CMT Blog: Carrie Rodriguez

No Depression has returned in print form. The roots music magazine, which ceased publication earlier this year in favor of a Web site, is releasing the first of a projected series of “bookazines.” The project, in conjunction with the University of Texas Press, is expected to be published in semi-annually each year. It’s in the form of an oversize paperback book, 8-1/2 by 11 inches. The first edition is, as No Depression founders Grant Alden and Peter Blackstock note in their introduction, “youth-focused.” It features Abigail Washburn and the Next Generation on the cover. Other stories cover the Duhks, Carrie Rodriguez, the Infamous Stringdusters, Sierra Hull, Samantha Crain, and other artists including Hanson, with an interesting justification for their inclusion here. A photo portfolio and album reviews are also included. The first issue is due in October.

Here at Johnny D’s in Boston, I’m watching the very talented and very gorgeous fiddler Carrie Rodriguez finish her sound-check. The Greencards and Carrie are playing a show together tonight and it’s a thrill to play with her as she steps out from the shadow of her great work with Chip Taylor. It wasn’t too long ago that the idea of a female fiddler leading her own show was a novel idea and hard for some in the industry to accept. The world of country music has had its fair share of male fiddler role models. Where would be without Bob Wills, Roy Acuff or Charlie Daniels? I was going to mention Western swing legend Spade Cooley but that little misdemeanor of killing his wife rules him out of the ‘role model’ title. Where are the female fiddlers in the history books? I can’t think of too many.

These days things are different – female fiddlers of all different styles are making a name for themselves. Natalie MacMaster is a wild, wild fiddler who merged Cape Breton fiddling with bluegrass in the excellent record, Blueprint. Elana James from Austin was a leading force in the Hot Club of Cowtown and now leads her own fiery Western swing trio. April Verch records for Rounder and can be seen at festivals around the country dancing and playing her heart out.

When did this all change? I’m going to stick my neck out here and point to the emergence of Alison Krauss as a major force in bluegrass AND country music in the early 90s. Alison would appear onstage or on TV and amaze people with her vocals and then effortlessly hold her own as a fiddler with any bluegrass musician. If you don’t own a copy of her I’ve Got That Old Feeling album, your life is sadly incomplete. It will knock your socks off!

Hopefully soon we won’t have to talk in terms of male or female fiddlers, thanks to all those who have broken the mold. The fiddle world is uniting and gaining strength. Guitar pickers beware, we are about to rule the musical world!