MUSIC

Dosey Doe Coffee House presents Malcolm Holcombe CD Release! Dosey Doe is honored to present To Drink the Rain. Early reviews: some of the best of anyone’s in quite some time. Recorded in September 2010, at Cedar Creek Studio in Austin, TX, the CD is comprised of 12 new and previously unrecorded songs. Malcolm's long time dobro player, Jared Tyler, produced and again lends his musical talents to this CD, along with Luke Bulla (fiddle), David Roe (bass), Bobby Kallas (drums/percussion), and guest players Andrew Hardin (guitar), and Shelby Eicher(mandolin).

Years ago, following Malcolm Holcombe’s career could be as unnerving and high-wire suspenseful as his riveting live performances. His brilliance was obvious to a core of fans and some attentive music journalists, but so were the self-destructive tendencies that floated around this mercurial man like wraiths.

By the grace of God however, there is no past tense in Holcombe’s life and career, just a very vibrant present and a widening sense of tomorrow’s possibilities. He is many years sober, performing worldwide and happily married to a woman who manages his schedule and keeps his inner garden clear for the work. He retains his quirky, fascinating character, and he writes – in spasms of energy and clarity, producing visions that hover between earthy solidity and rustic mysticism. He plays with rhythmic pounce and sings with psychological fire.

Holcombe grew up in western North Carolina, home to some of the planet’s oldest mountains and some of America’s deepest musical traditions. Moving back to the North Carolina hills proved a powerful tonic. Holcombe let in help where before he’d pushed it away. With deep faith in God and a commitment to his art, Holcombe repaired himself and his career. 

If you’ve not seen him in a live setting, this is what you have to do. His presence is spooky and timeless, as one imagines it was like to see Son House or Leadbelly. No emotional stone is left unturned.  He is cryptic, demanding, polarizing, bold, passionate and free, a combination badly needed in our time of infinite trivia. He’s even more interesting for having made a remarkable journey of recovery and discovery.