On the heels of their self-titled EP, Colorado based bluegrass outfit Turkeyfoot are about to drop their debut full-length album Promise of Tomorrow on June 5th. They were kind enough so send it along to me to give it a listen.
When someone says “bluegrass” to me these days, I hope to hear that traditional sound of guys sitting on a covered porch with stringed instruments…not a drummer in site. Usually, what will come out of the speakers will be the ever popular “jamgrass.” A musical layer cake of rock and bluegrass which certainly has a place in my musical universe right along side the traditional bluegrass. Turkeyfoot is the latter…and I am so glad they are.
I was afraid that tradition had fallen by the wayside and the youth had traded “from whence it came” for “new and shiny” but Turkeyfoot has not only embraced the style, they embrace and own it, learning the lessons of the past and passing them on to the future.
“I grew up hearing stories of the dust bowl and the great depression from my grandma. My grandparents pulled up stakes at a young age and started new lives for themselves. Last year, during a family vacation in California, I sat on the beach just thinking about what a couple of poor kids from Oklahoma must have thought when they first saw the Pacific Ocean and out popped the title track of our new album. I’ve always taken comfort in the way my grandparents overcame so many hardships in their lives. They never lost hope, and I think their grit has served me well in my life when times get tough. The only thing we really have is hope in each other and the future, and that theme is central to the album.”
Jordan Brandenburg, Turkeyfoot
The messages on Promise of Tomorrow are full of heartache, pain and disappointment along with the drive to push through it into the “Promise of Tomorrow.” I’d like to tell you my favorites on the album but really, they all stand solid on their own ground. Each one is unique and insightful…some will make you think and reflect on your own life, some will make you smile and some will bring you to your feet to dance and stomp. They will all entertain you to no end.
Whether you are a bluegrass fan or not, you should check out this band from Colorado who have been called “Denver’s Next Big Bluegrass Band.” I’ll second that emotion but I have a feeling they’ll grow way beyond Denver. Can’t wait for them to come to California to see them live!
Promise of Tomorrow Track List
- Another Painful Lesson
- Dark As Trouble
- Promise Of Tomorrow
- Old Shoes
- Snagglehorn Stomp
- Things You Been Chasin
- In The Mountains
- Telluride Waltz
- Westwater
- Girl From Oklahoma
- Never Been That Man
Turkeyfoot is Jordan Brandenburg (Mandolin), Michael Rudolph (Bass), Bridger Dunnagan (Fiddle), Dave Pailet (Guitar/Dobro), and Alex Koukov (Banjo) share momentous instrumental talent, an enthusiasm for collaboration, and some serious songwriting chops.
For more information on Turkeyfoot and how to purchase their new album, visit:
