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Record of the Month Curator
August Curator Letter
Mountain Grass Unit - Appalachian Smoke
Curated by Hayes Carll
I first met Mountain Grass Unit at their band house in East Nashville, where I found a group of young musical brothers living, creating, and working together in a way that made me long to go back in time and try to create a similar experience. They were fresh off winning Band of the Year at the IBMA awards, had just come home from tour, were weeks away from hitting the road again with Dierks Bentley, and would soon after be extended an invite to make their Grand Ole Opry debut by none other than Del McCoury. In other words, life was coming at them almost as fast as their fingers scaled their instruments. Almost.
That’s where Appalachian Smoke finds them: early in the journey, but already seasoned by miles and accomplishments.
Musically, they’re masters. Prodigies and practitioners who have reached a place of creativity that can only come after honing their craft to the point where it comes as naturally as their own breath. It’s astounding how beautifully they play on this record. They’re based in tradition, but as the greats do, they’re expanding upon it in adventurous, elegant, and soulful ways of their own.
Lyrically, they’re exploring not just life but also the unique life they’ve chosen, one where every realized dream carries the stark truth that every dream has its dark side. With a mix of gusto, playfulness, and earnestness, they’re reckoning with humanity's hypocrisy and life’s pitfalls, determining how they want to show up, describing internal and external worlds (both real and imagined), and just plain having fun.
It’s a blast to listen to, and I hope you enjoy the ride!
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