this mountain

Is there some place in the mountains that's the equivalent of making a pilgrimage to Joshua Tree? Is there a place out there, amongst the rocky beauty of the Appalachians or the Blue Ridge Mountains, where people go to lose themselves/find themselves quickly thereafter? Is there a place that people go because they know that they're going to run into a bear and now's the time to run into a bear, they're feeling tired enough that they might be able to pull the playing dead thing off and live to tell the tale? There must be a place, where you can still dig up some hidden stills of moonshine from the Prohibition days, that aged fire that's turned into something magical that's not only going to get you fucked up, but it's going to do it in a whole new way that you couldn't have expected.

Perhaps there's a place out there where the voices that are chain-smoking in your head call home and it's there that they can be reasoned with - right there on their own turf, where they take their mail and cook most of their meals. You need to go to them, but they've got to invite you all the same. It's frowned upon to just show up there uninvited. Those differences in decorum can be ironed out though and it might just take a fat lip before the ice is broken and everyone's got their arms around everyone else's shoulders, swaying to the liquor and the ever-present devils and ghosts.

Tennessee band This Mountain takes us to a place like this, a place where the hills are alight with what could pass as an awakening. It's like suddenly feeling like all of the blood has rushed to your head. It's a little like lowering oneself down into the vapors and the jets of a natural, warm water spring somewhere out there in those hills, in those nooks and crannies. This Mountain sings about "these trials, they come hard and fast," and, in that line alone, we know that they're willing participants in going out and seeing what more could or should be in-store for them that they're just not seeing. They're going to have to get out to where there's no reception, where there's an exclusion of everything that we think we just couldn't do without and they're going to have to lay it all on the line to determine how they're supposed to come out on the other side. They're not afraid of any of this taking too damned long, singing, "Don't fret my dear, I'll be back before the morning's light." She didn't want to see him go, but she knew it needed to be done. She could see it in the look that he gave. - Daytrotter.com

this mountain was brought to town by Savannah Stopover to open for Ponderosa under the majestic oaks in Telfair Square at the end of the Savannah Bicycle Campaign’s Midnight Garden Ride (click here for more on the event).

Most of the cyclists only heard a couple songs of this mountain’s fine set, but it was sure a memorable musical experience for me — one of those times when I know virtually nothing about a band and then, the moment they start playing, I immediately feel like I’m listening to a story told by a long lost friend.

The six members (Matt Martin, Zach Chandley, Patrick Taylor, Andrew Gibbens, Taylor Green, and Cody Ledford) then schlepped their gear over to The Jinx, where they played a long, rousing show for a big Labor Day weekend crowd. The set could have been a little tighter, but there were some mic issues, a broken string, some extra required tuning — the occasional pauses didn’t take away any of the crowd’s enthusiasm.

this mountain, which has only been playing together since 2010, describes its sound as “folk-rock”, but I don’t know if that’s the best label.

I’ve taken a lot of photos at The Jinx, and as usual I didn’t really have adequate lighting conditions to get consistently good shots of all the band members. Sorry! But three members of the six-piece band were lined up just about perfectly for composition — and their interactions made for some great visuals.

I’m certainly hoping to catch this mountain again soon. - Savannah Unplugged - Bill Dawers

Too often, the banjo is ignored as a potential instrument of rock. this mountain is working to remedy that, one sweet, sweet jam at a time. God bless their little hearts…

There is a spirit that surrounds certain kinds of folk rock and bluegrass and it is one based in love. Rock music, even hip hop, possesses it too I suppose, but something about the soul of folk tugs at my own heart. It’s a feeling that everyone is invited and everyone is included. One of the literal definitions of folk is “people in general” — people in general. All people, everyone. Music that carries that descriptor in its narrative is bound to make all of us feel surrounded and loved.

From first listen it is obvious that the men of this mountain not only understand that but they feel it just as I do. The band released Future Ghost last month on the heels of their wonderful S/T EP last October and it’s a wonderful study of the definition of that word folk and that genre. We’ve had this album on repeat for days now with no signs of stopping and each time through I find something else to relate to, another note to dance to. In the fewest words possible (something totally foreign to we here at Folk Hive), that’s the highest praise I can think to bestow on an album…

Get this album. GET THIS ALBUM. - Folk Hive

One of our readers commented on our Delta Spirit session that I should check these guys out. Obviously blessed with great taste since he frequents HearYa, I checked them out and was immediately smitten. A couple of hours of later, I was cranking up this mountain up on the stereo with a big grin on my face.

this mountain are six dudes from Johnson City, TN that crank out a blend of folk and southern inspired rock. They blend the twang of the banjos with the punch of the electic guitars. They’ve been compared to Fleet Foxes and My Morning Jacket. And while lead singer Matt Martin does have a comparable voice to Jim James, if I was going to compare them to anybody it would be Buxton, who as luck would have it – I’m going to see tonight.

Some of the best tracks on the album are Desert, War and Heavy. Apparently they kicked ass down at Bristol Rhythm & Roots. I am hoping they are going to pay a visit to SXSW next year or maybe up to Chicago. - Hear Ya