What

Samantha Sturm ~

Bluegrass Music Profiles, Jan-Feb, 2006

THE GREERS
Scorched Heart & Ashes
by Samantha Sturm
The Greers form an exceptionally great bluegrass group. Their harmonies blend together in pure vocal glory. Don Grahlherr does an excellent Buck Owens song, Streets of Bakersfield, and amazes listeners. Carla and Marla Greer have some of the best female vocals going right now and their voices are about as pure as the come.

Also on this album is a song written by Porter Wagoner entitled Right Combination, which is also wonderful to the ears. No one could ask for a better bluegrass album - great vocals, wonderful musicians and an all-around catchy group. Special fiddle guest Robert Bowlin makes this even better. He adds some kick that tops this album off. Their sound is more traditional as opposed to a lot of the more contemporary things that are coming out right now and it's just what bluegrass music needs. BMP

Wayne Bledsoe ~

Bluegrass Now, April, 2005

THE GREERS BLUEGRASS BAND ...
....based in the St. Louis, MO area, has a new CD available titled Scorched Heart & Ashes. It contains sixteen songs, including eight original{, one} penned by Sidney Cox and {one by} Mel Besher, along with eight band favorites. Contributing to the CD is Marla Greer, Bass and vocals, Carla Greer on Guitar and vocals, Don Grahlherr on Dobro and vocals, Mike Aehle on Banjo, Bass and vocals, Joel Ferber on Mandolin and vocals. Special guest included Gary Hunt on Guitar and Robert Bowlin on Fiddle. Noted for their angelic harmonies, Marla and Carla, formerly West Coast favorites, now have a major following among bluegrass fans in the Midwest. Give their new CD a listen and they'll become one of your favorites as well. The Greers can be reached at greersbluegrass@charter.net.

THE GREERS BLUEGRASS BAND -
Scorched Heart & Ashes

The most significant aspects to Carla and Marla Greer are their stunning vocal harmonies, which dominate this musical collection. The 16 performances are a blending of old favorites among originals like "He's Held In Angels Wings" and "There's No Reason." Marla handles the majority of the lead vocals, but Carla is featured on "Last Love Letter"and is joined by resonator guitarist Don Grahlherr for a duet on "Right Combination." "Scorched Heart And Ashes" is an impressive undertaking that establishes the Greer sisters as important voices in contemporary bluegrass music. - Bluegrass Unlimited Feb. 2005

THE GREERS BLUEGRASS BAND -
Scorched Heart & Ashes
No label, no number
1308 Kim Drive, O'Fallon, Il. 62269
TEL. (618)628-3029 or (618)550-8625
EMAIL: greersbluegrass@charter.net
www.greersbluegrass.com
Playing Time - 48:36
           Songs - Heart of Stone, Last Love Letter, Long Shot, Who Did You Love, Grahlin', Streets of Bakersfield, He's Held in Angels Wings, Scorched Heart and Ashes, Everybody's Reaching Out For Someone, Right Combination, Swift Water Bend, There's No Reason, Don't Laugh, Gone Away, The Least You Can Do is Pretend, I Have Found the Way
           I first met Carla & Marla Greer when Chuck Holloway asked me to help them out at a Northwest Regional Folklife Festival show in May, 1998. I was very impressed with their talent, drive and showmanship. Both are fine singers. Carla plays guitar, and Marla plays bass. After moving from Oregon in 1998, the twin sisters formed The Greers Bluegrass Band in the St. Louis area with Joel Ferber (mandolin), Mike Aehle (banjo), and Don Grahlherr (dobro). A couple guests (Gary Hunt and Robert Bowlin) help out on guitar and fiddle, respectively. The band's debut CD has 16 tracks which show the influences of bluegrass, classic country and gospel inspiration. The sisters' own originals include "Heart of Stone," "Long Shot," "He's Held in Angel's Wings," "Scorched Heart & Ashes," "There's No Reason," and "The Least You Can Do is Pretend." The up-tempo title cut speaks of a blackened heart and the flame of love burning out, but their most impressive and defining performances are on some of the slower numbers like "Everybody's Reaching Out for Someone."
           Don Grahlherr's instrumental "Grahlin'" bursts with pep throughout its quick-paced romp. Mike Aehle's "Swift Water Bend" makes good use of his banjo D-tuners as they pay tribute to a stretch of Missouri's Meramec River. Additional songs come from Sidney Cox, Mel Besher, Homer Joy, Porter Wagner, Rebe Gosdin, Steve Collom, and Lee Dickey & Reynolds Allen. Song selection is one of this band's strengths as they offer good variety that also capitalizes on their individual skills. Don and Carla's duet on "Right Combination" is also a special country moment on the CD.
           Carla and Marla Greer have actually been performing since 1986 as music has always been a big part of their lives. Their father, Bud Greer, was a bluegrass musician who played regularly and hosted frequent jams. After studying their dad's record collection while growing up in northern Idaho, they discovered the Louvin Brothers during their teenage years. The Greers family band included their father and four daughters. They played churches and other family events throughout the west and Canada. To date, The Greers have produced six albums. "Walk On In" came out in the mid-90s. Other projects on cassette tape included The Greers (1992), He'll Lead You (1990), Resting Easy (1989), and Bible for a Roadmap (1987).
           I was sad to see Carla and Marla move from Oregon to pursue their music interests elsewhere. However, I'm also very happy to see that they are succeeding with their dreams in Missouri. They are serious about their music, and they know what it takes to make it high-quality and professional. With the help of able musicians, the band is sure to go far. After decades of playing electric guitar, Don Grahlherr took up bluegrass music and dobro in 1996, playing with The Rosa String Works Band from 1997-2003. Joel Ferber started banjo in high school, played with such bands as The Hunan Mt. Boys, Charged Particles, Natural Bridge, and Old Man Joe. Mike Aehle has played with the String Town String Band, and he sang on the Chris Talley Trio's 2003 release "Tribute."
           Mike Aehle has now left The Greers to spend more time with his family. The band's new banjo player is Bill Cross, a multi-instrumentalist from Troy, Il. who has been playing for many years and is always in demand to fill in with bands when he is not playing along side The Greers. Collectively, their talent, honesty and work ethic will take The Greers Bluegrass Band very far. (Joe Ross)

