New York, NY. (Shore Fire Media)--Cadillac Sky undoubtedly its own musical entity, melding together roots, rock, country, and bluegrass into something compelling and unique. Yet, even by being so singular, they join a long tradition of revolutionary bluegrass artists, from
Nickel Creek to New Grass Revival, and more.
Although it was a daring combination of several musical styles when it emerged in the 1940s, bluegrass had become somewhat staid and rigidly defined by the 1970s, when New Grass Revival burst onto the musical scene. They dressed how they wanted, had a wildly energetic stage show, and were as likely to cover a current pop song as to play some extended jams on their instruments. Their style of playing became so influential and widely imitated that their band name became a genre, newgrass, much as it had for Earl Scruggs' Blue Grass Boys in the 1940s.
You can draw a direct line from the daring, open attitude of New Grass revival through Nickel Creek, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, right to Cadillac Sky. They don't dress in matching outfits. They're not related. They do play their instruments with an amazing ferocity and creativity (check out their instrumental, "Thank You, Esteban" for some blistering banjo work from Matt Menefee). Their live shows are a marvel of emotion and razor-sharp focus, whether they're playing for 20,000 people or 20.
Cadillac Sky's record, 'Gravity's Our Enemy,' is due out 8/19 on Skaggs Family Records. Check out "Inside Joke" to hear a swing influence, "Bible By The Bed" for country balladry, "My Precious Waltz/I Hate How Happy She Is" for some independent folk music flavoring, and "U Stay Gone," for straight-up, toe-tapping amazing, harmonized bluegrass music.
Hear some of it here: http://www.myspace.com/cadillacsky
Read more about them here: http://www.shorefire.com/clients/cadillacsky
Video content and more here: http://www.skaggsfamilyrecords.com
