Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir

Subject: Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir
From: 21st Century Bluesman
Date: 12 Mar 08 - 10:06 AM

I'm helping this excellent Canadian band get gigs in the UK and Ireland in July and August. If there's anyone out there who is interested/runs a night, please get in touch. If I had to describe them I'd say Appalachian country meets Delta blues played by boys with more than a passing knowledge of Waits and Beefheart.

Decide for yourselves www.myspace.com/agnosticmgc

They are amongst Seasick Steve's favourite bands. You can see him freaking out to them in the second vid at their myspace site. That might put a few people off here I know! But they certainly play their instruments a bit 'fancier' than Steve, so that might even things up.

Subject: RE: Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir
From: Peace
Date: 12 Mar 08 - 10:56 AM

http://www.myspace.com/agnosticmgc

Subject: RE: Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir
From: Barry Finn
Date: 12 Mar 08 - 12:02 PM

I gave a listen, sorry I didn't think much of them at all & it had nothing to do with SeaSickSteve's being there but they're all in good company.

Barry

Subject: RE: Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir
From: 21st Century Bluesman
Date: 12 Mar 08 - 01:13 PM

If it makes any difference, one of the guitarist/singers of the band, Bob Keelaghan is James Keelaghan's younger brother.

Subject: RE: Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir
From: GUEST,20th Century Bluesman
Date: 12 Mar 08 - 01:51 PM

Excellent Band ????

Gigs in the UK ?

How sad.

Subject: RE: Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir
From: Joe Offer
Date: 12 Mar 08 - 06:15 PM

With a name like Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir, this group is bound to go far. I haven't decided whether I like their music or not yet - I think I prefer something a bit more gentle.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir
From: Barry Finn
Date: 12 Mar 08 - 06:37 PM

I've decieded about their music Joe but I do like the name.

Barry

Subject: RE: Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir
From: gnu
Date: 12 Mar 08 - 06:41 PM

Can't work the link.

Subject: RE: Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir
From: Bee
Date: 12 Mar 08 - 07:01 PM

I rather liked a couple of the tunes.

Subject: RE: Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir
From: Peace
Date: 12 Mar 08 - 07:04 PM

Where is Agnostic Mountain?

Subject: RE: Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir
From: Joe_F
Date: 12 Mar 08 - 10:17 PM

Or, more broadly, which noun *does* "Agnostic" modify? Cf. "New Lost City Ramblers".

Subject: RE: Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir
From: 21st Century Bluesman
Date: 14 Mar 08 - 09:27 AM

Agnostic Mountain is a state of mind...;-)

The name was what first attracted me as well! I saw it on a Canadian DJ's playlist and thought, I bet they don't live up to it. But, for me, they did.

I can understand why some people might not like them as there seems to be, and I'm generalising here, a tendency towards purity of tone and traditionalism on this board, but I can't understand - Guest 20th Century Bluesman's contribution:-

"Excellent Band ????

Gigs in the UK ?

How sad."

No buddy-boy, you're the saddo... and soooo last century

Subject: RE: Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir
From: Bee
Date: 14 Mar 08 - 09:40 AM

Hey, now, 21st CB, most of us are twentieth century types and some of us said we liked them - don't be broadbrushing your elders, nor forgetting that today's music rises from yesterday's and is not necessarily better.

And you might note that this is a board mostly dedicated to trad folk music, so naturally there is a tendency to appreciate traditionalism.

Subject: RE: Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir
From: Charley Noble
Date: 14 Mar 08 - 10:01 AM

Sorry but there's nothing that excites me about this group either.

I might feel differently if I could hear their CD on a decent set of speakers but I doubt it.

Now I do like listening to James Keelaghan and Tanglefoot. This band needs a lot of remedial work.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir
From: 21st Century Bluesman
Date: 14 Mar 08 - 10:19 AM

What a touchy reaction Bee! Your assumption that I don't understand tradition and how musical forms develop is a broad brushstroke if ever there was one. How do you know you're one of my elders?! I'm currently working on a TV documentary about Son House and Charley Patton, btw, and I think the Agnostics have far more in common with the gritty attack of those old boys than the overly polite, cleaned-up, highly technical stuff I often see championed here.

The 'remedial work' Charley Noble suggests is probably just the kind thing I'm talking about, though I musn't prejudge. They are very fine players, so what needs to be remedied Charley?

Subject: RE: Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir
From: 21st Century Bluesman
Date: 14 Mar 08 - 10:27 AM

Just been to check up on Tanglefoot. How very dull they seem to me...

De gustibus non est disputandem, as the Romans used to say...

Subject: RE: Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir
From: Peace
Date: 14 Mar 08 - 10:28 AM

The Romans are dead.

Subject: RE: Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir
From: Charley Noble
Date: 14 Mar 08 - 10:44 AM

I look for clarity in leads, strong harmonies, and instrumentation that complements the song rather than dominates it. I'm not hearing much from these tracks that impresses me. If I heard the group live I might enjoy them more.

But if you're not impressed, or even familiar, with Tanglefoot we're not going to agree anyway. "Dull" indeed!

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir
From: 21st Century Bluesman
Date: 14 Mar 08 - 11:09 AM

I've formed my first opinions of Tanglefoot from watching a few Youtube videos. You've formed yours of the Agnostics similarly. Heigh ho.

I think all the things you like are present with the Agnostics, apart, perhaps, from the clarity (and I mentioned in my horrendous generalisation earlier that 'purity of tone' is highly prized here). But, you see, I think that that rough-edged buzz is partly what makes The Agnostics' sound so organic, while Tanglefoot sound like a bunch of good musicians lacking in charisma, originality or sense that they really cohere beyond being able to play in time and harmony with each other.

