May
11
Della Mae at the Cantab: 2011.05.11
For fans of: Those Darlins, Dolly Parton, Bluegrass
If you were unaware, the Cantab in Central Square has been hosting local Bluegrass evenings for a while now. Tonight’s headliner was Della Mae. This was a pleasant surprise for everyone since the original headliner had to cancel and apparently this quartet of bluegrass girls stepped in at a last minute request by the owner.
Upstairs at the Cantab was filled with Central Square locals looking to hear a gritty song. Della Mae’s performance was well received from the start. Their southern style was enhanced with New England attitude, and they weren’t afraid to righteously proclaim their Northern heritage. Honestly though, they sounded Deep South to me.
Celia Woodsmith belted out bluesy hits while adding in her own written words; it was a great mix of new and old. With a stand-up bassist, violinist, and a mandolin player on stage, the music filled up the Cantab pretty quickly. I appreciated the devotion the band showed towards their instruments. All of the girls played their instrument with serious attitude, a quality I feel is necessary for blues and bluegrass. You really have to give it to a woman who is feeling the rhythm and owning her sound.
You can catch Della Mae yourself at their very own album release show at Club Passim in Harvard Square on July 23. Their music moved me; maybe it’ll sway you. Finally, if you’re ever free on a Tuesday night, you should definitely check out the Cantab–I know I’ll be back.
