This is The Benders playing “Old Mason’s Bridge,” from their first album, The Benders. The Benders (not to be confused with the Morning Benders) is a bluegrass band from Massachusetts. They are good at their job, whether it’s playing fast numbers like “Stole My Tools,” or sadder standards like “Deeper in the Well,” the Benders play it like they mean it.
“Old Mason’s Bridge” is a murder ballad, a little subgenre of songwriting that I’m very fond of. It’s creepy and dark like a murder ballad should be, and fun to listen to, like bluegrass should be.
Speaking murder ballads, last year I wrote briefly about “Snake Bite” as performed solo by the Benders’ banjoist, Bow Thayer. It turns out that murder ballad was originally recorded by the Benders, not Thayer solo. It can be found on their 2003 album, Mountain Radio. The Benders’ version is less country and more bluegrass, but both recording are worth their weight in gold.
All three of the Benders’ albums are worth listening to front to back. None of them fall into the bluegrass trap of having twelve songs back-to-back that sound exactly the same. They all have their typical bluegrass songs, but every album is spruced up with killer originals that don’t all have the same “Rollin’ in my Sweet Baby’s Arms” chord progression.
It’s a small-time band, so if you can, buy their stuff. It’ll be worth the dollars.
Sincerely,
Reverend Harris
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