MUSIC ON THE MENU: Rounding up some bluegrass

The Coal Town Rounders w/ Joshua Panda Band, Thurs. Sept. 9, 10 p.m., The Bog (341 Adams Ave, Scranton). Cover: $5. Info: 570.341.6711, www.coaltownrounders.com

by Alan K. Stout
Music Columnist

When Christopher Kearney gets on stage with The Coal Town Rounders, he says he feels invigorated by the energy of the music. And though the band’s sound, which is distinctly bluegrass, might not be what you’d typically hear from a bunch of twenty-somethings playing in NEPA’s bars and clubs, the group has been building a sizeable following and getting gigs at plenty of area nightspots.

“It’s a little uncharacteristic for someone our age,” says Kearney, 28, who’s been a fan of bluegrass since childhood. “My dad is a guitar player, and he’s been a huge influence on me and my musical tastes. I remember being a young kid and hearing Tony Rice and Doc Watson in the car, and though it didn’t have an immediate effect on me — I was more into the heavier rock stuff when I was younger — it was always there. I always had an acoustic guitar — never an electric guitar — and I always loved playing that kind of music.”

Kearney says most of the members of The Coal Town Rounders attended high school together at Lackawanna Trail, and it was through those longtime friendships that a more collective love of bluegrass developed. The band, based in Wyoming County, also features James Estes on dobro and vocals, Michael McGuigan on banjo, Jason Zarnowski on upright bass and Matthew Hiller on mandolin. It also sometimes features Cristina Cox on fiddle.

The group debuted in October of 2009 and sometimes describes itself as “black-lung bluegrass” and “bar-grass,” both terms which play on the band’s regional ties and the fact that it plays such music in local clubs. The impetus for the project, says Kearney, occurred a few years ago when his longtime friend, McGuigan, learned the banjo and the two began jamming together on old instrumental songs, some of which were originally played on the fiddle.

“We had a lot of fun just playing music, and we just kind of took it from there,” he says. “James’ family has what we call ‘pickin’ parties’ at his house. A lot of the older bluegrass folks from around the area come. We have a lot of food, and we sing all day, and it’s like a potluck with music.”

In addition to Watson and Rice, Kearney names Old Crow Medicine Show, The Stanley Brothers, Bill Monroe and Ricky Skaggs as influences and favorites of the band. And it is often such music that anchors much of The Coal Town Rounders’ sets.

“We look at it as our take on traditional pieces,” he says. “A lot of the songs are pretty old, and people seem to enjoy it. Not to sound like we’re the greatest band, but musically, we do pretty good. A lot of the stuff is up-tempo and high energy, and it’s contagious.”

The group has performed at Heil’s Place and The Banshee, both in Scranton, as well as The Honky Tonk Saloon in Dunmore, Chet’s Place at Elk Mountain, Arlo’s Tavern in Ararat and Jad’s Place in Pittston. On Sept. 9, it will perform at The Bog in Scranton. Kearney says local clubs and music fans aren’t the only ones that have been supportive. Other area bands have also taken an interest in the project.

“It’s funny, but a lot of the local musicians in the area that we look up to have kind of taken us under their wing and helped us out,” he says, naming members of Old Friends and Cabinet as examples. (The Sept. 9 show at The Bog is being presented by Bill Orner of The Orner Brothers.) The band also has more than 2,000 fans on Facebook.

Kearney says there’s simply a lot of appeal to some down-home, home-cooked bluegrass.

“There’s so much,” he says, when asked what he loves the most about the music. “The high energy. The fast tempo. The technicality of the instrumentation. Plus, there are really fun songs about trains and murder and stuff like that. I know it sounds kind of crazy, but there are some good songs about murder that I really enjoy.”

He laughs but also seems well aware that he’s in a fortunate position. He knows his band isn’t your typical NEPA cover project dishing out the latest Top 40 or modern-rock hits, yet it’s still finding fans. And the band is doing it on its own terms.

“They say don’t look a gift horse in the mouth,” he says. “I’m on Facebook every day interacting with people and putting our name out there. There aren’t a lot of bands like us in the area, and maybe they’re just looking for something different.”

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