Cole Quest and The City Pickers - Self [En]Titled (2021) [Hi-Res]

NYC Americana collective fronted by Cole Quest, grandson of Woody Guthrie. Includes a cover of Billy Bragg & Wilco's "Way Over Yonder In The Minor Key" (words by Woody Guthrie) and Flatt & Scruggs' "Foggy Mountain Rock". Cole Quest and The City Pickers are a group of New York City musicians connected by friendship and a love of bluegrass. Cole Quest, grandson of the folk icon Woody Guthrie, has brought together a collection of eclectic pickers who have gained recognition on the local scene. Performing both Quest's original tunes as well as traditional favorites, The City Pickers bring their special brand of high-spirited talent to the stage, with up-beat, knee slapping energy and a high lonesome sound that'll leave you wanting more. After recording at NYC's renowned Magic Shop studio and releasing their debut album in 2017, they are now planning to release their first EP, Self [En]Titled, with the help of Grammy-winning producer Steve Rosenthal and Grammy-winning engineer, Michael Graves. Recorded in January of 2020, in person at Brooklyn's Conveyor Studios by recording engineer Jason Borisoff, mixed during the pandemic by Tom Camuso, and produced by Rosenthal, the 6 track EP, Self [En]Titled, contains witty originals and crucial covers for the modern listener. The core band resembles a slightly modified take on the traditional 5 piece bluegrass band, consisting of dobro (Cole Quest), guitar (Christian Apuzzo), banjo (Mike Mulhollan), harmonica (Matheus Verardino), and bass (Larry Cook). The album also features the likes of the incredibly talented Sam Reider (organ and wurlitzer), Sean Trishka (drums), and Erik Alvar (bass).Songs like "Ostrich Therapy," take the perspective of someone attempting to hide from the problems of this world (so 2020), or "The Bitcoin Gambler," a John Prine style inspired modern take on old gambling songs with modern references to the perils of the cryptocurrency market sewn into every lyric.