The Greencards are an Austin trio composed of two Australians, mandolinist Kym Warner and bassist Carol Young, and an Englishman, fiddler Eamon McLoughlin. Warner and Young made names for themselves Down Under for their instrumental prowess and vocal abilities; McLoughlin has worked with Ray Wylie Hubbard, the Austin Lounge Lizards, Bruce Robison and others.
Together they have enough talent to impress any crowd, and as their debut recording, Movin’ On, demonstrates, they aren’t shy about proving it. They blend traditional and contemporary folk, flavoring it with a dash of Celtic fiddle, a dab of newgrass, and some intricate yet never flashy interplay.
The disc opens with a spirited instrumental, “Jolly Hockeysticks”, an excellent introduction to the band’s phenomenal musical abilities, and ends with the breezy, uplifting “Life’s A Freeway”. In between, they offer a passionate take on Robert Earl Keen’s “Love’s A Word I Never Throw Around”, a slinky rendition of Gillian Welch’s “Caleb Meyer”, and a few instrumental flights, “Leonardo’s Ride” and “Small Tots”, that defy description.
Movin’ On is a heck of a debut, promising enough to make a strong case that the government should allow these Greencards permanent resident status.
