Aiding and Abetting:
Fidelity Grange (Ragtown) reviewed in issue #298, July 2008

I loved their album from last year (The Crooked Mile Home), and this one picks up right where that left off. Ramblin’, rollickin’ and occasionally rockin’ country songs. Some horns, some organ plenty of harmonizin’. And some really great songs.
Two albums, and every song is a keeper. These guys cycle through so many sounds (from Tom Petty to the Band to the Gram Parsons to a wee bit of the Big Star) it seems impossible that they could possibly master each one. Perhaps the secret is taking those influences and melding them to some semblance of a well-defined band sound.
And these boys hail from the west coast (albeit upper northwest), to boot. I’ve been hearing a lot of stuff from this side of the tracks originating from out that way. It has a different feel than the (largely) midwestern and east coast renditions of americana that I’m a bit more used to hearing. Somewhat rougher and a little more emotionally raw. I like it.
Two years, two albums, two winners. I don’t know how far these guys are venturing from Bellingham, but I’ll be in the front row if they ever stop by inside the Beltway. Excellent stuff.
http://www.aidabet.com/archives/archC.html#CHUCKANUT