Long time specialists in country, bluegrass and cajun music, the Foghorners have changed line ups several times over the years, and are now a four piece consisting of original members Caleb Kauder (mandolin, fiddle) and Sammy Lind (fiddle, banjo), plus relative newcomers Reeb Willms (guitar) and Nadine Landry (double bass). All four contribute lead and harmony vocals, in an ever shifting mix of voices.
Although the bass is miked up, and there are a couple of low level mikes to pick up guitar, banjo and mandolin, the bulk of the sound is fed through one central mike, meaning the line up of faces changes constantly, and some complex choreography is required. It's all part of a performance that constantly emphasises their links to old time music. (Although it does mean that, by modern standards, the mix coming through is very variable!)
The songs and tunes are mostly from various traditions within the US, plus a couple of more recently penned numbers. Musicianship is first class, the vocals acceptable. None of the singers stand out as a great solo voice, and often sound better in harmony. One of the highlights was an a cappella rendering from the two women. While there a few slow pieces, much of the set is fast, often furiously so, with foot tapping rhythms and repetitive lyrics, the latter lending themselves to a bit of audience participation at times. The foursome all take turns at introductions between numbers, with frequent interjections for the others. They can be amusing, but there's not all that much information about the origins of the material, and, given the historic nature of the music, this could have been expanded.
It was an entertaining, sometimes exciting and rousing evening. Yet also curiously flat. As if something was missing...
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