Press
The kind of energy displayed on Look Out by the Hackensaw Boys is rare. At first listen the tempo is so fast you can hardly take a second to admire the musicianship or uniqueness of individual voices; it just demands you take part clapping, tapping, or howling along. Once you really listen though you can find the seams of the music: a deeply rooted country sensibility, a colorful cast of singers and musicians, a sense of humour, and threads bound to punk rock just as much as country and folk music. What stands at the apex of this group though is the original song writing. Only one song on the album is a traditional song, the rest are some of the finest examples of light contemporary folk songs and arrangements available. The group does venture into addressing serious issues and doesn’t paint them bleakly, as is all too common, they look forward to an optimistic future stating “I believe there are better times ahead"("Sally Ann"). Though these more serious issues might be treated slightly naively, the vein of optimism and innocence runs through the blood of the Boys and it shows in the sheer tenacity of the music and their driven attitude to play their music passionately amidst Pop, Rap, and Electronic genres. Don’t pass down a chance to see this high energy band live either, you surely won’t be disappointed.
— Lucidforge Arts and Entertainment Websource
At first, The Hackensaw Boy’s CD Look Out sounds like standard issue blue grass but it doesn’t take long to realize that these guys aren’t pining for the god ol’ days of yesteryear, but are instead diving head-first into the hear and now and crowd-surfing into the future.
— Taprootradio.com
After seven years of relentless touring throughout the United States, Europe and the U.K., the Hackensaw Boys are being recognized as one of the most exciting groups on the diverse Americana music scene. The group’s second release for Nettwerk Records, Look Out, represents the recorded culmination of the Hackensaw’s unique vision: A celebratory but defiant sound culled from old-time mountains, backstage doorways and punishing drives through the evolving American landscape.
— Isthmus/The Daily Page
This Charlottesville, Va., six-piece play bluegrass like the rebel music it once was, from the furiously paced “Lonesome Train” and “Cannonball” to pretty ballads like “Sun’s Work Undone” and “Herschel’s Song.” Inspired and skilled musicians, their shows are infused with energy and a generous spirit. They’re touring in advance of the release of their second studio album in as many years, Look Out, which also features a couple tracks written by shadow Hackensaw Boy Tom Peloso, who moonlights in Modest Mouse.
— The Independent Weekly
In many ways [Look Out] is a return to classic Hackensaw form, the punk-amped, old time foot-stompers and ragged harmonies that gained the band its reputation in the live setting when it formed seven years ago. One of the best additions is fiddler Ferd Moyse, who tears through the opening “Look Out Dog, Slow Down Train!” with blazing fury.
— The Daily Progress
Before there was bluegrass, Appalachian folk musicians played their string instruments for such social occasions as dancing and front-porch visiting. Nowadays, it’s hard to find a band that doesn’t mix those old-time traditions with modern show-biz presentation. But the Hackensaw Boys hew to the spirit of the hills. No one in the band seems more important than anybody else — these guys are all about the joys of playing together. Co-founder Tom Peloso actually spends more time these days with alt-rockers Modest Mouse, but his eight-man ensemble is still out there mixing string-band oldies with entertaining originals.
— STLtoday.com
While The Hackensaw Boys may utilize an instrument arrangement of the 1930s, they refuse to let the bluegrass genre become such a relic. Look Out is the Boys at their best, a perfect medium between their raw early years and the more polished sound of their previous release. Thanks to such solid modern bluegrass albums like this, maybe soon we can stop referring to the style as old-timey and start calling it simply good-timey.
— cdreviews.com
One never doubts the Hackensaw Boys are giving you everything they have in them. It’s refreshing in a world of half measures and empty talk. They have their sights on the right things and it always comes through in their music.
— Jambase
[Look Out] drives harder and rougher than their last, producing a furiously joyous sound. Urgent percussiveness, powered by picking and snare, is the scaffold…
— No Depression