Review by Lori Simpson

Each month WSM AM and the Station Inn join forces for their Station Inn Sessions. This month’s installment, on May 5th, was Country and Bluegrass brother /sister dynamic duo The Roys. Lee, playing the acoustic guitar and mandolin and Elaine Roy, acoustic guitar, are very talented musicians with an album fresh on the shelves entitled “Lonesome Whistle.” Joining Lee and Elaine on stage were accomplished musicians Lee Kaufmann on banjo, Tom D’Angelo on upright bass, Clint White on fiddle, and Chad Jeremy on acoustic guitar. There is just something magical about a small club with an intimate setting and listening to some great music.

They started the set off with a cut from the new album called “Give A Ride To The Devil”, then followed that up with the title cut from the new CD. They dedicated their Dad’s favorite song, “Right Back At You,” to family listening to the show on the radio back in their home state of Massachusetts. Lee mentioned that Ricky Skaggs was the biggest musical influence in his career and they were fortunate enough to have Skaggs and The Whites play on a song on the album. The song, “That’s What Makes It Love”, was masterfully played at this show even though Skaggs could not make it out to the Station Inn.

The band also showed their musical chops on an outstanding bluegrass instrumental piece as well as the bluegrass classic “Blue Moon Of Kentucky”, written by Bill Monroe in the mid 1940’s. They closed out the show with another song off their latest album called “High Road.”

Thanks to WSM’s worldwide transmission, The Roys received some great and well deserved exposure as part the Station Inn Sessions. They even pulled in the celebrities with country music artist Ken Mellons in the audience. This is a great up and coming duo whose live show and new CD should not be missed. For updates on the band you can text “Bluegrass” to “90210.”

[Show as slideshow]

[View with PicLens]