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It's a damp, rainy Thursday and in the faint distance you can hear train cars passing by Nashville's legendary bluegrass bar, Station Inn. As you walk in the door, hanging there amongst the dusty lights are famous Hatch show prints from Bluegrass marvels like Ralph Stanley and Vassar Clements.
Jim Lauderdale approaches the microphone in a shiny, turquoise blue, orange and brown Manuel suit with sparkling sequins that reflect the flashing stage lights. There to greet him are Nashville's best bluegrass musicians: mandolin phenomenon Tim O'Brien, upright bassist Byron House (of Sam Bush), Darrell Scott and Pat McGraf on acoustic guitar. The crowd applauds and whistles in excitement as they all know that their in for a real treat.
Jim Lauderdale is recognized as a sensational Grammy award winning songwriter, breathtaking guitarist and magnificent singer. He recently penned over forty songs with renowned lyricist Robert Hunter of the Grateful Dead, and is on the verge of releasing his eleventh album, Headed For The Hills through Dualtone Music Group.
Just days before Headed For The Hills goes public, the crowd at Station Inn gets a quick glimpse of Lauderdale and Hunter's latest project. Songs like "Trash Can Tomcat" conveys Hunter's associated storytelling style; and Lauderdale's a perfect match as his bluegrass voice bends around the melodies and his fingertips gently play the nylon strings on his acoustic guitar. The title track from the new record is a slow, driven tune which gives the ambiance of riding in an old pick-up, driving down a windy country road, a fiddle and a banjo in the bed and a sing-a-long to carry you on a lazy afternoon.
It's evident that Lauderdale's a fixture in Americana, Country and Bluegrass music. He's played with Ralph Stanley, pended many top 10 hits with George Strait and co-written with Robert Hunter. What's next?
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