Rob
Ickes & Trey Hensley album
The Country Blues out now
"Rob
Ickes and Trey Hensley can seriously burn up the fretboard with some of the
most amazing counrty playing you'll ever hear anywhere."— PopMATTERS
"'Friend
Of the Devil' is a great high-energy performance of a true American classic! I
love the way they opened up the song for some hot pickin’!” — David Gans, Musician, author, host of
Tales from the Golden Road on SiriusXM and The Grateful Dead Hour
"You
come to expect incredible musicianship from Rob and Trey and they deliver
again. But you are amazed at how great
they really are."— Bill Bowker,
KRSH
"One
of my favorite records of the year and if you are going to cover an Elton John
song you better make it your own and Rob and Trey did!" — Chris Wienk, WEXT
“In
the ever changing world of country music, it’s comforting to know that the real
deal still exists.” — Marty Stuart
Nashville, TN July 8th, 2016 —
Some things you know are just meant to be, but it was still welcome news
for Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley when their debut duo
album, Before The Sun Goes Down, earned a Grammy nomination
for the Best Bluegrass Album. And with the release of their new project, THE
COUNTRY BLUES on July 8th, the pair build on the first one’s
strengths to take their unique musical conversation to an even higher level.
(8 July 2016) Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley
The Country Blues (Compass Records)
The Country Blues (Compass Records)
11 Tracks/ Time: 48:53 Country/ Americana
Fun pervades the 11 tracks, even
when the subject matter’s as mournful as the post-romance desolation of Hank
Williams’ classic “May You Never Be Alone.”
It continues through the powerfulSonny Boy Williamson blues shouter, “One Way Out,” the mixed regret and determination of Merle Haggard’s “I Won’t Give Up My Train,” into the grassy dexterity of their original, “Everywhere I Go is a Long Way From Home.”
They mix it up with insouciant funk of “Pray Enough,” imported from the Wood Brothersand the southern rock of Charlie Daniels on “Willie Jones.” Then there’s the jazzy tour de force instrumental, “Biscuits And Gravy,” written by Ickes as a kind of tribute to pedal steel master Buddy Emmons and even a nod to the Grateful Dead in “Friend Of The Devil,” a dazzling staple of the duo’s live shows. That organic approach served them well throughout the recording sessions with regulars Mike Bub (bass) and John Alvey(drums) and a select handful of instrumental and vocal guests that included the likes of Ron Block, Vince Gill, Aubrey Haynie, Carl Jackson, Shawn Lane, Andy Leftwich, Robinella and John Randall Stewart.
It continues through the powerfulSonny Boy Williamson blues shouter, “One Way Out,” the mixed regret and determination of Merle Haggard’s “I Won’t Give Up My Train,” into the grassy dexterity of their original, “Everywhere I Go is a Long Way From Home.”
They mix it up with insouciant funk of “Pray Enough,” imported from the Wood Brothersand the southern rock of Charlie Daniels on “Willie Jones.” Then there’s the jazzy tour de force instrumental, “Biscuits And Gravy,” written by Ickes as a kind of tribute to pedal steel master Buddy Emmons and even a nod to the Grateful Dead in “Friend Of The Devil,” a dazzling staple of the duo’s live shows. That organic approach served them well throughout the recording sessions with regulars Mike Bub (bass) and John Alvey(drums) and a select handful of instrumental and vocal guests that included the likes of Ron Block, Vince Gill, Aubrey Haynie, Carl Jackson, Shawn Lane, Andy Leftwich, Robinella and John Randall Stewart.
Pop Matters - Stream
Premiere: The Country Blues is exactly what it sounds
like: gently lilting country, occasionally veering into rippin’ territory but
largely staying in a more pensive mood. It’s downcast, but it’s downcast in the
nevertheless optimistic way the best folky country can be. It’s fiercely
focused on both tribulations and overcoming them, much like the music of the
greats covered here—there’s some Merle Haggard, there’s some Sonny Boy
Williamson. It broaches the divide between emotional complexity and simple joy
and pride, and for that it should be commended. PopMatters’ Sarah Zupko wrote
that “Ickes and Hensley can seriously burn up the fretboard with some of the
most amazing country playing you’ll hear anywhere. In fact, they are so good
that they could almost take on Ricky Skaggs with their passion and precision.
“We’re loving the diversity of material on this album, and were real proud to have recorded everything live,” say Ickes and Hensley.
FOCUS TRACKS:
1. Leave My
Woman Alone
2.
Ballad Of A Well Known Gun
3.
That's What Leaving's For
4.
Everywhere I Go is a Long Way From Home
TRACK LISITING:
1. Ballad Of A Well Known Gun
2. Everywhere I Go is a Long Way from Home
3. That's What Leaving's For
4. Pray Enough
5. Leave My Woman Alone
6. I Won't Give Up My Train
7. Biscuits and Gravy
8. Friend Of The Devil
9. May You Never Be Alone
10. Willie Jones
11. One Way Out
European Tour Dates
August 5, 2016 - 6:00 pm;
La Roche Bluegrass Festival (La Roche Sur Foron, France)
Aug 11, 2016 - Guitar- Repairs Urs Winkler, Gams, SG
Aug 13, 2016 - 5:00 pm;
Bluegrass Family Festival (Stetten, Switzerland)
Thurs, Aug 25 & 26,
2016 - Tonder Festival in Tonder, Denmark
Aug 27 & 28, 2016 –
Guinness Dunmore East Bluegrass Festival, Dunmore East in Waterford, Ireland
Aug 30,
2016 - Frodsham Conservative Club, Cheshire,
UK (74 Main Street, Frodsham, Cheshire WA6 7AU)
ROB ICKES has been playing bluegrass with his
much-decorated band Blue Highway for over twenty years, during which time he
has been adjudged Bluegrass Dobro Player Of the year fifteen times. Rob has
played on countless sessions, recording with artists such as Merle Haggard,
Dierks Bentley, Patty Loveless, and Alison Krauss.
TREY HENSLEY is bursting at the seams with
freshness and musical excitement. His resonant baritone voice is rich,
expressive, and equally at ease with classic bluegrass, traditional country,
and original compositions. Raised in Jonesborough, Tennessee, Trey began
playing guitar and singing when he was 10 years old. Invited by Marty Stuart
and joined from the wings by Earl Scruggs, Trey Hensley landed on the Grand Old
Opry when he was only 11.
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