Chatham County Line | Sight and Sound | Album Review

Article Contributed by Kevin Adams | Published on Friday, July 27, 2012

Chatham County Line releases the live album and DVD Sight and Sound, recorded in August 2010 at Raleigh’s Fletcher Opera Theater. This collection of the North Carolina quartet offers an in-depth look of the bluegrass band’s decade-long discography. Now available on Yep Roc Records, Sights and Sound includes in-depth interviews with Dave Wilson (songwriting , guitarist, Singer) who describes this project as “a loose Greatest Hits.” Sights and Sound represent the earlier milestones of Chatham County Line’s career, dating back to the first Chatham County Line record in 2003. Title tracks are included from Route 23 (2005) and Speed of the Whippoorwill (2006). However, with the original Fletcher performance on the heels of Wildwood (2010), it is understandable that most of this collection is representative of more recent recordings.  Musically, this live album is impressive. John Teer (guitar, fiddle, mandolin, back-up vocals), Chandler Holt (banjo, dobro, guitar), and Greg Readling (bass, pedal steel guitar, back-up vocals) provide stellar harmonies and lead fills. “Alone in New York” and “Crop Comes In” open the album with softer melodies and southern perspective before opening in to the rollicking “Birmingham Jail”. Chatham County Line’s signature “one microphone” approach provides a close knit sound throughout the performance. The whole album is richly recorded and really does offer audiences a “Greatest Hits” experience.  In addition to the live album, the DVD includes fan favorites “One More Minute” and “Porcelain Doll”.Almost two years after their first Fletcher concert, Chatham County Line will be returning to Raleigh’s Opera Theater as part of their tour to support this latest release, Sight & Sound. For the full tour, Click Tour.Chatham County Line – Sight & SoundCD/LP:1. Alone In New York2. Crop Comes In3. Nowhere To Sleep4. Birmingham Jail5. By The Riverside6. Route 237. Gunfight In Durango8. Whipping Boy9. Rock Pile10. Speed Of The Whippoorwill11. The Carolinian12. Clear Blue Sky13. Closing Town14 Wildwood15. Chip Of A Star16. Let It RockDVD:1. Crop Comes In2. Gunfight In Durango3. One More Minute4. The Carolinian5. Speed Of The Whippoorwill6. Birmingham Jail7. Clear Blue Sky8. Closing Town9. Blue Jay Way10. Chip Of A Star11. Let it Rock12. Porcelain Doll13. End of the Line