The Black Lillies - Stranger to Me (2018)

A country act that fuses classic sounds with contemporary energy and attitude, the Black Lillies were formed in Knoxville, Tennessee in 2009 by singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Cruz Contreras, a former member of Robinella & the CC Stringband. Joining Contreras in the lineup were guitarist and pedal steel player Tom Pryor (formerly of the Everybodyfields), drummer and percussionist Jamie Cook (also of the Everybodyfields), bassist Robert Richards, and vocalist Trisha Gene Brady. The band, featuring a fresh blend of bluegrass, jazz, rock, country, and blues, with just a touch of string band Appalachia, began recording a debut album project in Contreras' home studio (which doubled as his living room) shortly after he parted ways with Robinella, with help from Leah Gardner on backing vocals, Billy Contreras on fiddle, and Taylor Coker on bass. The resulting album, Whiskey Angel, was independently released by the band in the spring of 2009 and quickly garnered positive critical attention, regular play on American stations, and a management and booking deal. The Black Lillies began touring steadily in support, and appeared at major music festivals, including Bonnaroo and Pickathon. In 2010, the Black Lillies announced they were at work on their second album, to be financed through a crowd-sourcing campaign; the response from fans was positive, and 100 Miles of Wreckage was released in the spring of 2011, once again to enthusiastic reviews and good sales. The Black Lillies' third album, Runaway Freeway Blues, released in March 2013, was another critical and commercial success; shortly after it was released, it was announced that drummer Jamie Cook was leaving the group, and Bowman Townsend, who had been touring with the group while Cook dealt with family matters, was their new full-time drummer. After plenty more touring and enthusiastic press, Cruz Contreras was writing material for the band's fourth album in early 2015 when he got the news that longtime collaborators Tom Pryor and Robert Richards had decided to leave the band. When the group rolled into the studio to begin recording, the Black Lillies brought along guest musicians Matt Smith on pedal steel guitar, Daniel Donato on six-string guitar, and Bill Reynolds (of Band of Horses) on bass. The album, Hard to Please, was released in October 2015, and when the Black Lillies returned to the road in support, Contreras, Brady, and Townsend were joined by three new recruits – guitarist Mike Seal, pedal steel man Jonathan Keeney, and bassist Sam Quinn. ~ Steve Leggett & Mark Deming

Tracklist:
01. The Black Lillies - Ten Years
02. The Black Lillies - Midnight Stranger
03. The Black Lillies - Weighting
04. The Black Lillies - Out of the Blue
05. The Black Lillies - Don't Be Afraid
06. The Black Lillies - No Other Way
07. The Black Lillies - Joy and Misery
08. The Black Lillies - Earthquake
09. The Black Lillies - Ice Museum
10. The Black Lillies - River Rolls
11. The Black Lillies - Third Place
12. The Black Lillies - Snakes and Telephones
13. The Black Lillies - Someday, Sometime