BELLOWS FALLS — How to describe the Cold River Ranters?
Their website calls their music “hot gonzo primitive folk jive.”
Flying Under Radar's Charlie Hunter says the group reminds him of a cross between the Holy Modal Rounders, The Asylum Street Spankers, “and Jonathan Richman if he lived in Acworth.”
But the best description might be simply to say they're one whole heck of a lot of fun.
The Cold River Ranters (www.coldriverranters.com) make their Bellows Falls debut at Popolo on Thursday, March 7, in a benefit show for the Bellows Falls Farmers' Market.
The show starts at 8 p.m., with doors opening at 7:30. For those wishing to dine at Popolo first, flash your ticket receipt for 10 percent off food items.
The Cold River Ranters blend an American-rootsy feel with dashes of third world seasonings. Their melodies reflect Appalachian, Irish, Celtic Brittany, African, and South Asian cultural traditions - but the band's lyrics are one of a kind.
Moreover, traditional instrumentation counterbalanced by blood-and-guts vocal stylings fuel their high energy repertoire of originals and timeless classics.
At the Ranters' local core are Lemspter, N.H.'s, Skillet Walker on steel resonator guitar and vocals; Jonathan Reinhart of Marlow, N.H., on mandolin and vocals; Tom Jawbone of Keene and Acworth, N.H., on banjo, flute, bagpipes, penny whistle, bones, jug, jaw harp and vocals; and Nattie Carroll of Keene and Acworth on accordion and washboard.
Marek Bennett draws deep thumping bass lines out of a 35 gallon steel drum festooned with banjo head and strings.
One of a kind. Absolutely.