Carolina Callin’
Carolina Callin’
a review of Into the Fog’s Carolina Moon - released August 2, 2024
August 20, 2024
by Dan MacDonnell
At a time when many newgrass bands are defining themselves by covering staple rock songs with a bluegrass twang, Into The Fog is taking a different approach by taking recognizable music styles and incorporating them into their original bluegrass/old-time style songs. The result is a genre fluid, bluegrassy sound with an electric power, often reminiscent of many classic rock songs.
Their new album Carolina Moon is a terrific dive into the traditional Americana/psychedelic/funk mixture the band has perfected. The album consists of seven diverse songs for a total of just under 36 minutes playing time.
The opener “Sore Loser” treats the listener to a funky dual, featuring upright bass courtesy of Derek Lane and Winston Mitchell's mandolin. At various points, the lyrics are from the perspective of a fan, a gambler, an athlete, or all three. The song also leans into a common theme repeated throughout: the protagonist typically ends up defiant. There's little evidence of electric guitar until about midway through, when Connor Koz goes into a trippy sounding 45 second guitar interlude, which leads to a reprise of the second verse to end the song.
“Troubled World” is a faster paced, old-timey sounding number with much harmonizing throughout. A groovy exchange of flat-picking guitar and quick-picking mandolin keeps the tempo high. Some interesting studio effects will probably catch your attention as they did for me. The lyrics seem to be of a man working his way through the struggles of life on his way to finding his place in the world. A second interlude gives Koz another opportunity to deliver a juicy electric guitar jam, which leads to a final chorus, ending the song. The lyrics "might have been it" at the very end leaves me wondering just what that statement means.
The third song, “Appalachian Girl” has grown on me as I listened again and again, becoming my favorite of the release. A jazzy bass leads into a funky mandolin part, that, when joined by the lead vocal, makes the song sound like a Ben Harper track. An uplifting beat with aesthetic harmonies virtually force the listener to tap their feet and crack a smile. It's a bit of a dichotomy considering the lyrics tell the (mostly) sad story of losing a partner, while the song carries the listener to a variety of musical places. The first interlude features a lead guitar sound similar to Jerry Garcia, and the next features a blues harp and mandolin exchange. There's even a bridge which takes you to a southern church revival with gospel style singing about losing his "ball and chain,” complete with congregants hooting and hollering in the background. It’s a great song—and my pick for a hit!
”Words” appears to be written following an argument. With the inclusion of a fiddle, this is the most traditional Americana sounding of the release. What I find most interesting about this song is although the singer's tone very calm, the lyrics are seething with anger as he debates whether he's going to get over it, singing: “this will be my final war.” We've all been there.
”Carolina Callin’” is an ode to home, authored by road-weary touring musicians who are home sick for North Carolina. It's an uplifting song which sounds a bit Tom Petty-esque to me. The language depicts a successful tour, full of optimism in having met good people and having had a good time, yet they’re still missing the familiarity of home.
”Hoagie's Voyage” is the longest track on the album at nearly seven minutes. It's a fast-paced, mandolin fueled jam which tells the story of Hoagie, who left work, got smashed in the head with a rock, and awakened in an unfamiliar place with a requirement to perform on guitar. A Grateful Dead-like interlude brings several genre changes to the song, from old-time, to blues-rock, to psychedelic-rock, back to old-time... heck, you might even hear a little Lynyrd Skynyrd in there! The song ends with Hoagie waking up in his own bed. Was it a dream? Maybe not considering his car is gone.
The album ends with “Days Used To Be Longer,” an acknowledgement of growing old. It opens with the sounds of rain and what sounds like someone making the morning coffee while listening to the radio. A guitar starts strumming a chord succession similar to the Rolling Stones’ “Sweet Virginia",” as the lyrics fondly reminisce about the joys of youth, explore the new pressures presented by life as we age, and a chorus expressing the irony of learning little from the lessons of life. In particular, I was taken aback by the profound line "I'll keep growing older, if I have the time.” This is a solid bluesy, old-time song with thought provoking lyrics and a catchy chorus you might find yourself singing with while driving your truck.
Into the Fog Personnel
Derek Lane - Bass, Vocals
Winston Mitchell - Mandolin, Vocals
Connor Koz - Electric Guitar, Vocals
Sam Stage - Fiddle
Credits: Music and lyrics by Derek Lane unless noted. “Sore Loser” (Connor Koz); “Words” (Winston Mitchell); “Hoagie’s Voyage” (Into the Fog).
Carolina Moon was produced by Into the Fog. <>