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There’s no lack of string bands these days offering reverent takes on bluegrass and old-timey music. Ballhog break from the pack, however, with an irreverence that finds a home mostly in amusing, lighthearted lyrics. Their stories range from a rambling man who’s come to see the light—coming the other way in the form of the “Holy Ghost Train”—to their winner-turned-loser ode “Where I Went Wrong,” which counsels, “Take a look inside yourself and see what makes you tick / and don’t let no one steer you off, they’re just a bunch of… naysayers.” Their playing is tight and lively but hardly yoked to tradition, mimicking a blithe lyrical tone with breezy bluegrass swing courtesy of buoyant horn parts. Exceptionally tuneful, the spirited septet’s carefree vibe is eminently infectious. Formed almost a decade ago, they released their self-titled full-length debut in 2006 and are close to following it up with an as-yet-untitled album.
Thu., Dec. 31, 9 p.m., 2009
Thu., Dec. 31, 9 p.m., 2009
