A historic 333-mile journey steeped in old-time Appalachian music, Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail starts on a winding path, and forges on through contemporary Americana songwriter Steve Erickson, who’s fourth studio album, Crooked Road, was named and inspired by the tradition-wielding trek along with his research within Appalachia.
Rooting itself with ripping banjo twangs, the title track, “Crooked Road,” calls out cultural milestones, noting the trail experience and its rich past in their entirety. As the historical road harbors over 50 old-time bluegrass and Appalachian music preserving and promoting venues, Erickson sings, “Sounds of the British Isles and the coast of Africa / They echo down through the Blue Ridge hills,” and paints a sweet imagery of the land’s musical richness.
Bringing a classic Appalachian ballad to the mix, “Fair and Tender Ladies” gives a gracious hand to all the musicians it’s met through the years. This modern rendition still houses the song’s substantial background of influence, but keeps Erickson’s contemporary flare with scintillating piano solos taking over to carry the sound to uniqueness.
“We Don’t Love Us Anymore” and its bubbly picking takes off on a reminiscent undertone, recounting a former adoring love turned distant and detached. Wealthy in musical homage, the tune plays out with a collection of acoustic instrumentation, giving it flowing bluegrass feel under Erickson’s Southern-style vocals.
Adding organ pad flare, complementary to his past works, “Sweeter on the Vine” incorporates an upbeat, dancing soundscape with roaring harmonica and triumphant vocals. Though the lyricism touches on regret and reflection, there is a strong moving force in this tune with a lesson to be told: some things are better seen than taken.
Giving a get-up-and-go to Dolly Parton’s famed rendition, “In The Sweet By and By,” originally heard as early as the 1800s, takes the listener back to old-time Appalachia with a cheerful twang from the acoustic guitar, banjo, and fiddle. Embodying the community elements of its lyricism and their inspiration, Erickson’s chorus-style vocals deliver a well-founded end to the album and its ode to the Heritage Music Trail’s communal history.
Before releasing genre diverse solo-albums like It’s About Time (2012), Music Tonight (2016), Erickson jammed in local Atlanta bands Truth in Advertising, Dark Horse, and The Remnants, as well as with Nick Peters in the duo Medium Gauge. Taking the jump from corporate life to songwriting, the classically trained pianist used to be a public relations executive in Atlanta, New York City, and Washington, D.C. before banding with producer Jim Robeson to release acutely crafted solo works.
Introspective storytelling and acknowledgement of the past and present mark Erickson’s individuality as he brings tradition to the forefront. Drawing country, blues, folk, bluegrass, and Appalachian tones into one tune, Crooked Road delivers the softness, intensity, and affluence of its inspiration’s history to the spotlight in charming tones.
