A friend of mine has an original drawing by Bruce Burton of “The Family Tree Of American Rock.” Here are a couple of photos of a poster made from the original drawing posted by Violator @ MuzicForums.com:
The tree is made up entirely of the names of American rockers and rock bands. Trailblazers, such as Chuck Berry and Elvis Presley, are deeply embedded in the tree’s trunk. Wilson Pickett, Otis Redding, ZZ Top, Beach Boys, James Gang and their ilk are relegated to branches and leaves. It is a heady drawing - a wonderful artistic tribute to the breadth, scope, and growth of rock music.
As I listened to Modern Day Moonshine’s release “Refuge” The Family Tree Of American Rock came to mind. The content of “Refuge” is as if Modern Day Moonshine (“MDM”) guitarist, vocalist and songwriter Todd Goodnough came upon the Family Tree and shook it as hard as he could. Leaves and twigs fell to the ground. Goodnough and his bandmates, bassplayer Brendan McCaskey and drummer David Burrows, then assembled a collage of twelve original tracks from the scattered debris. You have a branch of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young; a bit of Bob Dylan bark; a slice of Dave Mason heartwood; a cone or two of the Doobie Brothers; a few stray needles of Allman Brothers; and some Atlanta Rhythm Section sapwood covered with “Champagne Jam.” There is even a leaf of Brahms from the nearby Family Tree Of Classical Music Composers.
MDM generally mine the Folk/Country/Alternative Rock genre. Yet, there is also a nice soul blues ethos. CSN&Y had a particular acoustic and electric guitar sound that was led by Neil Young and Steve Stills. Goodnough has much of the same approach in his guitar work. McCaskey thumps and bumps with precision and Burrows pounds out impeccable time with nicely played rolls and fills. The notes sound like the buds of spring. Each bursts into being and turns into a musical food factory. Tasty stuff!
Yes, MDM’s latest endeavor is under the Ripple label. True, The Ripple Effect is a Ripple enterprise. Also true, I don’t get paid to do this by Ripple or anyone else. If I didn’t like it you wouldn’t be hearing about it.
MDM’s music on “Refuge” definitely soars in the canopy of the The Family Tree Of American Rock. It won’t leave you out on a limb. I guarantee it!
- Old School
Buy here: Ripple Music
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