Call them bluegrass. Call them folk or Americana. Call them what you want, but when Trampled By Turtles hits the stage, something magical happens that’s hard to quantify. They grab your attention with stunning instrumentation normally reserved for the highest echelons of bluegrass, while frontman Dave Simonett’s songwriting places them in a different stratosphere and classification.
Dave Simonett and his bandmates Erik Berry (mandolin), Ryan Young (violin), Dave Carroll (banjo), Tim Saxhaug (bass) and Eamonn McLain (cello) reunite again for their latest album titled Alpenglow to be released on October 28. The band’s 10th album overall in nearly 20 years (has it really been that long?), the album is named for the optical phenomenon when the sun casts a reddish glow at dawn or dusk, accentuated often by the mountains in the distance.
Alpenglow was produced by Jeff Tweedy of Wilco. Dave Simonett wrote all the songs on the album, except for one written by Tweedy. Alpenglow features the song “It’s So Hard To Hold On” which was released before the album (listen below). Certainly topical for the moment, the song speaks of the passing of time, and the importance of savoring it. The video for the song is made up of footage of Trampled by Turtles fans enjoying the band over the years.
From Duluth, Minnesota, Trampled by Turtles released their debut album in 2004, but achieved massive success with their 2010 album. palomino and the song “Wait So Long”. People came for the speed and the musicianship, but stuck to Dave Simonett’s songwriting. The band went on hiatus in 2017, with Simonett releasing a solo album under the name Dead Man Winter, but they returned in 2018 with their latest album. Life is good on the open road.
Trampled by Turtles became one of the first string bands in American roots music, scorned by some bluegrass purists, but embraced by anyone who loves good music with traditional instrumentation.
LIST OF TRACKS:
1. It’s so hard to hold on
2. Start over
3. Central Hill Blues
4. On the highway
5. A Life to Find
6. Nothing But Blue Skies
7. Slapstick Desert Window
8. All the good times are gone
9. All is well
10. Quitting smoking is hard
11. The party is over
