You can rightly refer to Lord of the Strings as an outfit of bluegrass all-stars. The combination of respected talents Dennis Parker, Tony Wray, newcomer Matt Leadbetter, and Tim Crouch isn’t an uneasy melding of disparate skills. Lord of the Strings shares like-minded musical chemistry that’s apparent after a single listen. Their latest single, “Doin’ My Time”, supplies plentiful evidence, and the respectful yet bold cover of this Flatt and Scruggs classic, originally written by Jimmy Skinner, will likely appeal to a broad range of listeners.
The sum total of their experiences playing with performers such as Dale Ann Bradley and Ricky Skaggs, among others, informs each second of “Doin’ My Time”. The easy and confident stride Lord of the Strings hit from the outset draws you into the song’s web. Tony Wray’s plaintive vocals are ideal for the material; he’s convincing inhabiting this tale of woe without ever falling into cheeky histrionics. Lord of the Strings deserves immense credit for playing this song straight. They rightly read its account of struggle as more than literal. Wray’s performance, in particular, opens the track up to multiple interpretations.
Viewing venerable material such as this with fresh eyes is essential. Lord of Strings is never guilty of peddling cookie-cutter bluegrass that looks to approximate the look and notes while shortchanging the genre’s promise. Bluegrass music, like its kin classic country and the blues, gives creative musicians and songwriters a chance to share their vision of life in direct, unfettered terms. Pretension need not apply. “Doin’ My Time” triumphs in that way. It comes across as a lasting expression of the human spirit.
Doin’ My Time
Listen to Doin’ My Time on Spotify. Song · Lord Of The Strings · 2024
A wealth of talent produces such an effect. Wray, Parker, Leadbetter, and Crouch aren’t gifted in such a way that it ballyhoos itself in the opening line. Their magic is incremental. “Doin’ My Time” develops with steady self-assurance and beguiles listeners with its musical charms. There’s really nothing sad about a song like this. Its very existence refutes sadness. Instead, you can hear the joy of creation in how Lord of the Strings’ tackles this single.
A four-minute plus running time gives the band time to show their musical hand. None of the breaks are egregiously self-indulgent. Each member of Lord of the Strings’ deserves plaudits for keeping their proverbial eye on the ball rather than succumbing to any temptation to show off. It goes back to chemistry. Lord of the Strings enjoys a synergy that is more than artistic. The members clearly share similar sensibilities that further refine their collective effort.
It’s an effort we can expect to continue. Lord of the Strings balances their forays with this unit well against their other musical commitments. Singles such as this cover likely give them yet another outlet for the boundless musical creativity and curiosity we hear in this new single. “Doin’ My Time” celebrates the past, of course, but it has one foot grounded in the present and an eye gazing toward tomorrow. Bluegrass has a bright future with bands such as this leading the way.
Clay Burton