Steep Canyon Rangers, NCMA

When you take a band like Steep Canyon Rangers who have chartered their own pathway and spent a decade forging a unique sound, and you change things up, well, some could see it as dicey. But with a new bandmate and producer on their new album, Morning Shift, there are some great occurrences to appreciate here.

The Rangers' new album, Morning Shift, was recorded in a rustic historic home in the North Carolina mountains of Hendersonville and is featured on the album cover. “The Inn Bat Cave” provided a base camp for the team to focus on the album for a week.

RML had an opportunity to attend and review the North Carolina Museum of Art (NCMA) show.

I spoke with several lifelong fans of the Rangers walking into the venue. One gentleman was mourning the departure of Woody Platt from the band (former guitar/vocals). In candor, I somewhat commiserated with him.

Over a decade we observed Woody take lyrics and bend them harmonically, matching the emotions he was trying to convey in the lines of the song. For example, when you listen to the song “Tell the One’s I Love,” can you not feel the urgency and impatience of being late to love?

Or take for example the song “Captain,” with the protagonist of the story—a coal miner—calling on his wife, Melinda, to close the door, and listen to how Platt sounds like he’s downright pleading for “clear blue skies.” It shakes you to the core with a plea for a better life.

These were the shoes Aaron Burdette was filling as the band walked out onto the stage. I shook my head not knowing what to expect.

The band positioned themselves on the stage in what I’d call a five-man front, with bassist Barrett Smith taking lead vocals. It was reminiscent of another band from back in the day—Yonder Mountain String Band. Barrett’s stage presence is comfortable and relaxed behind the mic, and left wonderful pockets for other members to fill in.

Barrett nails a version of “Carolina in My Mind.”

Finally, several songs in, Pittsboro native Aaron Burdette steps to the microphone. After greeting the crowd, he launches into the title track from his solo album, “Fruits of My Labor.”

I begin looking around in awe of what I’m witnessing. All around me are heads nodding and I see smiles all across the crowd. I began yelling, “Yes! Yes!” Burdette throughout the night is electrifying, and a clear perfect choice to join the band.

Throughout the night the band makes subtle changes to the sound. Graham Sharp on banjo leans in on some experimental sound effects.

Other notable covers played throughout the first set included Traveling Wilburys’ “End of the Line.”

Midway through the second set, amongst the crickets and cicadas and blue moonlight shining down, it feels every bit of a summer night in August in Raleigh.

In a memorable intimate straight acoustic moment, the Rangers move into “Fare Thee Well Carolina Girls,” a cover by Robbie Fulks and a track on their new album.

I know I’m missing a great deal of recounting here, but I feel I’ll just leave it here—against the summer backdrop and the closing out of the season.

What a show.