MOG

Here are a couple of videos from one of my favorite bands right now: The Packway Handle Band. They're from Athens, GA so I get to see 'em all the time here at the Georgia Theatre. I'm so grateful that I get to see them around here so often because I have a sneaking suspicion that they are going to blow up soon. They've been playing a lot of great shows and getting lots of great exposure out West recently and just wrapped up a tour out there.

Why do I like them so much? I can't quite put my finger on it. Tight four part vocal harmonies, no plugs/no pickups huddled around a single mic. Like old and the way used to do. I'll put it like this: instead of playing a sub-par Blackberry Blossom like so many other copycat bluegrass bands, they'll bust out everything from the Violent Femmes, INXS and the Cars, to Hot Rize, Bob Dylan, Old Crow Medicine Show and all kinds of trads.

And their originals are fantastic as well with all members contributing. If you didn't hear the lyrics you might think you were at a primitive baptist church service with a couple of snakes in your hands. Hellfire and Brimstone with wry sense of humor (due mostly in part to their fiddle player, Andrew "Heatwave" Heaton, who seems to process thought on mental planes that don't even intersect with our own). Go to Archive.org and check out some of their shows from the Fox Theatre in colorado. some great shows on there. Shelva Ann, the Story, Strangers, Mack the Weatherman, Satan's in space, Downpour, There's Somethin' Goin' on in the Graveyard (Like You Ain't Never Seen). I know there's some song about a duck that cracks me up everytime I hear it.

You know that feeling when you're having a great time at a show and the band is up on stage having just as much fun as you, loving playing for y'all and just enjoying every minute of it? Man, they bring that kind of energy and good cheer to every show I've ever seen them play. Really nice guys too.

Here's a couple videos of the band playing three different originals at the Moboogie.net loft in Denver, Colorado

The Packway Handle Band - Short Interview then a badass "Downpour"
The Packway Handle Band - "The Story"
The Packway Handle Band - "There's Somethin' Goin' On in the Graveyard (Like You Ain't Never Seen)"