The state of Michigan has a rich history of music. Most notably, it’s the birth place of Motown Records and the epicenter of the garage rock revival of the past 2 decades that helped thrust The White Stripes to worldwide acclaim. And let’s not forget about Kid Rock.
However, the one thing that never crosses my mind when I think of Michigan is folk music. And yet, Frontier Ruckus calls Michigan home. They stand as a bright bastion surrounded by a bleak environment and downward economy. (I’ve been to Michigan once. It was February, snowy and grey. Overall, I remember it being a very depressing place to which I didn’t want to return. I know I shouldn’t characterize the entire population of a state based upon my brief personal experience, but I do.) I had no idea who this band was, but was lucky enough to see them play at a small venue in Wichita back in early 2010. The banjo playing was both masterful and frenetic, the warbly vocals added a great deal of emotional weight to the songs, and it was the first time I’d seen a musical saw used in a live performance.
Intellectually, I know that there’s a lot of pain and sadness in their songs, but it is often presented in such an upbeat, infectious tune that masks the depressing subject matter. This song, “Mona and Emmy”, is from their latest EP, Way Upstate & the Crippled Summer, pt 2. Had I actually gotten this last year when it came out, it would have been my number one album of 2011. It’s a great entry point for anyone unfamiliar with the band and is guaranteed to get your toes a-tappin’.
- Posted by Randall La Rue 
