Preview: Rumpke Mountain Boys, Dirty River Ramblers / March 20 / Jackie O's
By Marlena Scott, Features Editor
Jackie O's / Thursday, March 20, 2015
The rustic, wooden atmosphere of Jackie O’s will be enhanced this Thursday by a wave of jam-grass with Rumpke Mountain Boys and Dirty River Ramblers.
The bands are touring extensively this spring hitting Colorado, Arizona and Pennsylvania, following multiple dates in Ohio including Rumpke Mountain Boys’ hometown, Cincinnati, and Dirty River Rambler’s hometown of Omaha, Nebraska.
Dirty River Ramblers played a show in Ohio at the Deadgrass Festival near Medina last year and look forward to returning, as well as playing new cities.
“Wednesday night in Columbus, at the Woodlands Tavern, we'll be playing some longer sets, which is fun. Athens, of course, but we're going to give people a good show no matter where we're at. These are all new cities for us to play. This isn't our longest tour, but it's the longest we've had since getting our bus. The scenery in Ohio is always nice, and I'm looking forward to seeing more of it during daylight,” said Josh Krohn, the man behind a fiddle, guitar or banjo for the River Ramblers.
According to the Dirty River Rambler’s website, Krohn grew up in a musically-interested family. He started playing the fiddle, leading him to punk guitar riffs and speed metal bass lines through his high school years and eventually returning back to acoustic music, in which he currently specializes.
“I'm thrilled that so many people have listened to it and enjoyed it. The great reviews and the award were humbling to receive,” Krohn said.
Rumpke Mountain Boys are as complex and original in delivery as the Dirty River Ramblers, combining jam elements with traditional bluegrass and a positive, energetic presence on stage. Over 17,700 fans on Facebook post regularly on the site after shows with praise and excitement for the Boys. It describes itself as “Foot-stomping, old-timey, whiskey-spilling, psychedelic Jamgrass!”
There is no set list rehearsed for specific shows for the Rumpke Mountain Boys, just an instrumental groove that is comparable to the likes of the Grateful Dead. The lack of rehearsal and over-organization provides an honest and genuine experience of original sounds. Krohn plans to approach the Athens show in the same fashion.
“I think we can also expect some collaboration with the Rumpke boys, jamming on some Dead tunes and some bluegrass,” Krohn said.
Music starts at 10 p.m.
