The Daddy Naggins
Album: A Certain Paradise - Summer Rain
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 10
Website: https://www.facebook.com/thedaddynaggins

From the moment you hear the opening track, "Barrel Full Of Beer" you know you're in for a great whisky fuelled set of bluegrass. Note, that's whisky fuelled, not whiskey fuelled for The Daddy Naggins hail from Glasgow, not Tennessee, not that you'ld know it from, the sound, though the songs give it away.

"A Certain Paradise" is the embodiment of the ethos, think globally, act locally, so whilst the sound in undoubtedly bluegrass, the content of the songs makes frequent references to events in both Glasgow's and Edinburgh's histories in a amongst drinking and good time songs.

The band, a five piece include in their number, Shee member, Laura-Beth Salter, with a double barrelled first name to slip right into the tradition and as well as contributing mandolin, she's also one of a number of band members that provide exquisite harmony vocals, Tom Davis(bass) and Garry McFadden(banjo) also providing support and harmony to Darren Young, the band's vocalist and guitarist. The only non-singer in the band is Patrick Dunn, who provides flutes and pipes, that take the sound into an area not matched by a lot of bluegrass combos.

As you would anticipate, most of the songs are relatively short and delivered with a dynamic that could only be described as electric, it not difficult to close your eyes and see the album being delivered from a honky tonk and that means the band also know to mix in a couple of slower numbers to give you a chance to get your breath back.

What I think makes this really special is that inclusion of local history, "The Night The Sky Turned Red" pays tribute to those that died in the tragic Cheapside Whisky Bond Fire when 19 fireman were killed fighting a fire that engulfed over a million gallons of spirits, mainly whisky. Other songs reference 18th century 'gentleman' burglar Deacon Brody and the Clyde.

"A Certain Paradise" is one of the best bluegrass albums produced on this side of the pond that I've heard in quite a while, scratch that, one of the best bluegrass albums I've heard in a longtime, period. All that remains is for the band to sort out a decent website and get touring down south. As I said at the start until you hear the content of the songs, you don't notice that missing e in whisky.

Neil King