Beyond Borders

As a chemistry major in college, one of the first things I learned was the myth of Alchemy: the conversion of other metals into gold. Though science has long known this to be impossible regarding the atomic building blocks of metals, I am convinced that when it comes to our souls there is a different truth.

AM – vocals, guitar
Terri Allard – harmony vocals
Alexander Mitchell - fiddle

A nod to the Appalachian traditional music that I grow to love more with each passing year. This one’s a lot of fun, and with a bit of “foolish picking” tossed in for good measure.

AM –guitar
Danny Knicely – bass, mandolin
Alexander Mitchell - fiddle

A true moment and some carefree wandering imagination. The elderly lady driving her top down Cadillac convertible with this look of serenity was clearly not bound for the Beltway on-ramp that I was.

AM – vocals, acoustic and electric guitar
N. Scott Robinson – udu

For my grandmother Madeleine, who made the last century a better place.

AM – vocals, guitar
Danny Knicely – mandolin, bass
N. Scott Robinson – cajon, foot maraca

This was born in the wrinkled folds of northern West Virginia. My friend Turk has lived his life in his family’s row house in Owings Holler, a place the company abandoned long ago, returned and strip mined in the 70s, and finally reclaimed a few years ago. I was watching his cancer-wracked neighbor one morning serenely and lovingly tending to her gardens outside her trailer, and once again remembered that Appalachian people have a lot to teach us about perseverance.