Special Consensus (L-R) David Thomas, Ashby Frank, Greg Cahill and Justin Carbone

EDITOR’S NOTE: BluegrassJournal.com received the follow concert review of a show performed in northern Illinois by Greg Cahill and his band, Special Consensus. Not only are we sharing the review with you, we do so with an invitation to submit your own concert, CD and DVD reviews for consideration to be published. As with all submitted material, all submissions are subject to editing. Purpose of editing is to correct grammar and writing style and never to change a writer’s intended statements. Email submissions to: subscriber@bluegrassjournal.com or use our online contact form.

By Dennis Keeling

Special to BluegrassJournal.com

A lucky group of bluegrass fans got a preview of new material when the band Special Consensus gave a concert Sunday, Jan. 4, at the Maple Street Chapel in Lombard, a city near Chicago in northern Illinois.

The first set featured several songs from the band’s new CD, due to be released in March on Pinecastle Records. Standout tunes included the title cut “Signs,” penned by the band’s mandolinist Ashby Frank, and “Talkin’ ‘Bout It Just Don’t Get It Done” written by Ronnie Bowman & Don Minner.

After a cookie break, the band played several favorites from previous Pinecastle releases, including “Ten Mile Tennessee” and several nice gospel quartets. Band members told the audience they were playing next weekend in Bismarck, N. Dakota, followed by several dates in England and Ireland. They invited us to come on out for the shows.

The Maple Street Chapel,an historic church built by German shipbuilders in 1870, was a beautiful setting for a concert. You can find more information about the church at http://www.maplestreetchapel.org/History.HTM

(Author Keeling describes himself as “a bluegrass fan, not affiliated with the band or the record company or the chapel. I just enjoyed the show and thought I would write to you about it.”

EDITOR’S POSTSCRIPT: According to a Pinecastle Records news release, Special Consensus heads to Ireland and the United Kingdom for nearly a three-week tour, beginning in Ireland on Jan. 14. Pinecastle also confirms that the band’s new CD, Signs, is set for release in late March.