Zylawy Brothers | Hiawatha

Published: October 31, 2011

A Zylawy Brothers' website entry describes the group's music as coming "out of the backwoods of Montana." I doubt the residents of the Alberton area would appreciate that description, since the town is situated pretty near a major western highway: I-90.

But the "backwoods" sentiment rings true as a geographical wellspring of bluegrass. The kick-ass American music the local family plays is unvarnished and from-the-gut.

The fellows, while still in high school, each picked up an instrument and it stuck. Twins Roman and Kenley play lots of instruments (Roman on mandolin, banjo and fiddle, and Kenley on stand-up bass and fiddle) and share lead vocal duties. Brother Wyatt performs on guitar, having picked it up quickly only recently, and sings, too.

They chose bluegrass because of the instrumentation, and because that's what their family listened to. And the guys are ripping it up.

Their first effort features 11 tunes, a compilation of jewels of the genre, as well as their original composition, the instrumental potboiler "Hiawatha." It's a railroad bluegrasser, with a rollicking fiddle/guitar rhythm and deft pickin' by Roman on the mando that’s syncopated and raucous.

Other offerings include their nifty a cappella harmony right out of the chute on "House of Gold." The traditional tune, "Circle Be Unbroken," has good background harmonies and a nice shared lead vocal with guest singer Ariel Brinda.

There's an uptempo version of John Prine's coal-mining waltz, "Paradise," and banjo sets the tone on "Darlin' Cory," with its high mournful sound.

There's a great mix of cuts here. And with the release of their first CD, the Zylawy Brothers prove they are on their way to success.

– Mariss McTucker