“Scorched Heart & Ashes” is a more than generous16-track CD released by the Greers Bluegrass Band and a recording definitely worthy of your attention. Highlighting well the superb vocal harmonies of Marla and Carla Greer, this CD is a fresh listen and fun; one that melds voices reminiscent of traditional country with contemporary bluegrass instrumentation. Aptly assisting the sisters are Mike Aehle on banjo, Joel Ferber on mandolin and Don Grahlherr on Dobro. Several Guest also appear.

None of the songs is an overdone or worn out bluegrass standard. Indeed, I recognized only two tunes; “Last Love Letter” (done by Alison Krauss on an early album) and “I Have Found a Way” (on Doyle Lawson’s “Kept & Protected” CD). Six of the package are penned by Marla Greer and in my opinion the real strength of this recording. My favorites included “Long Shot”, He’s Held in Angel’s Wings” and “There’s No Reason,”

But every one of these originals are first-class. This is exciting new bluegrass yet with overtones reflective of brother duets of bluegrass past.

Of the two instrumentals (“Grahlin and Swift Water Bend”), the former caught my ear as a pleasant romp through the band’s instrumental talents, but particularly the Dobro. The playing style seems akin to Jerry Douglas’ expressive and free flowing approach. Instrumentation throughout is solid but not flashy. My only complaint is that the song is way to short! (I guess we’ll have to see the band live to hear “the long version!”)

The Sister’s certainly did right by me recording one of Mel Besher’s tunes. “Who Did You Love” is a song that makes the listener consider the important things in life and it might have been nice to hear Mel singing along in this number. I also enjoyed “Everybody’s Reaching Out for Someone” a song the band says they get many requests for and this performance demonstrates why. Overall band performance on this number is simply excellent and this song should become a bluegrass classic! Another strong selection is the title cut also penned by Marla Greer

The strength of this CD includes creative song writing, wonderful harmony, solid instrumentation and fresh, new bluegrass. It’s a CD that bears repeated listening.

“I thought I was pretty much “up” on the contemporary bluegrass scene, but my collection has apparently been lacking. I love your Louvin style harmonies (nobody sings like that anymore!!), fresh originals, interesting arrangements and overall sound. I especially enjoyed “Scorched Heart & Ashes” (the title of the tune is reason enough to purchase the CD!) “Long Shot”, “Heart of Stone”, “Walk on In” (what a killer cut!), “Garden of Sadness”, “Dear Companion” and of course all those achingly beautiful Louvin covers.

“Rest assured I’ll be doing my best to get the word out here in Nashville and in our other syndicated locations” Thanks again!