My ancestors roamed the hills of East Tennessee; Americana, folk, and bluegrass run through my veins and yet this ain’t my daddy’s bluegrass. Business Spice, the debut record from Big Benny Bailey released through Thirty Tigers, is the collaborative music project of Shamir Bailey and Ben Pierce. It’s chock full of intricate pickings, vocal harmonies, and sharp narrative lyricism that doesn’t rely on nostalgic rural tropes, but rather it brings in present-day reality with tracks like ‘Mr. Uber Driver.’ Somehow the two created a collection of songs that feels both timeless and distinctly modern and I couldn’t be more impressed.
Every track on this album had me falling in love with it more than the last. From ‘The Complexities of Man’ to ‘Whiskey,’ it breathes fresh air into roots music. ‘Ain’t Getting Rid of Me Yet’ serves as a leading single for the project and showcases the chemistry between Bailey and Pierce. It’s got an upbeat, back porch country energy with stomping rhythms, bright vocal harmonies, and a catchy hook.
Two other standout tracks and personal favorites are ‘Unscathed’ and ‘Mr. Uber Driver.’ ‘Unscathed’ is a pivotal moment on the album, balancing emotional resilience and their trademark acoustic roots sound. It tackles the theme of enduring life’s messiness in a way that feels intimate and reflective, in part due to the musical arrangement. ‘Unscathed’ showcases the interplay between Pierce’s traditional pickings and Bailey’s soulful, vocal delivery. It also highlights clean, warm instrument separation that lets the natural resonance of the acoustic strings and vocal harmonies breathe without feeling overly polished and produced.
If any track on Business Spice captures the album’s unique ability to subvert traditional roots music, it is ‘Mr. Uber Driver.’ It anchors the albums modern sensibilities and seems like it will be a fan favorite. The song has a quirky, relatable narrative about urban transit and late-night reflection contrasted with classic, rolling bluegrass picking and traditional folk storytelling style. I’ll be singing that catchy chorus and tapping my foot for weeks, I can tell you that.
Ultimately, what makes Business Spice such a great listen is its balance of craft and personality. From the rapid fire picking on ‘Mr. Uber Driver’ to the vulnerability of ‘Unscathed’ the album thrives on the natural spark between two distinctive songwriters. It is a warm, spirited, and deeply engaging record that expands the boundaries of modern roots music. Business Spice is a triumph of a collaboration that demands to be played on repeat. This woman raised in Pennsylvania with Tennessee roots a mile wide will be doing just that.
Upcoming Live Dates:
2 November- New York City, NY at TV Eye
5 November- Baltimore, MD at Le Mondo
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