L-R: Doug Perkins, Adam Frehm, Mike Santosusso, Matt Schrag
WORDS BY TOM PROCTOR, PHOTO BY JAMES LOCKRIDGE.
Smokin' Grass joined host Brent Hallenbeck on 'Rocket Shop', Big Heavy World's local music radio hour on 105.9FM The Radiator. Join them for Nectar's 40th Birthday bash on December 10th at 10pm.
Listen to a replay here or via Rocket Shop Radio Hour on iTunes or Subscribe on Android

If you like gettin’ your knees up, shoutin’ out a yee-haw and bouncin’ around a dance floor to hot pickin’ licks then Smokin’ Grass might be the band for you. Classic old school-cob pipe bluegrass meets funkadelic-jam with a spicy kick to boot. Off the scene for a cool decade now they’ve brought it back for the anniversary of Nectar’s 40th and have a fair few fans chomping at the bit to hear them pick their strings once again. Back in the late 90’s these guys ruled the roost, riding the Bluegrass revival and knocking out two belting albums (Take Yer Pick, 1998 + In the Barn, 2001).

Back on the stage for the big party, they graced us with their presence in the Big Heavy World studio to play a couple of old favourites and talk to me about their comeback gig, tours of days past and the vibes of the current Bluegrass scene. Accompanied by their new Mandolin player Matt Schrag, the old boys Mike Santosusso (Bass/Vocals), Adam Frehm (Dobro) and Doug Perkins share a blather and some recollections.

TP: So lately you've all been playing with a lot of different groups on the Bluegrass scene, do you find the younger guys coming to you for advice?

MSc: It's such a small and community based scene, it's less people coming to us for advice and more that everyone knows each other and are really supportive. In some scenes it's really tough, you don't get the support of other musicians because it's a competitive market. Here it's such a small scene with such a high number of really talented musicians - if you need support it's there.

AF: There is a contingent of young, serious musicians that are doing what we did, in terms of touring nationally. When they leave it's almost a bittersweet thing - you're happy for them but you're not going to see them on the scene for a while. Its interesting to be at this place in my career where I don't wanna be touring all the time and dedicating my entire life to the same one group. On the flip side, there are so many great musicians in Vermont, so you get a lot of stimulus and you play in a lot of styles so you become a better musician. You maybe don't get the big glamorous nights you get when you're on tour, but you get more personal rewards. There's less energy put into the hype and more energy put into your craft.

MSc: One of the great things about playing with so many different musicians is that, if you’ve never played with them before, you have to figure it out in the moment. It's like learning a new language immediately. Sometimes you come up with gibberish, but that's the challenge. With such a diverse scene you get to play a whole range of genres.

TP: The band has changed from 2001 when your last album came out - who’s new to the outfit?

AF: This is Matt Schragg and he’s been the go-to session guy in Vermont. He plays mandolin, plays guitar, he’s an all around music man. He’s new to Smokin’ Grass.

MSc: I moved up here about 8 or 9 years ago. I met Adam and we started playing together within the first month of being here.

AF: Matt and Mike and I now play every other Thursda...