Blueground Undergrass

Jeff Mosier, lead vocalist and banjo player of Blueground Undergrass, has been nose to nose with epic, legendary fame and he says he doesn’t want anything to do with it. A few of the experiences that act as this fame deterrent to him are mafia run nitrous dealings, necessary bodyguards and hats pulled low over his eyes while he toured with Phish in 1994 to teach them bluegrass between shows at huge venues packed with devoted vans, some dying from hard touring and drugs.

Nobody died at the Emerald Lounge on Friday, September 5th at the Blueground Undergrass show. There were a number of devoted fans that looked like they never missed a beat, but maybe some teeth, of touring with Phish since 1994. The small, recently renovated bar became almost instantly three times as crowded as the six members of the band took the stage. The atmosphere shifted as they smattered the room with the first few psychedelic notes that would artfully morph into the opening song, “Curve.” The crowd that had gathered at the stage began to shake it in the distinctive way that Jam fans do: hips and head in a kind of jerky tug of war, eyes closed and hands sometimes holding an imaginary ball of energy.

Even if the unavoidable noodling and doodling of jam band music irks you, these guys aren’t self-indulgent enough to musically masturbate on stage. Jeff refers to the band as “bluegrass affected rock” but it could have been the other way around. The two genres consummated in a beautiful marriage on stage for everyone to see. Although the instruments were plugged in and Jeff’s banjo was nestled inside a bright blue electric guitar body, the instruments pulled in and out of the soundscape just as if they were acoustic instruments held by musicians stepping in and out of one communal mike. The effect was infectiously joyous.

John Mosier, Jeff’s brother, plays electric guitar and sings back up vocals in tight harmonies ranging from the traditional closeness to a more stirring dissonance. The melding of the brothers’ voices became one perfect vocal in that way that only kin can achieve, specifically on the song “My Native Home.” John is an original member of the 10 Year Band along with Jeff who started Blueground Undergrass with Mark van Allen the pedal steel player. Mark stayed seated at his instrument and produced notes as if he was pulling laments from another world. If you saw him from the elbows up you might think he was a famous folk artist making an Appalachian rocking chair or spinning wool. His expression stayed calm but focused even when goofing around, skipping his slide along the strings and then pulling his arm back into place.

The other three members of the band are Owen Saunders (fiddle), Vic Stafford (drums) and Kyle Spark (bass guitar). Owen was having a great time on stage and it carried over into the audience. His fiddle playing was effortless and smooth. His rich tones filled in the spaces perfectly as clouds of rosin dust rose into the lights like musical exhaust. As the rhythm of the band Vic and Kyle were a polished granite foundation.

Blueground Undergrass is currently touring with a band from Washington D.C. called Junior League Band. The front lady played the banjo as well, and quite dynamically. Their songs were original and a little country kitch, but fun to watch. Timing wasn’t their strong point and the rhythm and slide guitar felt like the Elmer’s glue holding the craft project together but were redeemed by real talent, creative song writing and innovation. Junior League is releasing a new album on October 4th.

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