After almost a decade of making a name for their band around Knoxville and the surrounding region, the men of Dixieghost are finally rewarding both loyal fans and fresh listeners alike with a concrete album. The release, titled “Wine and Spirits,” is comprised of 12 tracks all Filled to the brim with banjo pickin’ and dobro playin’ in a way that perfectly epitomizes their Appalachian roots and
An all-star list of local musicians have come together for this project including Will Carter, Seth Hopper, Jonathan Keeney, David Leventhal, Jason Hanna and Justin Nix. And with an instrumental lineup that includes the mandolin, fiddle, dobro, banjo, and guitar, the band’s lineup had to be that big in order to get the job done.
Front man Jason Hanna stresses his upbringing with tracks like “Tennessee Home” and “Utah.” “Utah” speaks to his time spent in the Western United States and his eagerness to get back home. “Tennessee Home” likewise speaks to the time Hanna has spent in other areas of the country; he sings, “nothing compares to my Tennessee home.”
You’ve got everything you could ever want from an Americana album here; there’s the stereotypical bar songs, the classic love stories, and of course the anticipated whiskey-soaked tracks, such as “Maggie’s Bar,” “Bar Song,” and “Sand In My Boots.” But what’s nice is each story is told in such a way that keeps the album fresh and exciting.
While every track is its own gem, “Amen” is absolutely the best track of the release. The vocal harmonies of Hanna and Nix intertwine perfectly together. “Ghost Town” is another one of those tracks that will latch hold of your attention and not let go. The latter comes complete with a dobro solo, fiddle pickin’ and twangy vocal harmonies.
While the album was released on Spotify back in May, their official CD release was not until late July. It can be purchased a number of places around town including Lost and Found Records, The Disc Exchange, and Union Avenue Books.
