Kevin Buckley: “Big Spring” (2022) CD Review

Kevin Buckley is a singer and songwriter who plays a variety of instruments, including fiddle, and is known for his work in Grace Basement. His new solo album, Big Spring, goes in a different direction, featuring mostly traditional material. Kevin Buckley did the arrangements, and also plays most of the instruments on these tracks, including fiddle, guitar, bouzouki, and octave mandolin. He is joined on various tracks by Alan Murray on bouzouki, guitar and vocals; Gerard Erker on banjo; Eileen Gannon on harp; Jon Ferber on guitar; Dan Lowery on guitar and vocals; Alex Sinclair on vocals; Eimear Arkins on fiddle; and Ian Walsh on fiddle. Many of these tunes are instrumentals, and feature some fantastic work on fiddle.

The album opens with “Sweeney’s Wheel,” an instrumental tune written by Jackie Daly. I think something in my blood connects to this kind of music. The moment it begins, I feel better about the world. It never fails to raise my spirits. It feels so natural, so uplifting. The idea that all of life is a dance is strong in this type of music, and it makes me want to be more engaged in the world. Mostly it makes me wish I were on some great green hill overlooking the ocean. Kevin Buckley plays both fiddle and guitar here, and so is jamming with himself. He plays both fiddle and guitar on “Ryder’s Block” as well, but here is joined by Alan Murray on bouzouki, and by Gerard Erker on banjo. And while this might have the sound and vibe of a tradition number, this one was composed by Kevin Buckley. There is a sweet joy to his playing, particularly the work on fiddle.

“The Blackest Crow” is the first of the album’s three tracks to feature vocals. Alex Sinclair and Dan Lowery provide the vocal work here, their voices sounding so good together. And not content with just playing fiddle and guitar, on this one Kevin Buckley also plays bouzouki and octave mandolin. This song is also known as “My Dearest Dear.” “If ever I prove false to you/Bright day shall turn to night.” That’s followed by “Hardiman The Fiddler,” a short, pretty instrumental track featuring Kevin Buckley on fiddle. Joining him on this one are Alan Murray on bouzouki and Eileen Gannon on harp. Then we go into a completely wonderful, magical, sweet jazzy realm with “Marcelle Et Marcel,” a tune written by Manu Galvin and J.J. Milteau. On this one, Jon Ferber plays guitar, delivering some absolutely delightful work. Yet it is the fiddle that is the focus, and Kevin Buckley lifts us up, spins us around, and overjoys us with his playing. This is one of my personal favorites.

Kevin Buckley sings on “Never Tire Of The Road,” which was written by Andy Irvine. He also plays bouzouki on this one. Here is a taste of the lyrics: “And the dark road leads me onward/The highway that’s my code/The lonesome voice that I heard in my head said/Never tire of the road.” This song also contains nods to Woody Guthrie as he sings “California to the New York island” and “You’re bound to lose, you fascists, bound to lose.” Let’s hope he’s right. The mid-term elections will be here before we know it, and those maniacs on the right aren’t disappearing. That’s followed by “The Queen And The Cook.” On this traditional number, Kevin Buckley plays all the instruments – fiddle, bouzouki and guitar. This tunes moves at a more relaxed pace. He plays those same three instruments on “La Rubia,” this time joined by Eileen Gannon on harp. This is another delightful number that takes us to another time, another place, which is so appealing these days. This tune has a false ending, then enters another section.

Kevin Buckley’s rendition of “City Of Savannah” features some cool, jazzy work on guitar by Jon Ferber. This one has a sudden ending that caught me off guard the first time I heard it. That’s followed by “The Belles Of St. Louis,” a fairly short instrumental track which is all about fiddle. Kevin Buckley performs this one solo. Then we get “Miss Bailey,” the last of the album’s tracks to feature vocals, which are provided by Kevin Buckley and Alan Murray. Alan Murray also plays bouzouki. Dan Lowery is on guitar. This is one of those great, sad tales. “Seduced a maid who hung herself one morning in her garters.” Of course, it should be “hanged,” not “hung.” In some versions the line is “I am a gay deceiver,” but in this version Kevin Buckley sings “I am a bold deceiver,” which makes us think of “Whisky In The Jar.” The album concludes with “Ships Are Sailing,” which features a whole lot of great work on fiddle. Kevin Buckley plays both fiddle and guitar, and is joined by both Eimear Arkins and Ian Walsh on fiddle. Alan Murray plays bouzouki and tenor guitar.

CD Track List

1. Sweeney’s Wheel
2. Ryder’s Block
3. The Blackest Crow
4. Hardiman The Fiddler
5. Marcelle Et Marcel
6. Never Tire Of The Road
7. The Queen And The Cook
8. La Rubia
9. City Of Savannah
10. The Belles Of St. Louis
11. Miss Bailey
12. Ships Are Sailing

Big Spring was released on February 22, 2022.