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Like sitting around a campfire
Instrument rotation and classic bluegrass sounds with Hot Buttered Rum
By Julian Lapkus
The airy notes of the wind instruments evoked the feeling of sitting high on a mountaintop and gazing out into the valley.
The cold and rainy weather didn’t stop the bluegrass party animals from transforming the Miramar Theatre into a foot-stomping, good ol’ hoedown when California’s Hot Butter Rum String Band brought its High Sierra bluegrass Tuesday, Nov. 15.
Hot Buttered Rum String Band consists of guitarist Nat Keefe; bassist Brian Horne; Zac Matthews on the banjo, flute, piccolo and accordion; with Aaron Redner and Erik Yates taking turns on mandolin and fiddle.
Not only are they all excellent musicians, the rotation of instruments between Redner and Yates and Matthews’ prowess on all four instruments consistently keeps the music fresh with the band dipping into traditional and Celtic bluegrass.
Matthews’ flute and piccolo playing gave Hot Buttered Rum a new dimension to its fast-picking bluegrass. The airy notes of the wind instruments evoked the feeling of sitting high on a mountaintop and gazing out into the valley.
Living in the high Sierras of Northern California showed in their original songs, which were a fresh take on Appalachian-style bluegrass.
Another asset to the band’s musical muscle is the fine songwriting of Nat Keefe and Eric Yates, who both contributed original songs to the band’s set. Dancers cut across the floor, boogeying to the country twang of Keefe’s “Jackmormon Mother” and “The Crest.”
Yates’ Celtic bluegrass tune “Flask, Alas!” brought the crowd together to enjoy drinks communally as if the venue were a pub in Ireland rather than the Miramar’s dim dance floor.
The musical selections dazzled fans, as many sang along with the band during a stunning rendition of Bob Marley’s “Small Axe.” Huey Lewis & The News’ “I Want a New Drug” was given a country-fried flavor, as the song was sped up and sung with heartfelt bluegrass emotion.
The band closed the second set with “Brain Damage/Eclipse” from Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of The Moon.”
In the middle of the first set, Nat Keefe mentioned that this was basically their first time playing in Milwaukee. Hot Buttered Rum played Shank Hall last year, but the hesitant crowd led to a hesitant band.
This time around, the highly excited crowd brought a very energetic performance, which went well into the night.
For its encore, Hot Buttered Rum took advantage of the intimate settings and played acoustic, with no amplification. As the band stepped off the stage, the crowd sat down and listened intently.
The laid-back atmosphere felt just like sitting around a campfire, as the band played a sweet ballad to the entranced crowd. Taking turns soloing, the band proved its musical chops one last time as the sweet sounds floated throughout.
As everyone filed out of the venue, the popular refrain from the night could be heard echoing down Oakland Avenue: “Butter it up!”
– Julian Lapkus and Stephen Thomas
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