The twisted bluegrass of Crooked Jades (think "O Brother...." soundtrack)

Todays post is really courtesy of San Francisco reader Brian who saw the band Crooked Jades one night as part of SF Bluegrass and Old Time Music Festival. Brian said it best in his email to me:

"Last night at one of the first show of the SF Bluegrass and Old Time Music Fest, the Crooked Jades blew the doors off the place. Think Emmylou singing with Nick Cave. I've never seen anthing like it. From straight Bluegrass to Negro Spirituals, to Sea Shanties in three moves."

Crooked Jades are within the bluegrass tradition but are more often compared to Tom Waits and Nick Cave than to Bill Monroe or Ralph Stanley. All of their influences can be heard on the song below from the intro sounds of a Vietnamese jaw harp to the deep resonant vocals of leader Jeff Kazor to the picking heard throughout the song. The new record, Worlds On Fire, comes out in February so pick it up now here.



Sandy Boys