The Grascals - 'Keep on Walkin'

There's a reason the Grascals have received honors from the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) for being the Entertainer of the Year. The energy they produce through their music could likely power a small city. Their third studio album, Keep on Walkin, keeps the good energy flowing with more of those fast, sincere bluegrass songs.

Guest Pickers and Highlights

In addition to the Grascals' impressive instrumentation and synergy as a group, they also brought a few guests onto the album. They teamed up with lauded bluegrass writer Aubrey Holt for a few of the tunes on this disc. Also making an appearance are Vince Gill, Andy Hall (Infamous Stringdusters) on Dobro, and Hargus "Pig" Robbins on piano.

Indeed, Holt's compositions are some of the finest on the album, started two tracks in with "Sad Wind Sighs" (purchase/download). Another standout tune is "Indiana" (purchase/download), which tells the story of growing up in (you guessed it) Indiana. The country harmonies on the chorus drive the nostalgia and sadness further, and the lonely fiddle holds the whole song together.

Lightning Fast Bluegrass

"Rollin in My Sweet Baby's Arms" (purchase/download) is always a crowd pleaser at bluegrass shows, and the Grascals seem to speed it up so fast it just might explode—in the best possible way. It's hard to believe anybody could play the banjo that fast, leading one to believe, perhaps, that banjo picker Aaron McDaris has mechanical fingers. Of course Danny Roberts' mandolin solo and Jimmy Mattingly's fiddle give McDaris a run for his money. All in all, it's a terrific performance of this classic tune.

"Happy Go Lucky" (purchase/download) is another lightning fast tune showing off the mechanical-finger prowess of McDaris. But, it's Mattingly's early on fiddle run that's the sharpest moment on the tune. As the IBMA has reinforced for the past couple of years, the Grascals are one of the best bands in bluegrass these days. It would be surprising if Keep on Walkin' was anything less than a good old time.