrell Webb, Jeff Parker, and Audie Blaylock & Redline. Best of luck in 2006 to them all.

I rate Blue Moon Rising's CD On the Rise with 4 1/2 Guitars! WOW!