Carolina Chocolate Drops - Capitol Theatre - York, PA - September 8, 2010

The Carolina Chocolate Drops played in York once before, as part of the Susquehanna Folk Music Society's York Folk Series. We were excited about their return to our fair city, especially after Mama saw them back in June at World Cafe Live in Philly. We knew they were going to sound amazing in the Capitol Theatre.

Mama: We enjoy listening to Carolina Chocolate Drops, and seeing them live is also an educational experience, because they talk a lot about the origins of the songs they play, which have evolved from traditions of slave songs sung in the fields of the American South, Piedmont blues, traditional Gaelic music, and their own contemporary influence, bridging the past and present into something new that pays reverent tribute to our musical roots.

Dom Flemons. Photo by Digital Ephemera Photography.

Carter: I like their music. They all switch instruments throughout the show and they play the banjo, the fiddle, the jug, the kazoo, and Dom plays the bones. The bones are an instrument that goes clickity-clack. Sometimes when he plays the bones he stands up and dances and it looks like he's using marionette puppets.

Mama: He does that when they play Snowden's Jig - a song they learned on a visit to York. When they were getting ready to play it, Rhiannon talked a little bit about the history of the song, which is fascinating.

Carter: During that song, the whole crowd was stomping and clapping along with them.

Mama: I also liked when Rhiannon got up and did a little softshoe kind of dancing. All the songs are just so different from each other, and since all three members of the band are very talented singers and musicians, they can switch things up for every song and the show ends up being full of all these wonderful little surprises.

Carter: My favorite instrument was the jug.

Justin Robinson. Photo by The Susquehanna Photographic.

Mama: I don't know if I could pick a favorite. I was just so impressed by how good every song sounded, with all the different combinations of instruments and who was playing them.

Carter: This sold-out show was exhilarating. I hope they come back to the Capitol again.

Carter and Dom Flemons. Photo by Digital Ephemera Photography.

Final note: Yesterday it was announced that Carolina Chocolate Drops have been nominated for a 2010 Grammy for Best Traditional Folk Album for Genuine Negro Jig. Congratulations!

Check back soon for our reviews of these live shows: Rhett Miller at the Capitol Theatre, Spoon at The Forum in Harrisburg, PA, Hoots & Hellmouth at the Mother Earth Harvest Fair, Jason & Grant from Ghost Hunters at the Pullo Center, The Felice Brothers at the Capitol Theatre, Rusted Root at the Pullo Center, Aortic Valve at ourhouse, and Langhorne Slim at the Capitol Theatre.