A while ago I wrote a response, but for the second time in two days, aol stopped sending my messages. Anyway, here I am trying again.

I don't know if they qualify as unknowns or not, but nobody has responded to the times I have posted about them before. Anyway, "Dry Branch Fire Squad" is my favorite group--bluegrass and old timey, led by lead singer, mandolin player, storyteller, and "aw shucks" comedian Ron Thomason. He also writes songs--during the band's last performance at the Freight and Salvage in Berkeley he sang a couple of them, both about horses--preceded by stories about the horses (a cross country horse he owns and the legendary rodeo bronc Lightning). I'd say the best place to start with them is their album "Live at Last," with Suzanne Thomas--herself a great performer: singer and clawhammer banjo player. Plus, as a live album it has Ron at his aw shucks best. It's on Rounder.

--seed