Unspoken Tradition turns an Alabama classic into an energetic bluegrass rave-up

Article Contributed by Mountain Home … | Published on Monday, September 2, 2024

After a string of chart-topping originals written by band members and close colleagues, Mountain Home Music Company’s Unspoken Tradition breaks from past practice with the release of their latest single, which recasts country Hall of Fame quartet Alabama’s 1992 classic, “I’m In A Hurry (And Don’t Know Why)” as an energetic bluegrass rave-up.

Says lead singer and guitarist Audie McGinnis, “I was born in '85, so 90's country was a part of life during that period. I still use 90's country to get back there, nostalgically. Alabama was an awesome country band, and vocally, this song is just so fun to sing. The acapella intro always grabbed my attention back then, and knowing our band has so many capable singers, I wanted to give this one a try as a fun cover.”

Sure enough, the group’s powerhouse vocal trio — McGinnis, bassist Sav Sankaran and fiddler Tim Gardner — dive right into the song’s opening chorus with a bold declaration that almost begs listeners to sing along to the popular anthem:

I’m in a hurry to get things done
I rush and rush until life’s no fun
All I really got to do is live and die
But I’m in a hurry and don’t know why

Banjo man Zane McGinnis leads the way in translating electric guitars into a muscular bluegrass setting, as Ty Gilpin’s mandolin takes on the role of Teddy Gentry’s drums, providing crisp rhythmic punctuation that drives the arrangement forward. Expanding the brief instrumental passages of the original into the meatier solos that characterize bluegrass, Unspoken Tradition’s take is a stellar example of how the best bluegrass artists bring their own creative impulses into play when paying homage to classics from beyond the genre’s boundaries — and in a way that accentuates the underlying theme of “I’m In A Hurry (And Don’t Know Why).”

“As a father with a family, a full time job, and also juggling music and other things,” Audie McGinnis notes, “the message of the song is a reminder to slow down some and enjoy the little things."

"I'm In A Hurry (And Don't Know Why)" is streaming in Dolby Atmos spatial audio on Apple Music, Amazon Music and TIDAL. Listen to it HERE.

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