From Colorado, Leftover Salmon’s history dates back to about 1989 when mandolinist Drew Emmitt and guitarist Vince Herman first formed the group and named it for their former bands, “The Left Hand String Band” (led by Emmitt) and “The Salmon Heads” (led by Herman). About a dozen albums later, Leftover Salmon’s current configuration (since about 2010) now also includes Andy Thorn (banjo), Greg Garrison (bass) and Alwyn Robinson (drums). Guests on Brand New Good Old Days include Erik Deustch (piano, keyboards) and Willa Emmitt (vocals on “Waterfront”). Three years since their last album release (Something Higher), this new 2021 project is somewhat a return to their bluegrass roots, but still with plenty of selections to reinforce their position as purveyors of the a progressive “jamgrass” or “grassicana” genre. A song like Emmitt’s “Flying at Night” has colorings akin to the Grateful Dead, while the band’s grassified opening cover of Soundgarden’s standard, “Black Hole Sun,” offers a version of the song that transforms its melancholy into a joyous upbeat bluegrass groove.

Leftover Salmon’s multi-faceted and energetic signature sound has built them a legion of fans, young and old, who can relate to the city slicker chord progression of Garrison’s “Left Unsung,” as well as a charming cover of John Hartford’s “Category Stomp.” The band has a very eclectic nature, probably best categorized as Americana with mojo. While Emmitt once stated that they band “flies by the seats of their pants, pretty much in every way,” they also clearly have stuck with it because this “Boogie Grass Band” clearly has fun when they’re performing and entertaining. Going into this recording without having anything too solidified worked to the band’s advantage. The great vibe and acoustics of the Echo Mountain studio in Asheville, N.C. had a lot of influence on how Brand New Good Old Days turned out in a rootsy, downhome, charming, collective and supportive kind of way. Fortunately, for us listeners, from track to track, Leftover Salmon’s latest studio album is never without undeniably good vibes, spontaneity and charisma. (Joe Ross, Roots Music Report)