When you think of an artist, do you remember the first time you heard them sing?
When it comes to Frank Solivan (pronounced soul-live-on), I can say yes. It was November 2006 and Prime Cuts of Bluegrass #84 came out with a single “Somebody’s Missing You” by, to me, an unknown singer named Frank Solivan.
I was an instant fan and knew that Solivan would become a name in bluegrass.
Fast forward six plus years and here we are with the release of ON THE EDGE, the sophomore project of Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen, and the band is ready to be recognized.
This project, the band’s first release with Compass Records and their first release since receiving the 2012 IBMA nomination for Emerging Artist of the Year, is a showcase not only of Solivan’s soulful 
tenor voice but also of the talented musicians that make up the Dirty Kitchen band.
In addition to Solivan’s mandolin and fiddle playing, making up Dirty Kitchen are three extremely gifted musicians that can hold their own against any headline picker today. Mike Munford plays the banjo for the group and is a true monster on the five string. On the upright bass is Danny Booth. In addition to playing bass and harmony vocals, Booth penned and sang lead on “Wild Unknown”. Rounding out the ensemble is Chris Luquette on guitar and harmony vocals. Just saying the Luquette plays the guitar is such an understatement, he owns the guitar.
On this project, Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen are joined by Rob Ickes on dobro. Ickes high-energy playing is a perfect entrée in the Dirty Kitchen especially on the instrumental “M80”.
In addition, lending talents are guest vocalists Megan McCormick and Tim O’Brien. McCormick lends her tenor vocals on “Gone” and on a rearranged “Day To Day”. Fans will remember this song as being previously released on Solivan’s I AM A RAMBLER project. O’Brien blends harmony with Solivan on the hauntingly honest title track “On The Edge”.
To have your CD considered for review, contact: Rita Small or
W.J. Hallock for specific submission and mailing instructions.
The musicianship on “The Back Forty,” is simply as good as it gets.
From the first song “I Fell Short”, listeners know they are in for something different in this recipe of songs from Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen. The up-tempo song puts an unusual spin on the traditional cheating song. Solivan then goes on to give a heartfelt rendering of “Gone”. “The Letter” is one of the highlights of the project, a rich arrangement of the Wayne Carson Thompson classic. This song is Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen at its best, all-out no-holds barred playing. “Too Far Gone” gives us a glimpse into the jam world of bluegrass. While this song might be a little too long to get much airplay, it is a great song to have playing while driving with the windows down. “No Chance” and “Bedrock” complete the project.
Overall, this project is an example of what happens when you get four people together who truly enjoy what they do and take pleasure in creating music. The group’s ability to play all out on one song and then go into a slow and heartfelt ballad is what sets Dirty Kitchen apart from many other groups. Each song has a unique sound and underscores the best of each member’s contribution to the group. ON THE EDGE of great things is where you will find Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen.
I'd like to second your emotion! This band was in the running for Emerging Artist of the Year at the IBMA last year. I'm gonna be real up front and know that I'm going to step on some toes, but Dirty Kitchen can out play any of those groups including Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers, who won the title. I'm sure that if you asked all the individual musicians in Joe Mullins band that they would say they are easily out played and sung by Dirty Kitchen. Politics SUCK!
ReplyDelete