Mama Corn plays bluegrass, mix: One of four bands to play Altoona First Frontier Festival
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Area band Mama Corn "blazes its own trail" when it comes to bluegrass-influenced music. Its unique stylings have won fans since forming in 2007. They are one of four bands performing at the Altoona First Frontier Festival July 28 at the Railroaders Memorial Museum.
All band members sing and play multiple instruments. Co-founders John Stevens of Bellwood plays dobro and harmonica; Jeremy Nelson of Hollidaysburg plays banjo; Bruce Forr of Duncansville adds guitar, and Bryan Homan of Bellefonte contributes bass.
After an open mic jam session at a local pub in 2006, Stevens and Nelson discussed "building" a bluegrass/Americana-type band from musicians met at those sessions. The band played its first gig in April 2007.
"We are primarily a bluegrass band and we always try to honor those roots. However we are not a bluegrass jukebox, rattling off the hits one after another," Nelson stated via email. "We love them, and can certainly play them, but we like to blaze our own path. There are four, strong song writers in this band, and we try to take advantage of that fact, as evident in our studio recordings. Another thing that sets us apart is that we aren't afraid to stretch the boundaries of the genre. We utilize traditional bluegrass instrumentation, but we play what ever we want really."
Forr agrees, adding, "Over time we injected our arrangements of Pink Floyd, The Bee Gees, The Beatles, Black Sabbath and more as well as our own compositions."
The sum of each member's contribution make Mama Corn memorable.
"Our style has … gotten a lot tighter and more refined the longer we are together," Nelson said. "We have always been a free-wheeling type 'outlaw' bluegrass band because we don't wear suits and cowboy hats, or play uber traditional music (although we can). Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with all that, as it's all part of the bluegrass recipe, but they're not the only ingredients. Our sound is uniquely our own and is culled from each of our own musical tastes, styles, and backgrounds. We don't sound like anyone else, and no one else sounds like us. We like to call it 'Allegheny Mountain Bluegrass.'"
As an example, Forr said, "A song I wrote 'Someday Knock on Wood' seems to really resonate with a lot of people. I'm always humbled when someone tells me that the song spoke to their own personal struggles in life."
Their third and most recent record is "Live and Learn." The group remains independent.
The band does not have a record contract.
"Unfortunately not, but honestly, we haven't really tried," Nelson said. "We have done very well through the years with booking and self promotion," Nelson said. "At one point, we were booked nearly every weekend for several years, but health and family dynamics have forced us to slow down to a more manageable pace for now. That said, we are open to the idea."
The band's sense of fun comes across conversationally and musically. For instance, when asked about the most requested songs, Nelson replied, tongue in cheek.
"We get a lot of things yelled at us while on stage and some of them are requests. We get a lot of requests to stop playing. Seriously though, it seems like people really embrace our original music, which is a cornerstone of our sound. We often get requests for original songs like 'About a Minute Ago,' 'Someday Knock on Wood,' 'The Hanging of Alfred Andrews,' 'Old Whiskey Still,' 'Another Couple Days,' and more.
Mama Corn plans to continue to travel and perform their brand and have a summer filled with festival, fair, party and wedding performances.
"One never knows what the future holds," Nelson said. "But as long as we are still having fun and folks still come see us play I'm sure Mama Corn will continue to travel and perform. Maybe record another album, but we'll see."
Part of the fun performing live is the groups spontaneity.
"One never knows. We have a set list, but rarely follow it," Nelson state. "We read the crowd and go with the flow. We'll probably play a mix of original music and bluegrass standards with maybe some rock mixed in. We are known to break into Pink Floyd, The Grateful Dead, or The Bee Gees every now and again. Occasionally, some Michael Jackson if the mood hits us right. There's really a surprise in every box where Mama Corn is concerned. You'll have to come to the show and see!"
Such flexibility keeps it fresh for both the band and audiences, Forr said. "Time passes, nothing remains stagnant -- in our lives, in the band, in our song ideas. I'd like folks to know that the audience is intrinsically enmeshed with the band. The wheel starts turning and together we are all transported."
For more information on Mama Corn visit www.mamacornbluegrass.com
Staff writer Patt Keith can be reached at (814) 949-7030.
If you go
What: Altoona First Frontier Festival featuring musical guests The HillBenders, The Commonheart, Mama Corn and RailTowne
When: 1 to 10 p.m. July 28
Where: Altoona Railroaders Memorial Museum
Tickets: $22 advance general admission, through July 4 (then $25 through show day) and $50 VIP seating. Available online at firstfrontier.brownpapertickets.com, by phone (800-838-3006), or visit the Altoona Mirror offices during weekday business hours at 301 Cayuga Ave.