Recommended for Americana Fans: Amanda Ann Platt and the Honeycutters


I spend many hours exploring artists unfamiliar to me on Spotify. This week I came across this band. I’d never come across any mention of them before and thought other Americana fans here might enjoy them.

New York born and transplanted to North Carolina, Amanda Ann Platt is an excellent songwriter who’s asserted she’s as much influenced by Springsteen and Tom Petty as by Classic Country artists. Although a cursory listen might suggest the music is Country (due to the presence of pedal steel and mandolin and the overall rhythmic feel), the writing is more sophisticated and not hobbled by adherence to familiar Country tropes. In other words, it stands up to repeated listening. I particularly like "On The Ropes". On this particular record, the utilization of a Strat, incorporating bluesy bends and a Knopfler-esque tone imparts a Rock tinge that is distinctly different from Tele chicken-pickin’.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDVVjPva0vI&list=OLAK5uy_lXj0YAS5kf7T47Eu-vEExnAyKAGjCSggk&index=2

 

 

stuartk

I've seen Shovels and Rope twice. Great band. Each playing multiple instruments and singing at same time.

@asvjerry 

'Survivors' Guilt'?  A bit, but happy to not have to start all over....

As long as you appreciate your good fortune, no reason to feel guilty!  I live in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, otherwise known as the "Gold Country" and here, the main threat is wildfire. Two years back, the town barely escaped incineration. Fortunately, there were no other major fires raging (unusual for September in CA), which mean that air resources were atypically plentiful. It was a very close call. We thought about moving at that point but in the end, concluded that there are no guaranteed safe refuges from Climate Change. You pick your poison and do what you can to mitigate the danger. 

@musikcrayz 

You're welcome. Yeah, I saw that Beato interview with Skunk where he talked about the necessity for "thinking in three dimensions". Yikes! The guitar is challenging enough for me!  

@larsman 

 Interesting how pedal steel also worked their way into progressive rock.

Interesting. I had no idea!  

@asvjerry 

Pedal steel strikes me as the ultimate slide instrument...blues lines on one can break into terrific riffs....

I assume you're familiar with Robert Randolph...

@slaw and @grislybutter :

Thanks for your suggestions

@waytoomuchstuff 

I don't believe I've heard any Americana song that utilizes a 7#5 chord.  Your dog may end up starting a new trend! 

@ezwind 

Apparently Jerry eventually gave up on pedal steel due to lack of sufficient time for practice. And from I learned from Rick Beato's interview with Skunk Baxter, about the instrument,  playing pedal steel while high on psychedelics sounds nigh impossible!  

@ezwind 

What I mean to say was, from what I learned from Rick Beato's interview with Skunk Baxter about the instrument, playing pedal steel while high on psychedelics sounds nigh impossible!  

@stuartk @larsman Even the great Jerry Douglas ,after a discussion about the Dobro, commented on the 3 dimensional nature of the pedal steel. That unique sound has made its way into many genres.