Sweet smell of success in Leftover Salmon's 'Ask the Fish'
from The Senator: Springfield High School
CD review
Paul Appleton
Leftover Salmon has been together since 1990. Like many jam bands, Leftover comes from Colorado. Before they were a band, the members were in two bands, one called the "Salmon Heads," and the other, the "Left Hand String Band." When they became one band they combined the two names, getting the name Leftover Salmon. They also believe in saving many of the salmon in the wild.
LoS plays a few odd instruments, including a waterphone, an electric tree stump (don&Mac226;t ask me), and a one-of-a-kind ketchup bottle slide mandolin.They play a mixed type of music ranging from bluegrass to polka."Ask the Fish" was recorded live on October 28-29, 1994, in Boulder, Colo.
The whole CD has an up-tempo sound that makes one smile and want to get up and dance. This CD also makes one want to see the band live at a show.
The first song on "Ask the Fish" is "Carnival Time." This song livens up
the crowd and gets them ready to have some fun.
Then, a few songs later, the tempo slows down a little with "Ask the Fish" and "Lonesome Road." "Lonesome Road" is one of the best songs on the CD. The main instrument used is the mandolin, enhanced by Drew Emmit's one-of-a-kind voice.
Then, the tempo jumps back up with the fast-paced "Rueben&Mac226;s Train," one of
the best instrumentals on the CD. Later, Vince Herman gets the crowd into it by leading them in a traditional rendition of "Hot Corn/Cold Corn." This song is hilarious, and both the band and the crowd are obviously having a good time with it.
"Ask the Fish" ends with a tight song called "Headbag." The steady-paced song brings together the talents of these musicians to end a great show and CD.
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