The Sacred Shakers
Live
(Signature Sounds)
4 out of 5 stars
This perfectly named Boston collective joins Eilen Jewell and her band with another four similarly inclined roots players. Together they rip into traditional, predominantly obscure gospel and church songs, goosing them with jittery arrangements that make toe tapping all but inevitable for the duration of this live, 41 minute hoedown.
Even with eight musicians—including four guitars—the sound is never cluttered or chaotic. On the contrary, this side project is a democracy with five vocalists trading lead singing duties, and the others joining on harmonies. Jewell, the most recognizable name, stays in a supporting role, leading just two tracks. She’s so good that it’s disappointing she doesn’t contribute more. But the other frontmen are solid and above all buoyant, perfect for this combination of old timey yet never musty bluegrass, rockabilly, country, blues and of course gospel.
The disc reproduces a single show and is released almost a year to the day after its Jan. 24th, 2013 recording. It’s the collective’s second platter (the first was back in 2008) but the live setting perfectly captures the sheer jubilation of the performance. These folks are playing music they clearly love with passion and humor, making a joyful noise for both themselves and the audience. The arrangements such as the Bo Diddley beat driven “Lord, I am the True Vine,” bring a contagious rollicking beat to material that feels familiar even if you have never heard it before. Even the dark lyrics to “Little Black Train” that foretell a soon to be apocalypse don’t feel weighty when sung with jaunty harmonica, fiddle, banjo and stand-up bass accompaniment.
This is spirited spiritual music made for those who would never admit to liking that sort of thing and an exuberant 40 minutes you wish was twice as long.