Trout Steak Revival – Flight

Two years after the success of a 2010 self-titled debut album, the maturity of Trout Steak Revival is evident. A string of shows throughout Northern Colorado and the Midwest in 2011, including an appearance at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival, helped the band to establish a strong fan foundation in the area. TSR’s 2012 release, simply titled Flight, demonstrates both the growth and versatility of the homegrown band. The self-proclaimed sound of “bluegrass-inspired mountain music” encourages a steady pace throughout the entirety of the album, pausing only to allow for attractive banjo vs. fiddle altercations between Travis McNamara and Bevin Foley, respectively. “Where Do My Bluebird Fly” offers a beautifully diverse cover originally by Swedish indie-folk singer The Tallest Man On Earth, while “Good Riddance” harkens back to the familiar and simple sound of Appalachian country- folk music. The rotation of vocalists throughout the album only partially demonstrates TSR’s comfortable flexibility, a trait necessary in the modern bluegrass era. Be on the lookout for TSR shows these coming months throughout Northern Colorado, as this talented quintet is sure to impress at a live setting in the ever-growing bluegrass culture of the Midwest.
—Charlie Anderson