Roots Music Is Alive and Well and Still on the Hill One of the most misunderstood genres in music today is the wide open area of roots music. When people think of traditional music, they usually think of Woody Guthrie and songs from 50-60 years ago. However, in reality, roots music is something that is played every day. As we talked I had no idea what was in store for me - as I had never heard their music before - until they began to play. The moment they started I was blown away. Here was music that was exciting and vital, with a sound that was fresh and new. But it also evoked a deep cultural tradition. Kelly Mulhollan and Donna Stjerna, who make their home in Arkansas, accompany their stunning vocal harmonies on traditional instruments to create an amazing a kaleidoscope of musical sounds that is truly a breath of fresh air. Kelly is a powerful instrumentalist who has been voted Best Guitarist in Northwest Arkansas several times and has developed a one-of-a-kind fingerpicking style for the banjo and mandolin. His amazing talents were complemented by Donna, an accomplished fiddle player who also played scrub board and thumb piano on some of the songs. At home in the Ozarks, Kelly and Donna have plenty of opportunity to collect stories about the interesting people they meet. As principal songwriter, Donna has written hundreds of songs that both inspire and delight the wide variety of people who enjoy their music. They especially enjoy performing for children. This duo is a perfect example of what I would call new roots musicians because they continue the tradition of telling stories about the common man and dying breed of rural Americans who make their own musical instruments and may still make their living off the land. The music of Still on the Hill reflects the difficult life styles and obstacles many people still face, even in today's fast-paced technical world. By calling their music "new roots", it is implied that it is played in the traditional style with lyrics and stories reflecting today's struggles and what's happening now. Just as Nickel Creek's first CD redefined bluegrass as newgrass, Still on the Hill keeps traditional American roots music alive by updating roots sounds and stories. To hear them play was an indescribable pleasure. Phil Harmonic |
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Last month Kelley Martin (Acoustic Pie) invited my wife and me to a house concert in North Park at the home of Carole Wilson, where we had the pleasure of experiencing the delightful performance of a husband and wife duo who call themselves Still on the Hill. The music they played sounded old timey yet the tunes were all original, which the couple had written. Before the concert began I had a chance to talk to the husband, Kelly Mulhollan, with whom the conversation ultimately led to the topic of roots music. I have always felt that, regardless of the genre's history, it is music that should evolve and be kept alive by a new generation of young people who are interested in carrying on the tradition. Kelly and I were definitely on the same wave length as we talked and grew more excited about the idea of new roots music.
