PAT FLYNN

Pat Flynn is a well known name in the music industry not only as one of the members of the legendary progressive bluegrass band “New Grass Revival”, but also as a producer (Candace Corrigan, Hot Strings, Cowboy Dan and many more…) and as a session musician on more than 350 projects (Garth Brooks, Billy Burnette, Sam Bush, Bela Fleck, Loretta Lynn, Kathy Mattea and countless more...).

Pat Flynn, a California native, met New Grass Revival in Colorado, and was asked to join the band in 1980. He brought his rock and roll and blues background with him which gave the band a more progressive sound along with Bela Fleck’s celtic and jazz addition. This lineup brought them a world wide success and a much loyal fan base that followed them long after they were disbanded in 1989 up to this day. Frets magazine voted Pat as “Best Acoustic Guitarist” for 5 consecutive years in the 80’s and he was inducted to the Frets’ “Gallery of Greats” for winning the award for 5 years in a row.

Apart from New Grass Revival, and producing for other artists, Pat also added 2 solo albums to his resume in the recent years. The first of these two is “reQuest” and the second one is “reVision” (read the review). These are actually the first two albums of a trilogy. He worked with well known names from the industry on both of these projects including but not limited to John Cowan, Noam Pikelny (The Punch Brothers) and Luke Bulla. Both of his CD’s are now distributed nationally by Sony/Thirty Tigers and they are also available through his website www.patflynnmusic.com, or on iTunes.

We are so glad to have him as our proGuest this month. Our proGuests are industry professionals who review three songs from three independent bands/artists for us each month. Pat has listened to the tracks we selected for him, and gave us his opinions about them. We also asked him what 3 CD’s he was currently listening to and here they are:

Pat Flynn handled the reviews in a unique way and sent us a message explaining why he preferred to do so:

I originally expected to review them separately of course, but after listening through a few times, it seems that I should make my comments to them all in general. I think that my comments would be very similar for them all, even though they are pursuing different kinds of music. I hope that everyone won't mind.

All three groups sound like they are young people. They also are all pursuing, to pick a term, 'Old Timey' type music. There is the sound of young acoustic based string bands, mixing elements of bluegrass, folk, swing, and 20's/30's pop. If they are like many of the young bands that I've met recently, they are new to this kind of music. If I'm on the right track, the various members are much more familiar with metal, alternative, rock and emo, than old time music. There may even be some Dead-style fans among them. The groups in this new generation of bands are representd by the current crop of jam bands, like Old Crow Medicine Show, String Dusters, the Avett Bros., and predecessors like Leftover Salmon, Phish, even Cold Play and Widespread Panic. Nothing wrong with any of how they got here, of course, but it brings up an important issue. As I listen to the music, it seems a bit surface. There's an affection perhaps for the music, but no indication that they've done a lot of homework. The bands are more 'playing with it' than playing it, if you follow me.

I hope all the musicians here understand how important it is (assuming that what is desired is not just a pit stop, but a long career) to listen to all of the bluegrass, folk, swing jazz, and old timey string bands that came before. Starting back in the twenties and thirties,and into the fifties and sixties folk revival, there are some Masters that have played this music and have to be respected and listened to, if one wants to take the baton from here. No need for a long list of names, we all know who they are. So, I want to encourage all the bands to check out, not just their contemporaries, but those who came before. This will give them a deep vocabulary from which to make their own mark. That brings up the next thought. Don't just copy the old time or retro sound, make it your own (after you've done your history lessons). All these bands might be popular with their friends and same age folks, but none would, from the little I've heard, impress anyone with a background in this kind of music. Copying is fine as you start out, but always strive to be an original.

How do you play this music and still be yourself? Now you're asking the right question. Try injecting (appropriately) the musical thoughts and themes that you've heard growing up, that's what the masters did. Remember, if you copy from one, it's plagiarism. If you copy from five, it's research! Do your homework, become knowing, develop a good vocabulary, practice and mix up some stuff. Bill Monroe created Bluegrass, he said, out of Gospel, Blues and Country. Elvis said Rock was a blend of Country, Gospel and Bluegrass! Listen to BOTH their versions of Blue Moon Of Kentucky, and see what you think. Lastly, aim for virtuosity, not merely passion and energy (which all the bands have). Meaning: Correct the intonation problems on these cuts, strive for better tone and technique and especially timing. Honor the music you play with a commitment to quality. You still can keep the sense of humor and fun in it. But represent well!

...thanks again for the vine. Best wishes to all the groups in their musical endeavors. Guys, love the music by giving it everything you have. It will give back to you all your life.

To visit the bands' websites please click on the links below:

www.bawninthemash.com

www.pertnearsandstone.com

www.specialedshortbus.com