Co-written with my bandmate from Rock Hearts, Alex Macleod, Second Fiddle Blues was recorded as a duet with my good friend Vickie Vaughn (Della Mae, High Fidelity Bluegrass) in Nashville in Feb 2023. Vickie recommended Mike Drassler for pedal steel guitar which completed the classic country lonesome sound. The story is a heart wrenching, classic melodrama that fits perfectly in the canon of great country music. I'd love to hear what you think!
So, here it is… the long awaited sophomore album by New England Bluegrass Band, Rock Hearts. Forming a decade ago, these guys had enough time to evolve their unique sound with modern day bluegrass. Since their first album in 2020 (Starry Southern Nights), Billy Thibodeau on mandolin and Austin Scelzo on fiddle have joined the band. They are great additions to the founding members Alex MacLeod (guitar), Rick Brodsky (bass) and Joe Deetz (banjo).
This new album, “Wanderlust” has it all! Hard-driving banjo licks, heartfelt fiddle melodies, dynamic mandolin playing, stunning harmony vocals, and superb arrangements in a fine selection of songs. All with a rock solid rhythm and bass foundation. If all that wasn't good enough, we get some guest appearances by none other than, Michael Cleveland on the title track 'Wanderlust'. The great Dale Ann Bradley also adds vocals on 'Driving Nails'. And last but not least, Alex MacLeod is joined by Jonathan Edwards on his song, 'Don't Cry Blue'.
The song selection is remarkable. The band managed to form an album of ten tracks that are very consistent. These tracks in the sequence given draw and intertwine an elaborate picture all together with your own imagination, which makes the album even more enjoyable. They're not after the quick success of the first ten seconds on Spotify. Not just a random selection of songs, but a real album.
I think you’ll agree, just try the title track 'Wanderlust' by Alex McLeod and you'll get an up-tempo, hard-driving bluegrass song with great vocal arrangements. Or take, 'Cotton, Corn and Hay' by Thomm Jutz and Tom Minner. This one is a laid back tune about life on a farm with a bluesy feel. There’s also a very nicely done Merle Haggard cover, 'Today I Started Loving You Again'. The Rock Hearts definitely make it their own and fit it into the whole picture of this album, along with the instrumental, 'Butter In The Mustache' by Bill Smith.
Of course bluegrass music is a to be performed live and spontaneous in front of an audience. From the stage, the music unfolds the dynamics and drive from this genre we know and love. But still, there is something about a great and well thought out studio album. And this is exactly what these guys have managed to deliver. With the help of Stephen Mougin and Ned Luberecki and the Dark Shadow crew they have recorded a solid and conclusive album which is pure joy to listen to, straight from the first note to the last."
We are excited to announce that Wanderlust, our newly released album with The 615 Hideaway Records, is now available in CD or Digital Download formats on our website store. https://rockheartsbluegrass.com/store
You can also purchase singles off the new album, as well as CDs or Digital Downloads from our first album, Starry Southern Nights. https://rockheartsbluegrass.com/store
Rock Hearts is back in the studio recording our 3rd project, and our 2nd with The 615 Hideaway RecordLabel. Following Starry Southern Nights and Wanderlust, the boys are laying down 13 brand new songs with Scott Vestal at his Digital Underground Recording Studio.
The week has been incredibly productive. We arrived safely on Sunday, got right to work practicing and it's been paying off. Scott has us dialed in and we're cranking. Excited to have contributing songwriters Rick Lang, Bob Amos, Brink Brinkman, and one from our founding mandolin player and Nashville native, Monty McClanahan. Alex and Billy also contribute some originals.
Trying to stay healthy on the road, eating good food, getting rest, and taking care of ourselves. Thanks to our banjo player, Joe Deetz, and his incredible culinary skills, we are eating like we're staying at a 5-star resort.
Can't wait to share it all when it comes out.
In the meantime, make sure to request Rock Hearts from whatever listening platform you prefer.
New Single! "Don't Cry Blue" with Jonathan Edwards
Stream the New Single - "Don't Cry Blue" with guest artist Jonathan Edwards!
The first A sided single is written by Malcolm McKinney and popularized by folk-icon Jonathan Edwards, “Don’t’ Cry Blue” features Edwards joining Rock Hearts as he and Alex MacLeod of Rock Hearts trade verses and Edwards sings baritone harmony too.
Around 2010, Alex MacLeod had an opportunity with the band he was performing with, to open for the one and only, Jonathan Edwards. When asked what song he would most want to sing with Jonathan Edwards, Alex quickly responded, Don’t Cry Blue. Alex felt it was as close to a traditional bluegrass song that he had heard Jonathan perform. Of course, familiar with Jonathan’s collaboration with Emmy Lou Harris and the Seldom Scene, it was Don’t Cry Blue that resonated the most with MacLeod.
