Black Twig Pickers

Exploring the stringways at the intersections of Virginia and Kentucky, Alabama and West Virginia, eternal one-song and Turkey in the Straw.

BOOKING/PROMO: Download the Black Twigs' one-sheet. And here's some larger photos: one, two, three.

Some MP3s from "Hobo Handshake":

• Boatsman
• Paint Bank
• Old Joe Clark

There are more songs from "Hobo Handshake," more pics and other such e-ephemera on the recently refreshed Black Twig Pickers myspace site.

And VHF Records has sound samples up here and here.

New 7-inch w/Jack Rose OUT NOW: Brand new and very limited (as in released and out of print in 24 hours) vinyl of unavailable-elsewhere group takes on "Revolt" and "Soft Steel Piston." Click here for details. There should be a vinyl EP of more Jack & Black Twigs material along at some point.

New cd, "Hobo Handshake," OUT NOW:

The Black Twig Pickers Hobo Handshake vhf#108 CD 783881-0108-2-4

4th full length from the Black Twigs finds a slightly reshuffled lineup and a renewed emphasis on kicking out raw, percussive takes on both Appalachian traditional and original material. With Ralph Berrier Jr.’s retirement from the group, Mike Gangloff has added fiddle to his already considerable arsenal, and along with stalwart guitarist Isak Howell, brought in Nathan Bowles (Spiral Joy Band) on percussion and several guests who make substantial contributions to the party. The Twigs work the fine line between the Friday night old-time dance party and the wellspring of grim and evocative tragedy that runs through the tradition, delivering these laments, travelogues, and wild whoops with sawing, rocking joy. This is a sprawling collection, with visceral group takes on “Crossing the James,” “Cherry River Line,” and “Old Joe Clark.” Charlie Parr and Lane Prekker join the crew on “Last Kind Word Blues,” “Train 45” and “Twin Sisters” (first essayed by Pelt way back in '98 (Ed. note: the recording on Pelt's "For Michael Hannahs" was Mike and Ivanhoe fiddler Coolidge Winesett)) with Parr’s amazing, ragged voice leading the charge over Bowles and Prekker’s driving percussion. Along with the full group material, the Twigs throw in other welcome oddities such as Howell’s Fahey-like “At the head of Every Creek,” “P.E.A. Vine Blues,” an arrangement of a tune from Portuguese Africa, and a book ending solo version of “Crossing the James,” with Gangloff on baritone banjo. (To order, click here for the catalog page.)

Tracks:

Crossing the Jamees, Rattletrap, Cherry River Line, Last Kind Word Blues, Glory in the Meeting House, At the Head of Every Creek, Stay All Night, Boatsman, Paint Bank, Walking in the Parlor, Callahan, Train 45, Never Miss Your Mama, Twin Sisters, Sally Coming Through the Rye, Old-time Fire on the Mountain, Old Joe Clark, Old Joe Bone, Frosty Morning, P.E.A. Vine Blues, Crossing the James

And some other stuff:

This from "Jumpin'" Jim Shea in Charlottesville:

"Dear Mike, A ditty for you and the crew, to the tune of "Old Dan Tucker." Now, you all don't have to sing it, you know. I sing it three or four times a day and have just about worn it out. You may appreciate the spirit, if the poetry does fall a little short of magificent. Best to you and all the Pickers!

Out to Lunch?

Oh, the Black Twig Pickers is a rowdy bunch: They sing with gusto and they play with punch, with a washboard's rhythm and a fiddler's bow and a picked guitar and a plucked banjo,

so, get up and dance with the Black Twig Pickers! Don't sit around like city slickers! They twang with gusto and they pluck with punch and they're not too picky if you take 'em out to lunch!"

Indeed.