Silers Bald is the name of a ridge along the Appalachian trail. Rising up from the valleys around them, these mountains offer spectacular vistas to those willing to take the journey to the heights. The ridges afford the chance to rest and view the magnificence of God's creation. Silers Bald, the band, takes its cue from its namesake and attempts to give its listeners an amazing view, that of the grace and love of God.
Formed in 1996 by three friends at the University of South Carolina, guitarists and vocalists Shane Williams and Warren Bazemore and drummer Jason Jacobs were soon joined by Marcus Myers on violin and hammer dulcimer, percussionist Sean Anderson, and Laura Story on upright bass, piano, and vocals. The result is a sound that is very similar to the acoustic praise that is so popular right now, but with a twist. Myers claims that this has been his first experience improvising violin parts, but it is those additions which set these songs apart. The band also makes good use of its three vocalists. Lead vocals are shared by the three throughout the songs. The harmonies are tight and, at times, evoke the music of the Southern Appalachians.
Most of the songs are praise and worship anthems, a testimony to the many years that the band has played at retreats, colleges, and high school campuses. Songs like the opener, "Got Me Smiling" and "Getting Back," are joyous declarations of the need to live in God's presence. In both, the use of the violin gives the song that "something" extra that make them a pleasure to listen to. "Grace" is a prayer to understand how far God's grace extends.
I ask you how many times will You pick me up
When I keep on letting You down
And each time I will fall short of Your glory
How far will forgiveness abound
And You answer "My child, I love you
And as long as you're seeking My face
You'll walk in the power
Of my daily sufficient grace."
The two covers on the disk highlight the band's versatility. The first, U2's "When Love Comes to Town," seems out of place among the other acoustic tunes but is clearly just a matter of fun among the band members. With the addition of some wonderful electric guitar playing by Alan Reed and Chris McDonald and wailing background vocals by Angela "Tal" Priester-Moore, the song really rocks.
"This is a song stamped on the heart and mind of the truly regenerated soul where intellectual acknowledgement of the truth has joined a will compelled to magnify Christ in every aspect of life. This is what we believe." These words on the liner notes preface the credits to the second cover, Rich Mullins' "Creed." Here Myers' hammer dulcimer really shines. Not exactly like the original, and yet not deviating too far, this version fits in nicely with the other material presented here.
Silers Bald has headed into the arena of acoustic praise and brings us something just a bit better--music that not only satisfies the soul but the ear as well. If these are the vistas of God's love and grace, the view from here is just fine.
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Other coverage for this album
The Phantom Tollbooth 2001Reviewed by Olin JenkinsWhat is Silers Bald? Okay, I cheated, since I "grew up" with these guys (and gal Laura Story) from my hometown of Columbia, South Carolina. Grabbing the liner notes of their first project, Climbing (1997), Silers Bald is both a ridge on the Appalachian Trail in Tennessee and "a search for something greater than ourselves...". I call this band today's version of Peter, Paul and Mary, or better…The Phantom Tollbooth 2000Reviewed by Israel KlossColumbia, South Carolina. Home of Hootie and the Blowfish, the Confederate flag and Silers Bald. Granted, only two of the three are well known outside South Carolina, but after four years of paying their dues in "The Palmetto State," Silers Bald has achieved national distribution. Six musicians make up Silers Bald. The three original band members are from the University of South Carolina where…
