For a long time, the only thing that country and bluegrass sidemen (and -women) did was play in other people’s bands, but these days it’s possible to keep those gig(s) and take an occasional turn in the spotlight. Case in point: affable bass-hoss Mike Bub, an inescapable presence on the bluegrass and roots music scenes who backs up many — and maybe most — of the best at one time or another. But he also steps out from time to time with his XXL Band, a largely ad-hoc aggregation stuffed with a broad array of talent, from edgy young pickers like John Frazier and Ryan Cavanaugh to old-schooler Dave Ferguson. Good times and good music aside, the night also serves as a send-off to Mike Witcher, an exquisitely talented and frequently comical resonator guitarist — exactly the kind of guy to fit in with the XXL Band — who’s returning to his native California.
— Jon Weisberger