Peace wrote:-

"The Romans are dead."

I'll resist the obvious crack... How does - "One person's meat is another person's poison" fit?

Subject: RE: Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir
From: Charley Noble
Date: 14 Mar 08 - 11:24 AM

And your opinion of James Keelaghan, other than one of the band members is his younger brother?

I do work with a music group that prides itself on clarity of vocals, harmonies, and non-dominating instrumentation. It is a question of taste.

So Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir has "charisma" too? Great Big Sea certainly does and I've seen them live.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir
From: 21st Century Bluesman
Date: 14 Mar 08 - 11:51 AM

James K - good voice and lyrics. Find the music a tad insipid.

And yes, I keep saying it's a question of taste. And when I mentioned that there seems to be a tendency here to certain aesthetics I got my wrist slapped. But several posts have supported what I said. I understand your aesthetic, and even support it in certain instances. I often love purely expressed voices and beautiful harmonies. I don't think you understand mine in this case. You think The Agnostics require 'remedial work'. No. In their aesthetic universe they sound fantastic, it's just a mode of expression you don't hold with.

Great Big Sea are, to my mind, poster-boy folk-rock with few redeeming features.

Subject: RE: Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir
From: Jeri
Date: 14 Mar 08 - 11:53 AM

Don't like them? Fine. Other people do. You don't have to feel compelled to speak every little thought that comes into your head, you know! Otherwise, you should expect a similar critique from others when it's your turn to advertise a gig.

Music is NOT a competition.

Subject: RE: Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir
From: Banjiman
Date: 14 Mar 08 - 12:01 PM

Hmmmm, very raw, I think the kids would get into it. Makes roots a little cooler. I can hear tradition in it too.

I've invited the band to be my friend through MySpace, either message me there or pm me on here.

Paul
Kirkby Fleetham Folk Club

Subject: RE: Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir
From: 21st Century Bluesman
Date: 14 Mar 08 - 12:06 PM

Thanks Paul. Will be in touch. They've just been booked by the Big Chill and Summer Sundae festivals so roots music will be getting out to another audience, which can only be a good thing.

Subject: RE: Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir
From: wysiwyg
Date: 14 Mar 08 - 12:49 PM

a tendency towards purity of tone and traditionalism on this board

No... messy is fine, eclectic is fine..... I just thought they didn't sound like they were having very much fun, and I think maybe any electricity they have in live perfomance hasn't matured yet onto their recordings. There was a sort of "trying too hard" aspect there that I think is in the way.

I know you didn't post this asking for reviews, but you did invite us to have a listen....

~Susan

Subject: RE: Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir
From: 21st Century Bluesman
Date: 14 Mar 08 - 12:54 PM

No, that's fine! Capturing the essence of a band when you haven't got much money and don't have a lot of studio time or experience is often a problem, and you may have a point. If you look at the second vid at their myspace site you'll see them having fun!

Subject: RE: Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir
From: PoppaGator
Date: 14 Mar 08 - 01:06 PM

Once upon a time, Mudcat was primarily a blues site. Things have changed, but let's hope there's still room for folks with differing tastes.

I tend towards the blues/jazz/roots/Americana/rock camp, but I often find some very interesting insights in the postings of folks with very different musical tastes, especially when discussing traditions, history, and "folk process." While some other person's favorite "tradition" might be very different from any of the traditions that I hold most dear, that person's insights are often quite applicable to my areas of interest.

Subject: RE: Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir
From: Charley Noble
Date: 14 Mar 08 - 09:45 PM

I do agree with Jeri that music is best viewed as not a competitive activity, my band is better than your band. But there are different tastes in music here at Mudcat, and there are different levels of musical skill that groups demonstrate. It's not surprising that when you ask for response to a group you're promoting that you get response and it may be an unsettling response.

It's better than silence. ;~)

I was intrigued with a group from Indiana in the 1970's called Eclectricity, i.e. "I'm Goin' Back to Beethoven 'Cos Country Music Sucks;" alas, they imploded and I never could play at their level. But I admired what they were doing.

I find NeXtTradition exciting when it comes to a capella gospel. "Little Black Train" by Jeff Warner is a classic. Great Big Sea does fine work with their traditional material; I'm less impressed with their rock renditions; they just don't correlate. Black September from Seattle is much more interesting but that's a subject for another thread.

And I wish the Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir well but they got a lot more work to do.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir
From: Barry Finn
Date: 14 Mar 08 - 11:47 PM

I was being polite the 1st time around but "Me thinks thou doth protest to muck", so now I'm sayin that as a Gospel Choir I thought he sucked. As a group I think they still suck. I mis-spent my you & cut my eye teeth on blues, it was my 1st love & I still find a special place for it, espically the Chambers Brothers. This isn't a Gospel nor are they a choir. The voice was scratch on a chalkboard. But then what would I know. I've only been around it all my live. Stop pushin trash down our throats. You tried the same thing with that Seacum Stick.

Barry

Subject: RE: Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir
From: 21st Century Bluesman
Date: 15 Mar 08 - 04:32 PM

Barry,

Never heard of irony? As other people have said, it's a great name, and they, in my humble opinion, are a very good band. In your bombastic, ill-tempered, badly expressed, poorly spelt opinion, they aren't. As more temperate (and intelligent) people have said on this thread - and in the case of Seasick Steve - we all have different opinions.

I've been around it all my 'live' too... Work it out, you buffoon.

Subject: RE: Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir
From: 21st Century Bluesman
Date: 15 Mar 08 - 04:40 PM

That last insult was over-the-top. I apologise. But Jeez, some people...