WVRockscene: CD Review: "Appalachian Reaction"

2.01.2013

CD Review: "Appalachian Reaction"

CD: Appalachian Reaction

ARTIST: Fletcher’s Grove

Here at rockscene we have a healthy affection for jam bands and festivals. Not an unhealthy obsession, like our hatred of Charleston Daily Mail editorials, but a real soft spot exists for the vibes and seemingly enhanced connectivity between the fans and bands.

Morgantown jam band Fletcher’s Grove, a staple on said festival circuit, on its 10-song sophomore full-length Appalachian Reaction, presents a nice genre-hopping example of why we, and so many others, dig these kinda bands.

The album, the follow-up to 2009’s All the Way Home, and described by singer and rhythm guitarist Ryan Krofcheck in a recent interview with The Huntington Herald-Dispatch as “A.D.H.D.” and “…very ‘A’ side ‘B’ side,” is indeed a veritable smorgasbord of genres; from funk to folk, jazz, rock, and maybe a hint of bluegrass, the band (Krofcheck, Matt Marion, Wes Hager, Taylor Pratt, and Evan Lintz) unveils five new grooves in addition to hosting last summer’s Pepperoni Pizza EP on the second half of the record.

By this point you may be asking yourself ‘Could that be the biggest run-on sentence ever?’ And, ‘How does WVRockscene know what someone said in a phone interview with a newspaper, for an article that hasn’t ran yet? Are they friends with Piers Morgan or something?’

Yes to the former, and no to the latter.

Standout tracks, for us, include the ode to the Appalachian coal miner, “Faces of the Mine,” the soulful jam “Grapevine,” and “Pepperoni Pizza,” which has lead guitarist Hager absolutely shredding; FYI, he’s a badass. Throughout the record the talent and musicianship of each member is on display. Kudos to Tommy Bailey at Bebop Studios for capturing the rich sonic range of the band.

But it’s no wonder that so many people seem to love these guys. Whether it’s at their home away from home at 123 Pleasant Street, any number of festivals, or, The V Club Saturday, Fletcher’s Grove is definitely a trip.

--- Fletcher’s Grove plays The V Club in Huntington Saturday with InFormation. $10 cover gets you a copy of Appalachian Reaction.

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The Jasons “Stalk and Slash Summer” (Oct. 2014) Meet Me In The Matinee “Beauty in Ordinary Things” (Oct. 2014)

The Renfields “GO!” (Sept. 2014)

The Big Bad (Self-titled, Sept. 2014) Captain Catfeesh “Double Axe Handle” (Sept. 2014) Farnsworth “Live It” (Sept. 2014) Yellowdog Union “Slightly Irregular” (Aug. 2014)

Karma To Burn “Arch Stanton” (Aug. 2014) False Pterodactyl “sweet jesus!” (July 2014) The Dreadful Horoscope “Finding Everybody in Yourself” (July 2014) Clean Dirty Clean “as is.” (July 2014) J. Marinelli “The War On Pleasure” (July 2014) John R. Miller “Service Engine” (July 2014) Rat Ship “Been Ruptured” (June 2014) Bishops “Silver Lining” (Feb. 2014) Station(s) (Self-titled EP, Jan. 2014)

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The Renfields: “GO!” (Fall 2013)

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J. Marinelli: “Sovereign Slates E.P.” (June 2013)

Twin Cousins Records: “We’re In Over Our Heads But At Least Our Feet Are Wet” (March 2013)

Mega Beardo: “The Ledjent of Zelda” (March 2013)

Dutch Underwood & the Dirty Shame: “A Greater Fool” (March 2013)

Bishops: “Feel Alive” (March 2013)

The Big Bad: “See You In The Shadows” (March 2013)

Sweet Life: “Disenchanted” (Feb. 2013)

Rozwell Kid: “Unmacho” (Feb. 2013)

Byzantine (self-titled, Feb. 2013)

