Nashville Bluegrass Band at Station Inn

For a band full of rather ordinary-looking session musicians with a humdrum name, Nashville Bluegrass Band are stars of a sort. They've won two Grammy awards, two Entertainer of the Year honors from the International Bluegrass Music Association and four nods as IBMA's Vocal Group of the Year. They became the first bluegrass band to ever play in the People's Republic of China. Guitarist Pat Enright voiced one of the Soggy Bottom Boys in O Brother, Where Art Thou? They've played house parties for both Dubya and R.E.M., and played Wynonna's wedding reception. Initially formed to accompany Minnie Pearl and others on a 1984 package tour, NBB features only one Tennessee native, upright bass player Andy Todd. And yet, they're as responsible as anyone (for better or for worse) for the sounds coming out of Nashville over the last 20-odd years, which sort of grandfathers them in, sez here. Some might quibble that they're not as traditional as some other stalwarts of the bluegrass arts, but then again, very few current 'grassers have also folded as much African-American blues and gospel into their music, either. If they feel the need to rep us, the least we can do is return the favor, no?
Sat., Dec. 5, 9 p.m., 2009