Rock Hearts with Jonathan Edwards
Fast Forward eight years, Long-time friend and musician, Rick Brodsky, joined Rock Hearts as the bass player bringing with him considerable talent, experience, and knowledge. He also happened to be the touring bass player with none-other than Jonathan Edwards.
“Don’t Cry Blue” contains performances by Alex MacLeod (Lead Vocals and Guitar), Joe Deetz (Banjo), Billy Thibodeau (Tenor Vocals and Mandolin), Rick Brodsky (Bass) and Austin Scelzo (Fiddle), with special guest performances by Jonathan Edwards (Lead and Baritone Vocals). “Don’t Cry Blue” is from the upcoming Rock Hearts debut album Wanderlust on 615 Hideaway Records with Ned Luberecki producing, and Stephen Mougin engineer extraordinaire at Dark Shadow Recording Studio.
Jonathan Edwards performing with Rock Hearts at Thomas Point Beach Bluegrass Festival
And another single! "Driving Nails" with guest artist Dale Anne Bradley Stream on your favorite platform
Bruce Carroll, Mickey Hiter, and Kevin Thomas wrote the stirring gospel song, “Driving Nails”, and it was first released by Bruce Carroll in 1987 on his Something Good Is Bound to Happen album.
“I had always had a great relationship with my mom,” stated Alex MacLeod, “and she was always my number one supporter, fan, defender, and advocate.
“Driving Nails” caused him to start thinking about Mary, and what she had to endure as the mother of Jesus. “I put my mom through a lot of hardship,” he confesses, “but that was of my choice, a product of my pride, immaturity and sinful nature; By God’s grace, she never gave up on me.”
Alex Macleod with Dale Ann Bradley at Jennybrook Bluegrass Festival
Shortly before Rock Hearts was planning to return to Dark Shadow Studios to record their debut 615 Hideaway Record label project, Joe Deetz, banjo player for Rock Hearts, remembers waking up from a dream at 4:30am with what would prove to be somewhat of a prophetic dream.
Joe quickly shared with his bandmate Alex his dream. “I woke up from a dream that had you singing Driving Nails with Dale Ann Bradley,” he shared, adding, “I saw Dale Ann singing the part of Mary and you singing the part of the narrator.”
In classic Dale Ann Bradley fashion, she generously accepted and lent her beautiful vocals in a way that not only masterfully complimented the delivery of the song, but eloquently renders a genuine perspective of Mary. “It’s breathtaking,” says MacLeod.
“Driving Nails” is a classic gospel song for any mother who unconditionally loves her son and continues to pray, care, and worry for him. It’s a song for any man who, despite shortcomings, probably has a mom or mother-figure who hasn’t given up on them.
Dale Ann Bradley and Alex Macleod
“Driving Nails” contains performances by Alex MacLeod (Lead Vocals and Guitar), Joe Deetz (Banjo), Billy Thibodeau (Mandolin), Rick Brodsky (Bass) and Austin Scelzo (Fiddle) with special guest performances by Dale Ann Bradley (Vocals).
Driving Nails is from the upcoming Rock Hearts debut album Wanderlust on 615 Hideaway Records with Ned Luberecki producing, and Stephen Mougin engineer extraordinaire at Dark Shadow Recording Studio.
Learn with the Rock Hearts!
We will be putting on a number of workshops this summer!
The whole band will be discussing Band dynamics atThomas Point Beach Bluegrass Festival (Read more here)
We hope to see you at some of these newly announced shows! Just a few tickets remaining for this weekend's GuitarTown CT15th anniversary show in Hamden. Snag those last tickets here (Friday, May 5 - 7:30-10PM)
Finally, please note the change of date for our Cambridge MA show at Lily P's and the brand new date added on June 18th where we will be Opening for Old Crow Medicine Show
Austin and Billy had a great time teaching at Mandolin Camp North! Check out this hot triple fiddling with friends on this rendition of "Sweet Blue Eyed Darling" Listen to Austin's Takeaways from camp here
We will be putting on a number of workshops this summer!
