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Harmonica and accordion? Maybe not so typical after all. One Riot One Ranger (1R1R to the initiated) has been a mainstay on the Columbus, OH music scene since the early '90s. Formed by Mark Wyatt after the demise of his previous group, local Columbus punk band Great Plains, 1R1R does conform to traditional bluegrass with their vocal harmonies. However, their use of unorthodox instrumentation and unexpected cover tunes stretches the bounds of the traditional while remaining respectful. Including their 1994 self-titled, self-released cassette, Flat City Nights is 1R1R's fourth full-length release. Accordionist Wyatt says he thinks "Flat City Nights steals our first two [CD] releases' lunch money and then gives 'em both swirlies." Those who heard and liked either the self-titled cassette or the two CDs (Faces Made for Radio in '96 and Side Tracks in '98) will definitely want to add 1R1R's latest to their collection. Everyone else read on. A majority of the worthwhile discs that cross my desk fall into two distinct camps. The first is the newer act that may still be a bit rough around the edges, both musically and lyrically. Their passion and a willingness to take chances elevate the material above the pack. The other camp contains artists who have been around awhile. Experience has helped them polish their formula. The playing, writing, and singing are all tighter. The risk in this camp is that after some initial success they'll become too formulaic, that they'll polish until the edge is gone and play it safe. One Riot One Ranger has been around long enough to fall in the second camp, but they're still willing to take chances. The history of 1R1R has been to take their chances with the tunes they choose to cover. Flat City Nights is no exception. They took their first chance remaking the Sons of the Pioneers' classic "Cool Water." This isn't an unorthodox choice of material and is risky because of the danger in tackling any classic tune where so many would consider the original to be the definitive version. Based on my thirty (okay, maybe closer to forty) year-old memories of listening to this song, 1R1R don't stray far from the original in their interpretation, duplicating the vocal harmonies of the original in fine fashion, but blending the patented 1R1R accordion accompaniment in the background. One risk taken, one risk overcome. "Cool Water" worked out so well that they followed it with the Hollies '70s classic "Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress," recasting it as bluegrass sung so you "can finally understand the words." This song's melody is so ingrained in my subconscious that I'd sometimes forget it wasn't the Hollies. At first it was a bit disconcerting to suddenly hear a banjo or mandolin start playing. Once I got over the shock, I found it amusing and it makes a surprisingly good bluegrass song. The last tune unearthed from the but-that's-not-bluegrass file is "On the Right Track Now." Written by songwriter Powell St. John and recorded by his Texas compatriot, psychedelic-eccentric Roky Erickson, I can't imagine it as anything but the bluegrass love ballad 1R1R has recorded. Fiddler-mandolinist Chas Williams and guitarist Mark Gaskill each wrote a trio of originals (with a little help from the band) and share lead vocal duties with Wyatt. Normally Paul Brown plays banjo and Pete Remenyi adds dobro and harmonica, but everyone plays multiple instruments and pitches in on whatever else is needed. Producer Bil VornDick worked with Patty Mitchell when he produced Ralph Stanley's Clinch Mountain Sweethearts disc and drafted her to sing harmony behind Mark Gaskill's lead on "I Didn't Know," a song of love and regret from an atypical viewpoint. I didn't know you were watching from your window when I
went walking by Williams and Wyatt showoff 1R1R's harmonizing talents in "Cheap and on the Fly." Yup, as you probably surmised, it's a cheatin' song. Mark Gaskill provides a counterpoint in "You Know Who You Are," a song about love that once again comes from an unexpected direction. Married white male Commitment not required Don't mean to be unkind Chas Williams used 1R1R's hometown as the inspiration for "Flat City Blues." Tired of the flat landscape, the narrator is nostalgic for the mountains and wants to escape "Flat City" to "return to his happy childhood home." Williams also wrote "I Dreamed About a Country Song." He "literally dreamt it up one night," building a haunting, old-fashioned-sounding, country-blues on the foundation of the opening line from Jimmie Rodgers' "Brakeman's Blues." Had a dream last night I know it's supposed to be "all about the music," but I would be remiss not to mention the packaging. Buy the disc and you'll be treated to the story of the mythical drive-in movie "Flat City Nights" and liner notes that amuse as well as inform. Unfold the booklet and you'll even have a miniature movie poster, suitable for framing. The amateur Texas historians among you know where the name One Riot One Ranger came from. For those who don't know it was a comment made by a Texas Ranger when arriving to single-handedly quell a riot. The year's just begun, but this disc is the best, both musically and vocally, of any 2002 release I've heard yet. If the Oh Brother bluegrass revival turns out to be more than a fad, One Riot One Ranger may reap some of the benefits. I'm pulling for that to happen. *Visit www.oneriot.com
for more. Their site is currently undergoing a facelift, but
all the essential information is there now. You'll want to keep
checking back as they add more to what has historically been
not just informative but also an entertaining and humorous site.
Record label Hayden's Ferry can be found at www.haydensferry.com
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