Jim White is an alt-country maverick with a literary bent and a caustic sense of humor. When The Packway Handle Band, an oddball bluegrass group that combines acoustic rock with their skewed style, asked White to produce their latest album, he agreed. They started co-writing and created some of the most unlikely bluegrass tunes you’re ever likely to hear. “Jim 3:16” is a banjo and trombone driven anti-gospel number that celebrates debauchery and drunkenness. They sing “a bar is just a church where they serve beer…” with a seriousness that makes the song even more sacrilegious. Mandolin
player Michael Paynter delivers “Not A Song” with a raggedy resignation that makes lines like, “This is not a song it’s a suicide mission…” ring with the long suffering truth of a touring band, while “Gravity Won’t Fail” is hardcore honkytonk waltz.