The Hillbenders Tommy - A Bluegrass Opry (CD)

(Compass Records) 23 tracks

45 years after the first release of The Who's rock opera TOMMY, it is now wrapped in a bluegrass guise. The tribute delivers rock energy and rock roars just like the original. With their line-up as a bluegrass quintet, they are in no way inferior to a rock band line-up and have created a legendary album with banjo, dobro, mandolin, bass and guitar. The “Bluegrass Opry,” as the subtitle states, offers a new perspective on TOMMY while truly paying homage to its creators. SXSW co-founder and producer/musician Louis Jay Meyers came up with the idea of a “Bluegrass Opry” and with the band The Hillbenders, he found the right artists for his demands. The performance is a 75-minute performance that mirrors the original album from start to finish.