Bluegrass Unlimited

BLUE GRASS BOOGIEMEN - WHO'S AFRAID OF THE BOOGIEMEN? [June 2006 Issue]
Vandiver Records, CD 2005


The Blue Grass Boogiemen is a five-piece band from Holland, that, in its alter-ego (the Hillbilly Boogiemen), has been playing bluegrass, vintage country, and rockabilly music since 1990. "Who's Afraid Of The Boogiemen?" is the band's debut recording venture and according to information on their web site, it took them longer than usual to produce their first recording because they wanted to insure that it captured the spirit and excitement of their stage shows. From the results shown here, they have succeeded far beyond their wildest expectations.

The Blue Grass Boogiemen are Robert-Jan Kanis (guitar and vocals), Arnold Lasseur (mandolin and vocals), Aart Schroevers (bass and vocals), Bart Van Strien (banjo and vocals), and Lody Van Vlodrop (fiddle and vocals). The proceedings get off to an electrifying start with their rendition of Johnny Paycheck's "The Lovin' Machine," arranged in a style similar to Del McCoury's "Loggin' Man." They close out with a pair of Arnold Lasseur compositions, "My Heart Still Beats For Only You" and the instrumental "Allen Road." In between are performances from various sources that reflect the band's extensive knowledge of bluegrass and country music, including "Out Of Business," "Woman Let Me Sing You A Song," Hank Williams' "Please Make Up Your Mind," "When Your House Is Not A Home," and the obscure Willie Nelson gem "The Storm Has Just Begun." Other pieces from the bluegrass song bag are Bill Monroe's "Goin' Up Caney," Jimmy Martin's "It's Not Like Home," and the Frank Wakefield classic "Leave Well Enough Alone."
The music featured in "Who's Afraid Of The Boogiemen?" is high-energy bluegrass at its finest and establishes this remarkable band as a truly international phenomenon. (Aart Schroevers, Domeselaerstraat 23 huis, 1093 JM Amsterdam, Holland, www.bluegrassboogiemen.nl.)LM