Eric Uglum, Bud Bierbaus rejoin forces after 25 years for new CD, live show
By L.J. Gambone
Apple Valley Review
A chance meeting at the Dana Point Café back in 1990 opened up a whole world of surprising opportunities for bluegrass singers/musicians Eric Uglum and Bud Bierhaus.
At the time, both guys were at the venue playing in different bands but they said they hit it off immediately. Not long afterward, the pair decided to join forces and form a new folk/bluegrass group called Copperline.
For four years, the ensemble toured North America and Canada until duty called Bierhaus away from the spotlight. Halliburton, the company he worked for by day as an engineer, transferred him to Oman in the Middle East. Copperline disbanded and Uglum went on to join the renowned bluegrass band Lost Highway.
Though Uglum and Bierhaus’ roads led them in completely different and far away directions, their paths have intersected once again. Eric and Bud have spent the last year and a half quietly working on a CD, which they say they had been talking about doing since the day they met. The project, titled “Traveled,” features a mix of nine classic bluegrass tunes, as well as a couple of originals written by Bierhaus.
“From day one, Eric and I joked about doing a recording and here we are 25 years later finally getting it done,” said Bierhaus, who will headline as Eric Uglum - Bud Bierhaus and the Vintage Martins at the upcoming Route 66 Bluegrass Festival, June 18 to 21 at the High Desert Event Center (www.route66bluegrass.com).
“We’ve always had similar styles and were both influenced by bluegrass greats like Doc Watson, Tony Rice and Ricky Skaggs. It seemed only a matter of time before we’d make a record together.”
Bierhaus and Uglum admit the recording process proved to be challenging at times, as they worked on much of it long-distance by sending music files back and forth on the Internet. Uglum said Bierhaus suggested most of the songs that ultimately wound up on “Traveled.”
“Bud sent me a lot of songs that he had already tracked at his home studio,” said Uglum, owner of the High Desert-based New Wine Sound Studio. “We started going through them and every once in a while there’d be one that we both agreed we had to do.
“It’s been a long process but very rewarding. Working with Bud has been fun and he’s an incredibly talented writer, singer and player.”
Along with recording bluegrass/folk favorites like “Someday My Ship Will Sail,” “Wicked Path of Sin” and “Darcy Farrow,” “Traveled” includes the Bierhaus-penned tunes, “A Mother’s Prayer” and “Silverton Interlude.”
“One thing that I’m really happy about with this project is that it made me write a couple of new songs, which I wouldn’t have done otherwise,” said Bierhaus, a self-taught guitar player. “And working with someone as talented as Eric really provided a lot of inspiration for me on that front.”
Over his illustrious career, Uglum has brought his special brand of folk and bluegrass music to audiences around the globe. The Huntington Beach native has shared the stage with everyone from Alison Krauss and Ralph Stanley to Krauss’ banjo and guitar player, Ron Block. Block, a close friend of Uglum’s, also performed on several tunes on “Traveled.”
“We went to Nashville to be there when Ron recorded his tracks and as usual, he blew us away,” said Uglum, whose 2010 CD “Shenandoah Wind” received critical acclaim and was named Album of the Year by Bluegrass Magazine. “His timing, taste and tone are unparalleled.”
Like Uglum, Bierhaus also has built an impressive list of credits. In addition to performing alongside bluegrass greats like Herb Pedersen and Chris Hillman, the Katy, Texas resident also has shared his music with audiences worldwide. In 2012, Bierhaus won the Texas State Flatpicking Guitar Championship.
He said he hopes “Traveled” also will prove to be a winner.
“Eric and I want our record to be popular enough that it opens up a lot more opportunities for us to go out and perform,” said Bierhaus. “And we’ll show up for anyone who would like to have us.”
Visit www.thevintagemartins.com and www.ericuglum.com for more information.