Hog-Eyed Man
Kicked Up a Devil of a Row
Tiki Parlour Recordings
July 2023 I reviewed three of this band’s first four CDs for Bluegrass Unlimited, and I met them at the old-time festival in Goleta not long ago. Those early recordings feature Jason Cade on fiddle and Rob McMaken on lap dulcimer, mandolin, and banjo uke. Jason placed first in the fiddle at the Appalachian String Band Festival in Clifftop, West Virginia in 2016. They were clearly influenced, and said so, by the duo of Bruce Greene on fiddle and Don Pedi on dulcimer. They gradually added friends to their recordings on banjo and guitar, and this Tiki Parlour recording adds David Bragger on guitar and Maxine Gerber and Brendan Doyle on banjo in combinations as noted below.

The CD begins with the title cut Kicked Up a Devil of a Row, played by the duo of Jason and Rob. They learned the tune from Bruce Greene, who recorded it from two fiddlers in Kentucky.

Max joins them on banjo for “Brad Walters,” which is also from a Kentucky fiddler, John Salyer. Brendan brings his banjo for “Nancy Dawson,” from two more Kentucky fiddlers, Sammie Walker and Isham Monday.

Then we have a banjo/fiddle duet by Jason and Max on “Isolation,” which was originally an Irish reel composed by Brendan McGlinchey but played here in a more old-time style.

“Polly Grand” is a fiddler/dulcimer duet, again from John Salyer. Rumor has it that the family recording said “Polly Grand Father’s Tune.” So, it’s possible that the name was originally just “Polly.”

Brendan is back with Jason and Rob for Byard Ray’s “Devil’s Dream.”

“Little Bobby” is another Salyer tune played as a fiddle/dulcimer duet.

“Boone’s Wagoner” comes from North Carolina fiddler Doug Phillips, who got it from the late Woodrow Boone.

David and Max join Jason on fiddle and Rob on mandolin. “Slow Buck” is another tune learned from Byard Ray with fiddle, dulcimer, and Max.

The fiddle/dulcimer duo tackles Osey Helton’s “Cacklin’ Hen” next.

Jason plays solo fiddle on Helton’s “Glory to the Meetinghouse.”

Brendan joins the duo for two tunes Jason learned in Ireland: “The Surround” and “Foxhunter’s Jug.”

On “Bucking Mule,” from Osey Helton and J. D. Harris, Jason fiddle is supported by Max on banjo, Rob on banjo uke, and David on guitar.

“Walking the Water” on fiddle, dulcimer, and Brendan’s banjo comes from North Carolina fiddler Marcus Martin.

Next, the fiddle and dulcimer go to Texas for “Three-In-One Two Step” from the East Texas Serenaders, who recorded it in 1929.

Max and David are back for Sammie Dyer’s “Paddy on the Turnpike.” Dyer was from Tennessee, close to the Kentucky border.

Max joins the duo for Isham Monday’s “New Five Cents.”

Jason and Brendan duet on “Sweet ‘Bama,” from Georgia fiddler Stanley Bailey.

David joins the duo for Salyer’s “Lost Girl.”

The duo returns to the West for “Arkansas Hoosier” from George Mert Reeves.

Brendan returns for “Go Away, Pharoah” from yet another great Kentucky fiddler, Darley Fulks.

Still another Kentucky fiddler, James Meredith, is the source for the final and 22nd tune, “Goff’s Crossing.”

I gave great reviews to those previous recordings, and this one stands up well to that standard. All the playing is magnificent and makes excellent listening.

Hog-Eyed Man
Kicked Up a Devil of a Row
Tiki Parlour Recordings
July 2023

See interview with Rob McMaken & Jason Cade of Hog-Eyed Man