{"id":939,"date":"2016-12-29T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2016-12-29T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev.nysmusic.com\/2016\/2016\/12\/29\/hearing-aid-grassroots-rebels-ad-vitam-meliorem\/"},"modified":"2016-12-29T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2016-12-29T00:00:00","slug":"hearing-aid-grassroots-rebels-ad-vitam-meliorem","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dev.nysmusic.com\/2016\/2016\/12\/29\/hearing-aid-grassroots-rebels-ad-vitam-meliorem\/","title":{"rendered":"Hearing Aide: Grassroots Rebels ‘Ad Vitam Meliorem’"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you like a folk, jamgrass & newgrass cocktail then you\u2019ll love Grassroots Rebels recently released album, Ad Vitam Meliorem\u2014<\/em>which is \u201cTowards a Better Life\u201d in Latin.<\/p>\n

\"Hearing<\/p>\n

Ad Vitam \u00a0Meliorem<\/em> is a 14-track compilation of Grassroots Rebel\u2019s original songs, mostly self-recorded in the first eight years of their time together as a band, with two tracks on the album that are new songs recorded at Blue Sky Recording Studio<\/a>. Grassroots Rebels are a duo comprised of Jim Bonville and Jeff Tehan, but some of the songs on the album include their former bandmate, Jeff Lockmer, on bass. Bonville plays guitar, banjo, vocals and harmonica, while Tehan\u00a0provides the mandolin and guitar.<\/p>\n

The title track, \u201cAd Vitam Meliorem,\u201d is the opener on the album and it\u2019s my favorite piece; it is a slow melody that is coupled with yearning, poetic lyrics on the theme of letting go; like \u201cyou thought you had nothing, but it\u2019s all right in your soul\/ once you stop trying to find the things you cannot know\/ you learn to love, when you learn how to let go.\u201d The next track, \u201cHere It Comes\u201d features a great interplay between the light picking melody and Bonville\u2019s strong, raspy vocals delivering a catchy tune, while also exhibiting his vocal range on the chorus. Some of the songs on the album evoked a feel of the Irish, and I was reminded of The Pogues when listening to songs like “Broken Soul,” “Salt of Our Tears” and “Sin and Gasoline.” The other songs were a range between rock and newgrass, creating a great compilation of musical experimentation and adventure.<\/p>\n

Grassroots Rebels hail from the outskirts of Albany, NY, and perform locally at establishments such as, The Low Beat, The Hollow, Parish Public House, Madison Theater, etc. Their next show is set for December 30, for an Eve of New Years Eve party at The Hollow.<\/p>\n

For more information and tickets, visit Grassroots Rebels\u2019 Facebook Page<\/a>. If you\u2019d like a copy of Ad Vitam \u00a0Meliorem, <\/em>visit here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Key tracks<\/strong>: Ad Vitam Meliorem, Here It Comes, Weight of the World<\/p>\n