Country-influenced Rock: The Ernest Goodlife Band's Good to Be Here

Is it OK to do a play on words with your band’s name on the first track of your new album? It is if the music is good—which is the case with “Table for Two” by the Ernest Goodlife Band, a song that contains the album title as chorus, Good to Be Here.

The Ernest Goodlife Band (EGB) delivers Country-influenced Rock with a comforting warmth as BJ Block’s slide guitar wraps you in sound. “Coming Alive” features Mark De Rose’s banjo making it much like Ryan Shupe and the Rubber Band and perhaps inspired by what Bela Fleck has done for the banjo. With its “This house is coming alive” chorus, there’s a little reference in sound and lyric to the Rembrandts’ “This House is Not a Home.”

As opposed to a drumming circle, EGB surrounds the listener in a picking circle as you hear the banjo, guitar, mandolin, and fiddle all trading rhythms. “Take Me Back” has hints of Jam Band on its groove, perhaps like Thomas Cunningham or Benjamin Olson with the Jam Band rhythms but not the full-fledged sound (or scene?).

Bottom line: the Ernest Goodlife Band can play on their name all they want, because you’ll experience their name as their songs embrace you.

Thank you to the Ernest Goodlife Band and Dren Records for the review copy.