The Hackensaw Boys formed in Richmond, Virginia in 1999, led by David Sickmen. Their sound pulled from folk and bluegrass but had a rougher, more immediate feel that some traditionalists found off-putting. They weren't interested in polite revivalism.
Their song 'Jonah' became a particular flashpoint, a stark look at mental health that some listeners found too dark. The band's early albums, like 'Love & Death & Railway Tracks' and 'Look Out!', established their mix of fiddle, banjo, and a punkish energy.
Over time, the lineup included players like Ferd Moyse on fiddle and Justin Moyse on banjo, with other musicians cycling through. They kept recording, putting out albums such as 'Fire on the Mountain' and 'Charlatan' without smoothing out their edges.
Keep it compact: a lyric you come back to, a live memory, or the part of the catalog you would point someone toward first.
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