The Mountain Firework Company

I got turned on to the Mountain Firework Company when one of you, lovely readers, posted it a link to their Web site on the Folk Music Forum. Their site has all kinds of interesting bells and whistles, but what's more impressive is the stunning quality of their great songs. At first listen, TMFC bares a striking resemblence to The Low & Sweet Orchestra (a band including former Thelonius Monsters Mike Martt and Zander Schloss, as well as, perhaps more notably, former Pogue James Fearnley). But give it a minute, and you'll start to hear more raw hints of alt.country and something even more creative than Folk Rock. And all this is instigated by a strikingly scant line-up consisting only of a guitar, mandolin, double bass, and drums.

For more info on the band and their goings-on, take a look at their impressive Flash-master Web site. To read further about their debut release, "A Rough Guide to Feeling Rough," including a full review, go here.