A mix of virtuoso musicianship and original songwriting that plays as well in a hipster coffeehouse as it does in a small town concert hall.
Blue Yonder is serious West Virginia treasure.
There’s swing and there’s blues, but there ain’t nothing like swingin’ the blues and that’s exactly what this trio from West Virginia does…on their 2013 CD Bittersweet Road.
As Willie Sugarcapps is a Nashville supergroup made of local, veteran talent, Blue Yonder is West Virginia’s. Taking strands of early country music – from swing to honky-tonk, bluegrass and rockabillly – the band weaves them together in an authentic, down home style. Lilly has a half dozen albums or so out under his own name, Shafer is, perhaps, the best flatpicker next to Tony Rice and as with Jake Silver in Aoife O’Donovan’s band, Will Carter’s subtle jazz bass lines constantly drive the band into swing mode.
#2 on Freeform American Roots Chart
We hear John’s voice sliding effortlessly…with lots of tasteful and swingy guitar breaks…[;] neither old-time nor bluegrass, those who like Western Swing and country music will appreciate this recording.
Blue Yonder lives where classic country music meets western swing, a honky-tonk beat meets a beautiful ballad, and red hot country jazz guitar licks meet cool blue yodel vocals.