Rick Brodsky will be teaching a bass workshop at Jenny Brook
The whole band will be discussing Band dynamics atThomas Point Beach Bluegrass Festival (Read more here)
Austin Scelzo will be leading the kids academies at Jenny Brook Bluegrass Festival and Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival
Austin will also be teaching a Wernick Method Bluegrass Jam Class at Blistered Fingers Bluegrass Festival,Thomas Point Beach Bluegrass Festival, Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival, Bearsville Bluegrass Festival, St. Johns Bluegrass Festival, as well as at the Ashokan Center Bluegrass Week with Kimber Ludiker, Joe Newberry, and Missy Raines/Allegheny and Silver Bay with Pete Wernick
Thanks for your support, Alex, Joe, Billy, Rick, Austin
Thanks to our generous Crowdfunding supporters! The album is here and those who supported our project received digital links last week. We're putting CDs in the mail this weekend!
We couldn't be more excited to share with you an album two years in the making. We have the physical CDs in hand and will be carrying them with us wherever we go. The CD is not out for streaming yet so the only way you'll be able to hear it is if you pick one up at a show!
Rick Brodsky will tell you all about the new album "Wanderlust"
Check out the track listing below. We are so pleased to have featured almost exclusively bluegrass songwriters from the Northeast
Thanks to our generous Crowdfunding supporters! The album is here and those who supported our project received digital links last week. We're putting CDs in the mail in the next couple of weeks.
Thanks for believing in us and supporting our music.
“The Last Log Drive” was written by Bill Thibodeau's father, Sam Tidwell. It tells the true story about the last logs that ever floated down the Kennebec River. Bill will tell you the story of when he woke up hearing his dad, Sam Tidwell singing it on "Good Morning America" Let us know what you think!
Catch us at a live show to hear "The Last Log Drive" in person!
New CT Show Announced We will be playing the 15th anniversary of Hamden, CT's GuitartownCT Series - one that has brought the likes of Dr. Ralph Stanley, Hot Rize, Sierra Hull, Doyle Lawson, Michael Cleveland, The Travelin’ McCourys, Dailey & Vincent, Della Mae, Dale Ann Bradley, Tim O’Brien, Blue Highway, Del McCoury, Peter Rowan, Bryan Sutton, The Grascals, The Gibson Brothers, Rhonda Vincent, The Punch Brothers, and Billy Strings.
In 1975, the lumber industry in Maine decided to transport freshly-fallen timbers on trucks down the highways, thereby ending the long-held tradition of floating the massive logs down the rivers. In response, Billy Thibodeau's father and New England Bluegrass pioneer, Sam Tidwell, penned the song about the last log drive on the nearby, Kennebec River, not far from their home in Cambridge, Maine. Sam said the The Last Log Drive was a protest song.
Not long after, as the Associate Press was covering this momentous and historical event in Maine, the song gained similar attention. Billy recalls as a young boy, watching his dad write the song at the family's kitchen table. A few months later, Sam Tidwell and the Kennebec Valley Boys performed the song live on Good Morning America. Though Sam Tidwell passed away several years ago, this song still resonates with the locals in Maine and Rock Hearts wanted to pay homage to Sam Tidwell, to the other pioneers of New England Bluegrass with hopes of keeping this story alive. You can find it on your favorite streaming platform.
In case you haven't heard the big news, our debut single with the 615 Hideaway Record Label, Wanderlust, is now being played on SiriusXM Bluegrass Junction. (Sirius XM Radio 62 and Dish Network 6062)
If you want to hear it, you can REQUEST that SiriusXM play Wanderlust by contacting their request line on Friday mornings - 1-877-98Banjo
Wanderlust, written by lead singer, Alex MacLeod, is somewhat of an examination of his life growing up as a Military Brat. He says that being forced to move every 2-3 years of his young life, left ripple effects that cause him to not want to settle down, like there's a need to keep moving, as well as never being comfortable answering the question, "Where are your from?"
He dedicates to song to all Adult Military Brats who can relate.
We were thrilled to have as a special guest on the recording, our friend and Grammy-award winner, Michael Cleveland.
Give a listen, make a request - and we hope to see you soon!
It's been incredible. We dropped Wanderlust on August 19th, 2022, with The 615 Hideaway Records label, and thanks to all of the DJs, we ended up as the #6 Top 50 APD Single and #10 Top 50 APD Albums for the Month of August. For those keeping score at home, APD stands for Air Play Direct, the place where DJs from around the world go to download music for their programs. Still charting in September. Thank you Robert and Lynda Weingartz of APD for your guidance and generosity.
Thank you for your support, encouragement and downloads!
It's been incredible. We dropped Wanderlust on August 19th, 2022, with The 615 Hideaway Records label, and thanks to all of the DJs, we ended up as the #6 Top 50 APD Single and #10 Top 50 APD Albums for the Month of August. For those keeping score at home, APD stands for Air Play Direct, the place where DJs from around the world go to download music for their programs. Still charting in September. Thank you Robert and Lynda Weingartz of APD for your guidance and generosity.
