bluegrass Archives - KUT & KUTX Studios

“Black Sabbath” by Black Sabbath. “Bo Diddley” by Bo Diddley. “Motörhead” by Motörhead. Is there a way to introduce a new band’s brand better than by making your debut song title and project name one in the same?

Well, especially within the proving grounds of bluegrass – where instrumental choices are often near-identical and distinguishing act from act is usually a matter of vocal character – we think it’s a great strategy. And that brings us to Valley Flower. Given our place in the lush Hill Country, you might’ve already guessed that Valley Flower is based here in Austin. But that doesn’t subtract from some member’s out-of-Texas exposure and upbringings in states like Minnesota, North Carolina, and Virginia – worth mentioning since it’s clearly infused Valley Flower with some unique regional influences that help this quintet stand out in the fields of Central Texas bluegrass.

But it’s not like Valley Flower vilifies bluegrass as bland. Instead Valley Flower cross pollinates those iconic Appalachian sounds with the freshest petals of country, folk, and jam. And while gearing for a pair of shows in late August (The White Horse on the 21st and Sagebrush on the 24th), last week Valley Flower plucked out and presented its eponymous debut to the world, which quickly landed in the bouquet of Spotify’s New Grass playlist. And you can hear why.

In its earliest moments, “Valley Flower” blooms with a twangy ritardando before launching into an ode for life outside the city limits. And though it may seem like the energy wilts after a hair over two minutes…that’s just the halfway mark. What follows is a classic upbeat string sound, no doubt. But in context of the full composition, it’s plenty enough passion, variety, and instrumental expertise to convince us to keep Valley Flower in our viewfinder leading up to their upcoming inaugural EP.

It’s fascinating how many wholesome qualities folk and bluegrass fulfill: the importance of a tight-knit family, a primal connection to nature, and earning keep strictly through musical means. And to be completely honest, if those genres weren’t so overwhelmingly positive, they’d almost seem more like an antiquated cult. But instead of indoctrination and manipulative reprogramming of the meek-minded, some of the best bluegrass and folk hedonists were simply bred right into that bucolic lifestyle.

Just look at the upbringing behind mandolinist Sol Chase, who was raised by a hippie tribe that practiced their craft in European forests and festivals alike. Trips to civilization were often reserved for street side busking, a habit Chase continued after retreating to the campfires and cordillera of rural Colorado. Sol Chase essentially only appeared “on the grid” once he relocated down to Austin close to a decade back. In that time Chase recorded with Third Eye Blind, opened for the likes of Shinyribs, and basically immersed himself in Texas’ sprawling jamgrass scene as a must-hear master mandolinist.

Now, Sol Chase did decide to split town last year in favor of more wanderlust with his sweetheart Evergreen, but not before recording his solo debut with some of Austin’s finest players. The Eclectic Life of an Only Child was engineered by Yeah Yeah Yeahs/Sublime contributor Charles Godfrey, who helped instill a heightened sense of clarity for this four-song collection of personal memories, semi-fabricated fables, and emotionally-piercing parables. The Eclectic Life of an Only Child drops this Friday ahead of a 7:30PM release show at The Cactus Cafe and a late night set 1AM next Thursday at Old Settler’s Music Festival.

But Sol Chase isn’t exactly constrained by time and place, so why should you be? Like a bark-built acoustic rocket sparking up, clearing a tree line, and ascending into orbit, the Eclectic Life‘s latest single, “Moonwalker” builds up from a droning long tone into a zero-gravity instrumental gallop. “Moonwalker” wows with moody motifs, Appalachian-inspired intervals, and extensive solo sections that feature fiddle, flute, and of course, mandolin. So if you’re not ready to soak up the summer rays shining today, let Sol Chase help you flip the celestial switch into a lively lunar stroll.