The Best of Bluegrass Underground

The titular PBS-aired series featuring roots-oriented performances is filmed in Tennessee's Cumberland Caverns, located 333 feet underground. In this “best of” set, Cherryholmes leads off with a slick variant of bluegrass, incorporating traditional instruments such as banjo and standup bass, although the vocals have a Nashville sheen. Will Hoge prefaces his selections by saying he doesn't really play bluegrass, an accurate assessment, since the mid-tempo rockers he performs recall Bruce Springsteen more than Earl Scruggs. Between songs, he quips, "It's a pleasure to be trapped in a cave with y'all this afternoon." Mike Farris, who sings along with the McCrary Sisters, infuses his country-blues with gospel soul, which doesn't quite qualify as bluegrass either, but the enthusiastic audience doesn't seem to mind (with his straight, jet-black hair, Farris looks a little like Jack White). Unlike the other musicians, singer/guitarist Monte Montgomery plays a solo set with his weathered hollow-body guitar (his singing is merely adequate, but his bottleneck skills are impressive). Other performers include Mountain Heart, a string-based sextet with Celtic spirit running through their picking and bowing; 18 South, who take a Bonnie Raitt-meets-Little Feat approach to blues-rock; Darrell Scott, a soulful troubadour; Justin Townes Earle (son of actor/musician Steve Earle), a bow-tied crooner with a relaxed style; John Cowan, a yearning balladeer; mandolin player Ricky Skaggs, elder statesman of the genre; and Farewell Drifters, a harmony group who look like they dropped in from 1962 with their striped sweaters and cardigans. Presented in 5.1 surround sound, this is recommended. (K. Fennessy)