On The Verge

Dead Men’s Hollow

Washington, D.C.
Historical Bluegrass
www.deadmenshollow.com

One night as Dead Men’s Hollow rode home from a gig in Paw Paw, W. Va., singer/rhythm guitarist Amy Nazarov began to softly sing a new tune that she had composed. Something about the cool night air and the exhilaration that the members felt after the successful show encouraged Nazarov enough to share the song with the group. “There were some moments of real magic up there,” one fan said to Nazarov. Anyone who’s seen DMH or heard its latest album, Death Must Be a Woman, will appreciate the fan’s sentiments. The members of this bluegrass band are all accomplished musicians, but what sets them apart is their deep appreciation for the history in and around their Washington, D.C. home base. They are masters of setting historical findings and musings to song, and the string arrangements are reminiscent of early Fairport Convention—accompanied by luscious harmonies and lilting lyrics. Some songs are jaunty, others are melancholy, almost all are haunting. “There are points where the harmonies fall together with the fiddle,” says Nazarov. “Sometimes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.”