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IRON RIDGE NEWS & REVIEWS
Farewell from Jerry
(September 2009)
Dear Fans and Friends of Iron Ridge
Bluegrass Band,
I made an announcement to fellow band
members the other day and now want to share the decision with you.
After much soul searching, I've decided to leave the band. As a
founding member of Iron Ridge, this was a very difficult decision,
but the right one for me at this time.
Before the band surged in popularity, my
wife Jane and I enjoyed visiting other cultures both inside and
outside of the United States. We enjoyed biking, gardening, and
especially spending time with our family and friends. Since Jane's
retirement April 1, the itch to travel has hit us again, as well as
the desire to devote more time to our old loves. Who knows, we may
even develop some new interests!
So-o-o-o, after much agonizing and many
late night discussions, I have decided to take my leave from Iron
Ridge.
I love bluegrass music and performing
onstage and I will miss that. What I will miss the most, however,
are you, the fans. It is YOU who have made it all worthwhile these
last 9+ years. There are no words to describe what your support
and friendship has meant to me. The way I see it is this -- I play
the best music in the world with the best musicians in the world in
front of the best fans in the world, so to coin a phrase from Lou
Gehrig, I feel like the luckiest man in the world to have had this
opportunity. And who knows, like Jen who left us for college the
end of August, I may just show up during a "semester break" and sit
in for a song or two with the band.
I
encourage you to continue to "shake and howdy." I can be contacted
at
Jerry.Leitner@yahoo.com or
by phone at 410-239-8612.
Fondly,
Jerry
From Bluegrass Unlimited magazine
(November 2007 issue)
IRON RIDGE—HEAVEN LIGHT SHINING
This latest production from
Iron Ridge is an all-Gospel effort
containing 16 selections featuring a mix of original material and
familiar pieces like What Kind of Man, Crying Holy Unto the Lord, and
I've Just Seen the Rock of Ages. Jen Starsinic turns in an
inspiring vocal
performance on In My Time of Dying. Band member Denny Kopp
penned several numbers
including We'll Be Forever There, Just Lift Up Your Eyes, and
Land of Peace and Love.
Heaven Light Shining is another successful recording effort from Iron Ridge
that should delight their many fans.
From Ray Dorsey (CHAOS REALM --
Baltimore, MD)
May 2007
IRON RIDGE - "Heaven Light
Shining" CD '07 (Private, US)
Funny thing, how certain names, people make indelible impressions.
You say baseball, I think Babe Ruth, Ted Williams. You say mountain, I
say Everest.
Works the same way with music & its varying styles. A lot of things
move in & out of
the mix, but you mention heavy metal & the first things coming to my
mind are going to be
Black Sabbath & Judas Priest...every single time. And, even though
it's something
that's only been on my map the last few years, when somebody plays word
association
with "bluegrass," my instant reaction is IRON RIDGE. See, this band
(proudly from the MD/PA area) embodies everything this new fave genre
of mine
stands for and then some: killer playing chops, scintillating vocal
harmonies &
a songwriting skill that's to die for. It's fitting then, that with a
deeply spiritual
feel running through a lot of the best bluegrass music, IRON RIDGE has
taken this
opportunity to make a CD steeped in the Gospel tradition. What I
really like with
what the band has done here is the way they tackle, with equal
deftness,
a couple different approaches. First, they've selected some simply
sterling traditional
pieces and put their remarkable stamp upon them. For instance, the 2nd
tune
on the disc, "In My Time of Dying." Rockers will be familiar with this
chestnut
from its treatment by Zeppelin on "Physical Graffiti" and IRON RIDGE's
version here is just as commanding. Especially of great note are the
vocals by
Jen Starsinic (fiddle/clawhammer banjo). Stunning is the word and
while they'd
be notable for someone of any age, Jen's youth makes them even more
impressive.
Then, you've gotta talk about the originals, which is where IRON RIDGE
raise their
game even further. Denny Kopp pens the 6 of these here and when you
listen
to songs like "We'll Be Forever There," "Just Lift Up Your Eyes" and
"Land Of Peace & Love," you'll understand why I love this band so much.
Oh, and try tearing your ears away from the simply smoking instrumental
work
by the entire band: Denny Kopp (mandolin/vox), Jay Mosley (banjo/vox),
Jerry Leitner (rhythm guitar/vox), Max Allison (bass/vox),
Joey Mosley (lead guitar/dobro) & the aforementioned Jen S.
Is IRON RIDGE a genre-defining band? You betcha!
NOTE: Go to the CHAOS REALM
interview link for a fantastic interview
with the IRON RIDGE band!
http://hometown.aol.com/raysrealm/myhomepage/index.html
From Bluegrass Unlimited magazine
(November 2005 issue)
IRON RIDGE—A NEW BEGINNING
This latest recording venture truly represents a new beginning for the band
Iron Ridge in that several of the band members have undergone
personal struggles that many of us can readily identify with.
The 14 titles are well constructed original pieces like Those Autumn
Leaves,
Mountain Bill, Life of a Miner, and His Wonderful Love. Also
featured
are compelling arrangements of the Harley Allen classic High Sierra,
and along with Carter Stanley's Who will Sing For Me, A New Beginning
is indicative of the fact that Iron Ridge is back with a vengeance and
looking into a future that holds great promise.
From Ray Dorsey (CHAOS REALM --
Baltimore, MD)
November 2005
IRON RIDGE – “A New Beginning” CD
2005 (Private, US)
I'm the first person to admit that I'm a bluegrass novice. Hell,
I guess at metal
and everything else since no one is stupid enough to be paying me do do
this.
But, I have only followed bluegrass for a few years. The thing
is, in that
short a time, I have not found any band nearly as good as IRON RIDGE.
