Hot Cornmeal Served on a Live Platter

Virtuoso bluegrass/roots/rock combo will make your head spin.

By Blurt Staff

Progressive twang-grass merchants Cornmeal, of Chicago, have a new live album, Live in Chicago, IL Vol. I, available, recorded live last year at Martyrs' in the Windy City, and this one is designed to pay tribute to the fans. Anyone who's ever seen the band in concert - the BLURT crew caught ‘em last December at the annual Warren Haynes Christmas pre-Jam Jam - knows what that means ‘cos this group positively smokes.

In the winter of 2000, a band stepped on stage for the first time and called themselves Cornmeal.  For the next six years, Cornmeal performed each and every Wednesday in Chicago to small yet loyal crowds.  Throughout the winters of 2007-2009, Cornmeal returned to Chicago to pay homage to that tradition.  This album is for the fans as a thank you for all the years of dedication, for believing in Cornmeal, and for creating a wonderful community for them to come home to. 

Unlike Cornmeal's three previous albums, Live in Chicago, IL Vol. I  captures the band in its raw, intense format, bouncing through song after song of fast paced, fierce originals and extensive improvised jams that showcase the immense talent and connectivity that have gained them so much fan appeal from coast to coast. Cornmeal is: Chris Gangi on upright bass, Dave Burlingame on Banjo, Allie Kral on fiddle, Kris Nowak on Acoustic Guitar, and John Paul Nowak on Drums. 

Heavily influenced by American roots and folk music, Cornmeal blends lightning fast tempos and impeccable harmonies into an unrivaled live performance that continues to expand upon the five-piece acoustic-electric groups' vast musical repertoire.  While steeped in the tradition of John Hartford and New Grass Revival, Cornmeal continues to forge their own path, pushing the boundaries of bluegrass, Americana and folk for a whole new generation of music lovers. With a rapidly growing fan base and ever-evolving sound, Cornmeal challenges the recipe of the bluegrass sound and live performance. 

In 2008, the band won its first Jammy award for New Groove of the Month.  The band has graced the stage at almost every major festival across the country including Bonaroo, Wakarusa, All Good, High Sierra, 10K Lakes, Del Fest, Summercamp, and Telluride Nightgrass just to name a few. They have also been fortunate enough to perform with many influential bands including Leftover Salmon, Sam Bush, John Hartford, Little Feat, The Del McCoury Band, Moe., and Dark Star Orchestra among others.

You can nab the album at Cornmeal shows or at www.cornmealinthekitchen.com and at all online outlets.