Chains & Stakes, by The Dead South | bluegrass beads

Somewhere between Mumford and Sons and the Quebec Redneck Bluegrass Project, The Dead South has created a bluegrass niche drenched in a punk attitude which gives it all its originality. The new album Chains & Stakes consolidates the reputation of the Canadian group.

Already a Juno Award winner for Best Traditional Roots Album of the Year in 2018 and 2020 for his previous records Illusion & Doubt Then Sugar & JoyThe Dead South offers a new, even richer collection of songs.

Obviously, there are pieces that force us to tap our feet and that promise to make the members of Good Company dance, these fans who fill theaters all over the world wearing the group’s characteristic clothes – black hats wide-brimmed, white shirts, black pants and suspenders. But Chains & Stakes also contains some pearls, sometimes dark, sometimes heavy like Completely, Sweetly, A Place I Hardly Know, Tiny Wooden Box And Father John, not counting the instrumental interludes Where Has the Time Gone, Clemency And Yore which showcase the musical talent of guitarist Nathaniel Hilts, mandolinist Scott Pringle, banjoist Colton Crawford and cellist Danny Kenyon – he plays mostly standing up, plucking the strings with his fingers.

Humor is of course one of the favorite weapons of Regina’s four friends, as evidenced by Cured Contessaan apology for bacon which is likely to be a hit on stage, just like the powerful and festive Blood on the Mind, 20 Mile Jump, A Little Devil And Son of Ambrose.

The Dead South played to a sold-out crowd at MTelus in October 2022, this will certainly be the case again next December – tickets are already on sale.

Bluegrass

Chains & Stakes

Dead South

Six Shooter Records

8/10