That is a fact and, with this, their newest CD, they've done nothing
but
cement that standing for me. With this CD, IRON RIDGE has
overcome
some physical/medical adversity to a few of their members, had a couple
leave
but emerged from the other side standing taller than ever. I know
I've said it
before, but one thing about bluegrass, also prevalent in Celtic folk,
is that the
greater majority of bands ply the trade of rattling off versions of
traditional
songs. Now sure, we're talking about timeless stuff and it
deserves to be
recognized and interpreted but after a while it gets a little difficult
to make the
old stuff sound new. That's where IRON RIDGE steps in. Once
again,
they have produced an album that is composed mainly of their own
stuff...
and what stuff it is! From the opening of I'll Bear The Shame
through wonderful
cuts like Black Shiny Stone and the gorgeous Jesus Hold My
Hand,
this band is absolutely "on it" all the time. The songs are
catchy and emotional,
the vocals are spot-on and the playing is scintillating. All the
members are great:
Max Allison--bass; Denny Kopp--mandolin, fiddle, and vocals;
Jay Mosley--banjo and vocals; Jerry Leitner--guitar and vocals.
Still, most impressive of all is the lead guitar work of Joey Mosley.
Here's a guy who's just entered his teenage years and, through the
inspiration of his dad (Jay) and great-grandfather (William Reed
Mosley--R.I.P.--
a master banjo picker), has taken over this guitar spot with all the
poise and confidence of a long-time pro. Without question,
the bluegrass album of the year and one of the best overall.
Tremendous stuff.
http://hometown.aol.com/raysrealm/myhomepage/index.html
Thunder and Hurricane
(The funniest movie ever made for less than $5000!)
Iron Ridge goes to the movies!
(June 2005)
Iron Ridge was very honored to have their music used
throughout the soundtrack of the locally-produced film
Thunder and Hurricane, which premiered recently in Hanover, PA.
Copies are now available on DVD and can be purchased at any
Iron Ridge performance. It's also available at Hanover retailers
VideoMax (222 E. Chestnut), Treasures (1 York Street),
Little's Coins & Jewelry (107 Broadway),
or on-line at
www.thunderandhurricane.com.
From Bluegrass Unlimited magazine
(August 2004 issue)
IRON RIDGE—MY LITTLE CABIN HOME—No Label, CMD681.
Iron Ridge is a
six-member bluegrass band based in Hanover, PA.
With “My Little Cabin
Home,”
the guys have created an album of
original bluegrass intermixed with
a few familiar melodies.
Denny Kopp (mandolin, fiddle, and vocals),
Jerry Leitner (guitar and vocals), and Kenny Fream (resonator and lead
guitar
and vocals) appear to be the group’s prime songwriting talent,
having contributed no less than ten of the total sixteen performances,
with such titles as “A New Tradition,” “Love Untold,” “Twisted Memories,”
and the instrumental “Pickett’s Revenge.” Featuring tight vocal
arrangements
and precise instrumentation, Iron Ridge has created a superlative package
of mainstream bluegrass that should significantly
elevate the band’s musical profile.
From Ray Dorsey (CHAOS REALM)
July 2004
IRON RIDGE – “My Little Cabin Home” CD
(Private, US)
My love of bluegrass music is something that has kinda
snuck up on me over the past couple years, much as folk did in the early
‘90s. In respect to that, I’m really happy to have learned that my area
(Maryland/lower PA) is home to some killer acts in the genre, notably
John O’Dell, The Good Deale Bluegrass Band, and these guys, IRON RIDGE.
In fact, I would have to say that with this new release, the IRON RIDGE
BLUEGRASS BAND has stepped up to take on all comers! Now, I liked their
previous 2 CDs quite a bit, but with “…Cabin Home” they’ve gone over the
hump & really made a statement. Of course, IRON RIDGE has great playing
and vocals. You can’t be anything worth your salt in this musical form
without that and each member of the band plays his role to the hilt.
Whether it’s the ripping lead guitar of Kenny Fream (man, this guy can
play!), the sweet picking banjo of Jay Mosley, or the rhythm guitar of
Jay’s 12-year-old son Joey Mosley (the newest member of IRON RIDGE), they
all put the hammer down big time. The rest of the line-up is composed
of: Jimmy Cross (bass), Jerry Leitner (rhythm guitar), & Denny Kopp
(mandolin & fiddle) and they all bring vocals to the table that blend as
well as they are varied. Still, with all of this shredding talent,
that’s not what’s elevated this band to the level I’m hearing now. No,
it’s the songwriting. While a lot of bluegrass artists, particularly
those treading in the traditional-sounding arena, are content to continue
to do no more than re-hash ancient classics, IRON RIDGE has taken the
bull by the horns. Of the 16 tracks on this beefy CD, 11 are originals
and they stand up proud & tall. Sure, their version of the Hugh Moffatt
classic “Rose of My Heart” is breathtaking, but listen to “Love Untold,”
“Sweet Mountain Girl” or “Twisted Memories.” Right there on equal
footing. And with rippers like “The Blues are Just Outside My Door,”
“Papa Didn’t Tell Me,” and “I Just Sit Here Alone,” the IRON RIDGE band
is laying down what could become classics for a new generation, as the
album’s opener “A New Tradition” couldn’t be any more accurate. For
veteran listeners of the genre, this is as good a new album as you could
buy. For newcomers, there couldn’t be a better place to start. It’s an
awesome release from not only the best bluegrass band from around these
parts, but from anywhere these days, in my opinion. Essential!
From Ray Dorsey (CHAOS REALM --
Baltimore, MD)
January 2005
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