Recommended for Americana Fans: Amanda Ann Platt and the Honeycutters


I spend many hours exploring artists unfamiliar to me on Spotify. This week I came across this band. I’d never come across any mention of them before and thought other Americana fans here might enjoy them.

New York born and transplanted to North Carolina, Amanda Ann Platt is an excellent songwriter who’s asserted she’s as much influenced by Springsteen and Tom Petty as by Classic Country artists. Although a cursory listen might suggest the music is Country (due to the presence of pedal steel and mandolin and the overall rhythmic feel), the writing is more sophisticated and not hobbled by adherence to familiar Country tropes. In other words, it stands up to repeated listening. I particularly like "On The Ropes". On this particular record, the utilization of a Strat, incorporating bluesy bends and a Knopfler-esque tone imparts a Rock tinge that is distinctly different from Tele chicken-pickin’.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDVVjPva0vI&list=OLAK5uy_lXj0YAS5kf7T47Eu-vEExnAyKAGjCSggk&index=2

 

 

stuartk

@musikcrayz - Interesting how pedal steel also worked their way into progressive rock. I've taken photos of both Steve Howe from Yes and David Gilmour from Pink Floyd playing pedal steel on stage; you can get a lot of interesting sounds out of it. 

Pedal steel strikes me as the ultimate slide instrument...blues lines on one can break into terrific riffs....

When Jerry Garcia started playing pedal steel around 1970 he was quoted as saying it would take him another lifetime to master the instrument. 

@stuartk

Immediately fired this song up and ... so much fun to listen to. Got my foot tapping, which happened to be right on top of.my dog’s squeaky toy that was conveniently dropped there. I’d like to say that the sound added to the music. I did not. Augmented seventh?

Thanks for sharing.

@asvjerry

So happy to hear you survived Helene. Very tragic for the region. Could have gone the other way, for you guys, for sure.

My wife and I have very fond memories of the area including taking our Sunbeam Tiger on the BlueRidge Parkway, a squad car cruise of Mount Airy and, of course, several trips to the Biltmore.

The Biltmore was the motivation for the sign we hand-built for our lake home in Missouri. Hanging on our boathouse, facing the water: "the Guiltmore. Spending Our Children’s Inheritance." Our home is a destination for residents taking their guests out for sunset cruises around the lake. Often hear a chuckle when they pass by in their boats. Currently working on the companion "Today’s Guilt-O-Meter" sign, which will range from "Moderate" to "Shameless."