For Booking Inquires:
Anders Beck: anders@waywordsons.com
(970)946-7202
OR:
Rob Sarno, Mountain High Music International
info@mtnhighmusic.com
(303)415-1958
www.mtnhighmusic.com
Publicity: Sean McCaskill
publicity@waywordsons.com
Contact The Band: Anders Beck
Phone:(970)946-7202
Email Me
2333 County Road 203, Durango, CO, 81301
A Review of The Wayword Sons and "Poor Boy's Delight" by David Smith for KDUR Radio and Colorado Bluegrass Music Society:
"Benny Galloway has been riding the great train that is America. From the south land of Louisiana, across the vast plains, running smack dab into the canyons and high peaks of Colorado. Along the way he’s seen the landscapes and met the people that have become his songs. And now the band has formed, The Wayword Sons.
The Wayword Sons are a long time coming, and now established, hopefully they will be a long time sticking around. The band is made up of Robin Davis and Anders Beck, formerly of the award winning bluegrass band, Broke Mountain, with Greg Audrulies on the keyboard, and Benny “Burle” Galloway rounding out the quartet on the standup bass. The Wayword Sons combine waltzes, driving numbers, surefire solos on guitar, Dobro, and keyboard, and true-to-life vocals. Robin and Burle handle the majority of the singing, trading nicely between Burle’s signature low end storytelling style and Robin’s clear lead; the harmonies between the two are a natural fit. The addition of a keyboard into what some would assume is a bluegrass band brings out a sound that proves how different this ride is going to be. Altogether, The Wayword Sons have all reached the level of musicianship that allows for their influences to meld into a beautiful background, while the foreground is created with each note of originality.
Over the last year the band has matured through weekly gigs at Durango’s own Diamond Belle Saloon, a few festivals here and there, as well as some very unique shows playing with the likes of Jeff Austin, Dave Johnston, Vince Herman, and Shawn Camp. With every show they treat the crowd to Burle’s original songs (songs that grow in popularity as surely as rivers rise in the spring.) But they are by no means locked into the Benny Galloway original canon. From old standards given the Wayword twist, to material from Anders and Robin, as well as from the vault of songs written by their friends over the years, The Wayword Sons take their listeners on a ride through Colorado acoustic history. It seems like this train isn’t pulling into the depot any time soon.
And now there is an album. Produced by friend and musical mentor, Sally Van Meter, “Poor Boy’s Delight” is just what your ears are needing. They are joined throughout the album by friends and legends such as Adam Aijala, Jeff Austin, Sally Van Meter, Eric Thorin, and Stuart Duncan. Many readers may be familiar with Burle’s mighty fine songwriting. It’s been recorded over the years by Runaway Truck Ramp, Fret Knot, Drew Emmit, Jake Schepps, and of course, Yonder Mountain String Band. Those who are familiar with Burle and new fans of what is becoming known as “Burlegrass” will both be pleasantly surprised by the newly recorded material. There are never heard before Burle gems such as, “Believe It” that features Jeff Austin singing a rarely heard falsetto part, adding greatly to the groove of the piece. Galloway’s beautiful Appalachian waltz (and the title track), “Poor Boy’s Delight”, is not only a perfect example of how well Burle can write a song with truth and grit like few others, but it is also a wonderful highlight of Duncan’s exceptional fiddle work. Another nice surprise on the album is the tip of the hat that Burle gives to the band members and friends with the inclusion of Ander’s Dobro piece, “Roberta”, and Robin’s, “The Numbers.” “Bound for Tennessee”, was written by Travis Book, now the bass player for The Stringdusters out of Nashville, TN. This song represents another important side of Burle and The Wayword Sons: that of friendship, building roots, and working on songs together with instruments in hand and pencil to paper. These songs, and the final product as a whole, show that The Wayword Sons are by no means, “Benny Galloway and the Great Backup Band”, but instead a tight knit group of friends that are ready to bring their music to audiences and stereos across the land.
And as for that train traveling on from festival, to saloon, to front porch, let’s end with a line from, “Beyond the Blue”. As Burle says, “When I’m so far gone I’m gonna roll this baby on.” I for one am looking forward to the ride."