Aoife O'Donovan and Gregory Liszt of "Crooked Still" in our studio
Originally broadcast Aug. 12, 2008
When Crooked Still formed in 2001, it was a band of twenty-somethings from the Boston conservatory scene playing a genre-bending blend of bluegrass and folk. Critics raved about the sound of young Americans reinterpreting old Appalachian tunes.
Now, seven years later, with world tours under their belt and a recent overhaul of their lineup, they’re a little older, a little wiser — and every bit as innovative. Bluegrass and folk, pop and blues, maybe even jazz. They play mountain music from an old-time era, polished with percussive banjo-beats and an ethereal voice.
With us today we’ve got Crooked Still’s banjo player, their fiddler, and their singer-guitarist to put their sound in our ears.
This hour, On Point: breakout bluegrass innovators, Crooked Still.
-Jane Clayson, guest host
Guests:
Aoife O’Donovan, lead singer and founding member of Crooked Still.
Gregory Liszt, banjo player and founding member of Crooked Still. In 2006, he toured with Bruce Springsteen as a member of the Seeger Sessions Band.
Brittany Haas, fiddler for Crooked Still.
More:
Crooked Still’s official website tells the band’s story and has all the information you could want on tour dates and recordings.
Double-bass player Corey DiMario’s blog, “Play the Bass, Drive the Bus,” has a big selection of videos from Crooked Still’s performances.
This is Crooked Still performing “Captain, Captain” (also heard in today’s show) from a recent show at the Basement in Nashville:
Tags: Music
These guys are interesting and make beautiful music…but can that guy be any more annoying? He jumps into every question, cutting off the other band members and just gives precocious, pompous comments to every question posed. What, is he the only one in the band that speaks? Sounds like the others want to talk but this guy is just like “Listen to me! Listen to me talk, I am smart! Listen to me!”…jeez, like a 5 year old.
Please make sure ALL the people give comments and muzzle this annoying dude-
Thanks-
A
Posted by AL GUY, on July 3rd, 2009 at 10:20 am UTCI am an MIT biology student in lab listening to this program right now. On the spot. Great music!
Posted by Jennifer, on July 3rd, 2009 at 10:26 am UTCThe sound is great. A joy to listen to. So glad Aoifa didn’t end up an opera star!
Posted by Joan Bicknell, on July 3rd, 2009 at 10:38 am UTCHey Guys …
Great show …
as they say in Cork …LOVELY HURLING …
I love that OLD TIMEY SOUND WITH SUCH SWEET VOCALS .
All The Best ..
From a Kerryman
Posted by john oleary, on July 3rd, 2009 at 10:44 am UTCjohn
I remember listening to Crooked Still the first time years ago at Falconridge Folk Festival and immediately fell in love with the music. As I’m writing this I’m listening to Darlin Corey and it reminds me, to the cross generational appeal of the music, of when I was driving my kids to camp one summer and my youngest one, prpobably 5 at the time, would spontaneously break out into this song, saying it was his favorite. He didn’t understand the lyrics really, but the music really sang to him (and to me).
Posted by Marvin, on July 3rd, 2009 at 10:52 am UTCGreat show, we enjoyed listening in the car and again finding it on our computer. Didn’t realize it was about a year old interview.
How about an update later this fall as to what the band is up to now that Brittany has graduated from Princeton and Crooked Still sounds like they are doing more touring.
Thanks!
Patsy Munden
Posted by PM Savannah, on July 4th, 2009 at 4:25 pm UTCSavannah, GA