Dry Branch Fire Squad Mixes Humor, Bluegrass
World-class mountain music and down-home humor come together in one of the hottest touring bluegrass bands around, the Dry Branch Fire Squad.
The band is fronted by Ron Thomason who, in addition to lead vocals, plays mandolin and banjo, and intersperses quips and funny stories as introductions to the music. These jokes are shallow-end-of-the-gene-pool hillbilly classics that poke fun at rural life while unifying the greater human experience.
But this is not a solo act with some back-up talent along for the ride. Each member of Dry Branch Fire Squad brings depth to the stage. Suzanne Thomas plays guitar and clawhammer banjo, and takes on the role of lead singer occasionally while also performing duets with Thomason. She has been called “one of the best singers in bluegrass” by Bluegrass Unlimited.
The husband-and-wife team of Mary Jo and Charlie Leet add guitar and string bass to the instrumentals, and harmony vocals to the choruses.
The addition of Bill Evans brings on board one of the most respected banjo players in the bluegrass business. Evans is an ethnomusicologist and associate director of the International Bluegrass Music Museum in Owensboro, Ky.
The Dry Branch Fire Squad is known for high-energy presentations of lesser-known tunes and adhering strictly to the traditional aspects of bluegrass, old-time and Southern gospel music. They pride themselves on capturing the emotion that stimulated the creation of bluegrass and mountain music and remaining true to tradition in performing their material.
Since its inception in 1976, the group has toured the United States and Canada, and, as part of a cultural exchange program for the United States, has been to south Asia and a 23-nation folk music festival in Morocco. The group also hosts the annual Winterhawk Bluegrass Festival near Hillsdale, N.Y.
The Dry Branch Fire Squad has recorded nine albums for Rounder Records and has 10 more on independent labels. They have played every major bluegrass festival in the country, regularly acclaimed as the most entertaining band around.
xxxx CONCERT The Dry Branch Fire Squad will perform at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday March 11 at The Met. Tickets are $12 for adults and $6 for children under 12, available at Street Music, the Sound Hole and the Inland Northwest Bluegrass Association (238-4971).