Fletcher’s Grove: “Appalachian Reaction” (Jan. 2013)

Slate Dump: “Memphis Women Don’t Wear No Shoes” (Jan. 2013)

Time and Distance: “On/Off” (Jan. 2013)

Meet Me in the Matinee: “Real or Fantasy” (Jan. 2013)

The Heptanes: “Revelator” (Jan. 2013)

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The Disappearing Man: “Hopeful” (Business Fairy split, Dec. 2012)

David Synn: “Digital Ideations”

Ghost Fleet: “How to Tame a Mustang” (Dec. 2012)

John Lancaster: “Crash Test In Progress” (Nov. 2012)

Juna: “Sing” (Oct. 2012)

Miniature Giant: “The Superhero Chronicles” (Sept. 2012)

Farnsworth: “I’ll Tell You When I’ve Had Enough” (Sept. 2012)

The Demon Beat: “Less Is Less” (Fall 2012)

The Tom McGees: “This Just In” (Aug. 2012)

Southeast Engine: “Canaanville” (July 2012)

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Black Fag: “Watch Me Destroy What You Love Vol. 1” (June 2012)

Huntington Underground: “Spring Jelly” acoustic sampler (June 2012)

Sangoma EP (June 2012)

Sly Roosevelt: “Animal Tracks” (June 2012)

Single Dads: “Make Manifest” (June 2012)

J Marinelli split w/The Elsinores: (June 2012)

GoodWolf: “Shitty Kids” (June 2012)

Mark Bates: “Night Songs” (May 2012)

Ryan Postlethwait: “UnMega” (May 2012)

J Marinelli: “Young Spillers” EP (May 2012)

Dinosaur Burps: “Mother Nature Wants You Dead” (May 2012)

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Bud Carroll: “At Least I Can Still Smoke In My Car” (Jan. 2012)

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Spirit Night “Normal” (March 2011)

Dream the Electric Sleep “Lost and Gone Forever” (March 2011)

The Young Reptiles “Serial Girls” (March 2011)

Southeast Engine “Canary” (March 2011)

Jacob Matz “The Gold of Curse Mountain” (March 2011)

The Overcoat (self-titled) (April 2011)

Juna “Hunt” (April 2011)

David F. Bello “Landlords Dance” (4.20.11)

‘85 Flood “Welcome to the Hinterlands” (May 2011)

Single Dads “I Love Myself and Want To Live” (May 2011)

Bonfire “S/T” (June 2011)

The Dreadful Horoscope “Song of the Invasive Species” (June 2011)

Jeff Ellis “The Line” (July 2011)

The Demon Beat “Bullshit Walks” (July 2011)

Prison Book Club (Aug. 2011)

Rozwell Kid: “The Rozwell Kid LP” (Aug. 2011)

AC30 (Sept. 2011)

Good Sport: “And Now We Are Talking” (Sept. 2011)

Sly Roosevelt: “Old P” (Sept. 2011)

J Marinelli: “Stone-Age Kicks, Volume Three” (Oct. 2011)

Nu: “The New Strokes Record” (Oct. 2011)

Sleepwalker: “The Dark One” (Oct. 2011)

John Radcliff: “Naked Souls” (Oct. 2011)

Wilbur by the Sea (Nov. 2011)

The Belt Notches: “Live 11.11.11”

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The Fox Hunt “Long Way To Go” (Feb. 2010)

Todd Burge (w/Odd URges) “Distraction Packed” (3.13)

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Jeff Ellis “The Forgetting Place” (3.23)

Librarians “Present Passed” (3.30)

Mark Bates “Down The Narrow”

Attack Flamingo “Exit Anthem” (4.30)

Karma To Burn “Appalachian Incantation” (4.30)

Spirit Night “What We Will Be” (Summer 2010)

The Renfields “Stalk and Slash Splatterama Pt. 2: Exploitation Extravaganza” (June 2010)

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