The Foghorns have now made at least two tours in Ireland, but if you haven't yet heard them, imagine the Rough Deal String Band with their rhythmic pulse reinforced by a bass, their melodic bite reinforced by a mandolin, and a rolling finger-picked banjo in place of Bill Whelan's clawhammer. The two bands have a good deal in common: both play a lot for dancing and have comprehensive repertoires including many traditional southern fiddle-tunes, songs that early string bands recorded commercially, and other things they just plain like.
NOTE: when I reviewed the Foghorns' first CD, Rattlesnake Tidal Wave, my criticism was that while the band¶s overall sound was good, the individual instruments couldn't be heard distinctly enough. When I put Reap What You Sow on (and it's recorded in exactly the same way, using a single microphone) I had no such trouble. Out of curiosity, I put on Rattlesnake Tidal Wave again, and it sounded as clear as Reap what you sow. Moral: get either or both these CDs, and don't pay too much attention to reviewers. Like the first, this CD comes in a quirky card cover, full of intriguing design.
