Post Election Bluegrass Entertains

The stage was set Thursday night at Music Box Supper Club with two circular Sontronic microphones and a box wrapped around the center mic stand emblazoned with the words “Chatham Co Line”. When four gentlemen took the stage wearing suits and ties putting some giddy-up into their bluegrass number “Wildwood”, you knew you were in for a treat.  Hailing from Raleigh, North Carolina, Chatham County Line was here to entertain.  Featuring Dave Wilson (lead vocalist/guitar/songwriter) front and center, he was flanked by John Teer (mandolin/fiddle/vocals) and Chandler Holt (banjo).  Standing just behind and breathing down Wilson’s neck was Greg Readling (bass/vocals) in order to lean into the center mic for three part harmonies.  Formed in in 1999, the band is currently on an extensive U.S. tour promoting the group’s seventh album, Autumn that was released September 2 on Yep Roc Records. 

The twenty song set included several of the new tracks recorded at Fidelitorium Recordings including “You Are My Light”, “Bon Ton Roulet”, a tribute to women singing called “Siren Song”, “Rock in the River”, “Jackie Boy” about man’s best friend, and “If I Had My Way” featuring Holt on vocals.   Other highlights included a song about a beautiful friend “Chip of a Star”, “Out of the Running”, “By The Riverside”, and “Porcelain Doll”.  Favorites like “Tightrope of Love” and “Crop Comes In” showed the beautiful chemistry between the players taking turns with their instrumentation.  A rousing rendition of the classic cover “The Last Time” and a gorgeous storyteller ballad called “Birmingham Jail” rounded out the evening as the audience rose to their feet in appreciation.  All four members came back into the room to mingle with fans and autograph both vinyl and CD versions of their discography after a brief break backstage.  It was a much needed evening to see a great show for the folks venturing out on a weeknight after election Tuesday.