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Progressive Traditionalists
Roddy Branch uses a modern approach to kick up interest in traditional bluegrass
by Clint Casey
Newgrass is universally considered to be a progressive style of bluegrass. With an emphasis on improvisational jazz and lightning speed injected into the traditional twang of the original concept, the innovative genre has been challenged and perfected by bands like the Tony Rice Unit, Blue Highway and New Grass Revival. Relatively fresh to the bluegrass scene in Knoxville is Roddy Branch, a band that opts for the more open-minded interpretation of an Appalachian tradition.
“We actually play traditional songs, but at the same time we are driven towards the newgrass sound,” says guitarist Ryan Ollard. “We play originals and covers, but it all stems from the traditional.”
“We’re traditionally influenced more by the progressive artists. We aren’t necessarily as progressive with our instruments as we would like to be, though,” adds dobro player John Montgomery, a musician familiar to the Knoxville scene by way of Left Foot Down. “We have so much influence from the newer stuff, but we try to mix in some of the old time stuff as well. You have to learn the tradition before you can excel and push it forward.”
The band’s current members began playing together a year ago at a house on Roddy Branch Road in South Knoxville with members bringing diverse musical backgrounds to the table: banjo player Tom Pryor is involved in Nug Jug and Willis; Montgomery heads jazz-funk band JoMo with bassist Barry Reed.
“We tend to get a little better response from [Roddy Branch], because more people relate to that than [JoMo],” Montgomery says. “Lyrics and vocals tend to make people a little happier around here....”
The members of Roddy Branch feel grateful to be playing bluegrass in Knoxville at a time when the genre’s popularity seems to be on the rise nationally. “I think Knoxville is a great city to be a bluegrass band in. It’s kind of funny, because we have WDVX and we’re right here in the Smoky Mountains,” Montgomery says. “There are a lot of bluegrass bands around the area, but you don’t see it a whole lot right downtown. You’ve been starting to see it a little more, but it’s usually regional or national acts that are doing most of the shows. We’re trying to bring [local bluegrass] right into downtown.”
The band has been well received throughout the area, but they’re at a crucial point in their career, establishing a following by playing as frequently as possible. Roddy Branch performs regularly at Barley’s, Preservation Pub, Corner Lounge and the Front Porch in Cosby. “We want people to get to know us. There’s so many rock bands and this, that and the other, that it’s hard to pick one out for everyone to support,” Montgomery says. “We want everyone to get to know Roddy Branch, and, as the band grows, get people listening more and more.”
Due to the weekly bluegrass jam sessions held at Rocky Branch Elementary in Maryville, the band was hesitant to choose the name Roddy Branch because of possible confusion. “There are some things outside of Knoxville, but right here in Knoxville it doesn’t seem like there’s a whole lot of bluegrass going on at a certain time each week,” Montgomery says. “I don’t really understand why it hasn’t gotten going. You see a lot of the blues jams around town, and I think it would be great to have a bluegrass jam.”
According to Ollard, the ultimate goal of Roddy Branch is raising awareness of bluegrass to locals otherwise unexposed to the music. “Our motto is to get out and play as much as we can, and get as many people listening to us as possible. We’re not interested in being the best bluegrass band in the world, or even in Knoxville,” Ollard says. “We just want people to start appreciating this kind of music, and get more people involved in it.”
April 8, 2004 • Vol. 14, No. 15
© 2004 Metro Pulse
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