A Rock Mind Trapped in a Bluegrass Body

On Wednesday, September 14 the Narrows welcomes for the first time Chatham County Line, a bluegrass group out of North Carolina.

I interviewed banjo player Chandler Holt, who's in the photo, via email. Here's the interview:

1) You'll be playing the Netherlands, Norway and the UK in the near future. Are you getting radio airplay over there?

...It seems like the UK has gotten behind both records pretty well. Holland has been positive as well. There is a suprising amount of fan mail coming from overseas.

2) When the audience comes to the Narrows, what kind of show should they expect? Lots of energy, more mellow, humour?

It's a roller coaster ride. There are a lot of high energy tunes, but also many ballad type tunes and a few covers that most people wouldn't expect from a band like us. Everything has lots of gusto whether it's fast or slow.

3) What makes your group different and special for the listeners?

We write all our own music and we don't rely on a lot of the cliche things that plague the genre. CCL is a rock mind trapped in a bluegrass body is one way of putting it.

4) Where would the group like to be careerwise in 5 years?

Sitting on a beach in Jamaica drinking rum from a coconut w/a banjo in my hands!! Seriously, I'd like to be headlining theaters and larger concert halls while also playing the higher profile festivals as well. Really, just keep doing what we're doing now, which is traveling to awesome places and seeing folks getting energized about what we do. It's pretty awesome at times!

5) Any artists that you are recommending? Who are your listening to?

Ry Cooder's early records are all fantastic. The 88 is a new band John found that is pretty cool. I'd love to say something more obscure, but Coldplay just sounds good.