It was such a surprise to see snow on the mountainside so late in April. My son, Nathan, and I just rounded the big eastward curve driving through Asheville when it came into view high up on the shady side of the mountain. Through the trees there was a fresh white dusting giving way to the late morning sun that was reflecting as a glistening light along the ridge. In contrast, just a thousand or two feet below all along the Swannanoa Valley up to the entrance of the Blue Ridge Parkway, the redbuds and dogwoods were in their full Spring flowering glory.
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| Cover Art By Perri Runion |
We were heading to Heartwood Studios to sit in on a recording and mastering session for the last track on Dustin Ashenfelder's new album, "Still Fires." The song on the schedule was Dustin's cover of Bryan Sutton's ode to his annual homecoming trip back to his mountain roots, "Hills For The Head." It was such an apropos song for the setting. The album is set for its formal release on June 30th, but I procured an early copy, and have spent a full week getting acquainted with the songs, the stories, and even the musician names in the liner notes.
Tonight, I sat down with Dustin at the increasingly popular Cuppa Manna in the town square heart of Summerville, SC, to discuss the album, and gather some personal insights from the man behind the music.
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| Dustin at Cuppa Manna with Richard Harmon and Kevin Bevins |
Our conversation started with a brief walk back in time. Dustin came from a musical background starting piano lessons with his grandmother, who is a classical pianist, at the age of three. He studied for several years, but grew restless with the hopes of leapfrogging over Handel to get to Elton John. It wasn't to be, so he naturally gravitated to guitar soon after. Over the years, musical doors opened for Dustin. In high school, he played in a band called "The Other Side," but the biggest opportunities came through church. His involvement with his church in Asheville, afforded him the opportunity to sit in with some well known talent from time to time. Once he was able to have some music time with Steven Curtis Chapman of Christian contemporary music fame, and he had the chance to do some songwriting with country star, Lee Brice, once at a church camp long before Lee Brice could be found in the CD aisle at Wal-Mart. Additionally, Dustin received formal music training via a Berklee School of Music distant learning program with singer/songwriter, Livingston Taylor. There are so many of these types of experiences and moments along the way for Dustin, that in retrospect, one could easily see how the steps have been ordered for the road he's chosen.
Looking over the liner notes, one could be forgiven if they mistakenly thought they were holding a new release from Alison Krauss and Union Station. To start with, it is produced by world renowned guitarist, and Chet Atkins protege, Richard Smith. But a glance at the contributing artist reads like a who's who among bluegrass artist. Present are Ron Block, and Barry Bales, perhaps better known as two-thirds of the real "Soggy Bottom Boys" from the movie "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" These two comprise two-fiths of "Union Station," who are the permanent back up players for 27-time Grammy winner, Alison Krauss...yes, 27. Justin Moses, and Grammy nominated Sierra Hull also make the list along with back up vocals from Julie Adams.
I asked Dustin what it was like to hear these instruments playing along with his vocals, and he said it was a bit like hearing about a project completed by someone else. It almost seemed to me that the full impact of what this project means has yet to hit him.
I'd love to do a track by track run down of the album, but I think I will categorize them into two groups, originals and covers, for the sake of brevity. The first song is a power punch cover of a song by Jim Cole and Bruce Carroll, entitled "Wayward Son." It's the perfect start as it just jumps right in setting the distinctly bluegrass tone for the album. Then come the originals. Songwriter, Scott Mehaffey, of Summerville contributed five of these gems for the album with a couple of co-writes with Dustin. I really don't know which is my favorite, but I'm leaning toward the title track, "Still Fires," for now. It starts with a striking fiddle intro, and goes into a story of how the mountains used to glow with lights from moonshiner's fires into the night. In my opinion, Dustin's cadence and delivery is reminiscent of a young Garth Brooks. All of Scott Mehaffey's song shine just as brightly. Track two, "Coming Home Again" brought to mind Dustin's own musical journey through classical, pop, fingerstyle guitar, and finally a homecoming to his own connections to the music of the mountains. Of the covers, next to "Wayward Son," I'd say I'm drawn to his interpretation of the traditional song, "House Carpenter." It's a seafaring tale, that probably finds easy connection to Dustin's time spent by the ocean in Georgetown, SC. If you're digging this one, just wait until Barry Bales comes in on the bass! The song just drives, and Dustin delivers it with all the appropriate passion.
The last song on the album brings me back to my opening paragraph. "Hills For The Head" just puts the proper cap on it. Dustin provides the only accompaniment on his Caleb Smith guitar, and the lyrics provide a synopsis of the nine tracks that came before... "an ocean for my soul, a crown for my bed, a home for the heart, I need these hills for the head."
"Still Fires" is officially released on June 30, 2018, and it's one that becomes more of a favorite every time I listen through it. You can find it in all the regular digital outlets, iTunes, Amazon, and on CD Baby. Hardcopy CDs can be pre-ordered through Dustin's official website at http://www.dustinashenfelder.com/store/
