Mossy Creek
www.mossycreek.org
©2005

Song list: Catfish John, Where The Rubber Meets The Road, Mossy Creek, Sleep With One Eye Open, Someday Soon, Blackberry Blossom, Cold Memory, Louisiana Moonlight, Train Train/Orange Blossom Special, You Were On My Mind, Fishers Of Men.

Mossy Creek has been only been a band since July 2003, but they've already won first place in the Emerging Artists Competition at the Bluegrassin' in the Foothills Festival in Plymouth, California. Such musical talent doesn't come overnight, and the band members have been involved with music for most of their lives. Pat Haley and Dean Mott have been in a rock and roll band in Chico for years, but the acquisition of a banjo and resonator guitar started the pair thinking about starting a bluegrass band. Their buddy Kim Gimbal had started learning mandolin, and with half the band assembled, they started looking more musicians. Pat didn't have to search very hard. His daughter Erin has one of those voices that can grab a song and shake it, and her voice training and theatrical work have made her the star show-stopper in the group. Bassist Lancer Hardy adds the rhythmic foundation to the group and former state fiddle champion Christine Hogan adds the icing to this very special dessert of a band.

The album ends with a song that showcases the group's marvelous harmonies: "Fishers of Men." Erin, Kim, Pat and Dean blend in a sound that would shake the wooden rafters of any country church. It's too bad this is the only gospel song on the album since their sound is so top-notch. But these balladeers have cast their nets far and wide for some great songs. They revive two Ian and Sylvia songs (Someday Soon and You Were On My Mind) with Erin singing lead and the band puts a strong bluegrass twist to the tunes with some blended fiddle, banjo and dobro leads. Christine's fiddle sets a fast pace with "Orange Blossom Special" and "Blackberry Blossom." "Mossy Creek" must be at the base of "Rocky Top" - the song is a bright, bouncy travel ad for the pleasures of a country homeland in Tennessee. With a win in the band competition and a showcase spot at the IBMA, this band is set to "go places!"