Carrie Hassler and Hard Rain Giveaway: CHHR2

Matt C | August 8th, 2008 Email Share

Carrie Hassler & Hard Rain - CHHR2

Up-and-coming bluegrass group Carrie Hassler and Hard Rain has drawn comparisons to Alison Krauss and Union Station and was chosen as an IBMA showcase artist on the strength of their debut album, CHHR. The group returns with sophomore project CHHR2, and the critics already like what they’re hearing:

“Hassler has the potential to be as big as Rhonda Vincent, the reigning queen of bluegrass.”
–Keith Lawrence, Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer

“Energetic and crisp, CHHR 2 is a hard-driving bluegrass album that showcases one of the most talented and imaginative sets of musicians in the genre today. From the album’s opening number, the beautifully sentimental “I Can Go Back Anytime,” Josh Miller’s relentless banjo carves out a sound that strikes a brilliant balance between traditional and progressive, while Jamie Harper’s fiddle underscores a series of tracks that sound familiar but which can only be described as undeniably fresh.”
–Jim Malec, The 9513

“No sophomore let down here.”
–John Walker, Country Standard Time

“Carrie Hassler brings a new energy and freshness to bluegrass that I haven’t heard in years.”
–Kyle Cantrell, XM Radio

We have a Carrie Hassler prize package for four lucky readers. Each winner will receive:

  • An autographed copy of CHHR2
  • A CHHR t-shirt
  • A CHHR cap
  • A box of Moon Pies (courtesy of CHHR’s official sponsor)

CHHR2 includes a bluegrass cover of Bob Seger’s Turn the Page, so to enter the drawing reply to this post with the name of the pop tune that you’d most like to hear as a bluegrass song by the end of the day on Monday. Four posters will be randomly chosen to receive the CHHR prize package.

Carrie Hassler and Hard Rain, “Turn the Page:”

For more information on CHHR, visit: Official Website | MySpace

Listen: Carrie Hassler and Hard Rain – “I Can Go Back Anytime”

  1. Jim Malec
    August 8, 2008 at 2:05 pm Permalink

    I’m (obviously) ineligible to win, but the pop song I would most like to hear a bluegrass version of is Jessica Simpson’s “Come On Over.”

  2. Matt B.
    August 8, 2008 at 2:12 pm Permalink

    HAHAHAHA….

    I’d love to hear how “Bob That Head” would sound as bluegrass….

    See what you started Jim?

    (and although the prize pack is cool, please exclude me from winning, I just wanted to reply!)

  3. Peter
    August 8, 2008 at 2:32 pm Permalink

    Hmmm pop song as bluegrass eh? Lotsa pop songs would benefit from such a treatment but I’d nominate “Yellow” by Coldplay, done in double-time with lots of dobro, fiddle and mandolin :0

  4. Stormy
    August 8, 2008 at 2:36 pm Permalink

    I once did an entire mix cd of pop songs I thought should be remade bluegrass. I still think “Fast Car” by Tracy Chapman would be best.

  5. Stephen H.
    August 8, 2008 at 2:43 pm Permalink

    “Semi-Charmed Life,” Third Eye Blind.

  6. Kelly
    August 8, 2008 at 2:44 pm Permalink

    “Since U Been Gone” by Kelly Clarkson would be great…

    Maybe “Girlfriend” by Avril Lavigne…

    How about “Seven Nation Army” by the Whote Stripes. A little slow, crawling banjo would sound pretty great on that track..

  7. Kelly
    August 8, 2008 at 2:45 pm Permalink

    ..sorry, meant the “White” Stripes…”Whote” Stripes would be a sucky band name….

  8. Matt B.
    August 8, 2008 at 2:48 pm Permalink

    Peter,

    A band called “Blue Merle” did all acoustic songs that sounded eerily similar to Coldplay.

  9. Stormy
    August 8, 2008 at 2:48 pm Permalink

    I could also hear Ralph Stanley voice doing a pretty decent version of “You Don’t Know What Love Is (You Just Do As Your Told).”

  10. Peter
    August 8, 2008 at 2:54 pm Permalink

    Matt: I’d heard of that but not heard it…
    Kelly: Since You Been Gone and Seven Nation Army would sound great as BG tunes.

    Does anyone else remember Run C&W? now that was fun stuff…

  11. Zach
    August 8, 2008 at 3:27 pm Permalink

    Calling All Angels - Train

    Or, for fun, Cowboy Troy’s “Crick In My Neck”. Quite possibly the most entertaining song of any genre.

  12. Sam G.
    August 8, 2008 at 3:37 pm Permalink

    Given Miss Hassler’s looks, I’d pay good money to hear her do the Pussycat Dolls’ “Don’t Cha”

    Dont cha wish your girlfriend was hot like me
    Dont cha wish your girlfriend was a freak like me
    Dont cha, dont cha
    Dont cha wish your girlfriend was raw like me
    Dont cha wish your girlfriend was fun like me
    Dont cha, dont cha

  13. Ron
    August 8, 2008 at 3:53 pm Permalink

    How about something older, like Help Me Rhonda or Good Vibrations?

  14. Jim Malec
    August 8, 2008 at 4:14 pm Permalink

    I don’t know man, “Good Vibrations” is one of the greatest songs of all time, and I’m not sure if all the melodic stuff would survive the translation to ‘grass.

  15. Rick
    August 8, 2008 at 6:00 pm Permalink

    I’d go with the old Carly Simon song “You’re So Vain” with the Steeldrivers serenading John Rich….

  16. Jaime
    August 8, 2008 at 8:10 pm Permalink

    “Fields of Gold” by Sting.

  17. frank
    August 8, 2008 at 9:02 pm Permalink

    Justin Timberlake - My Love

  18. SW
    August 9, 2008 at 7:27 pm Permalink

    I’d say any Billy Joel as bluegrass would good, but in particular “Only the Good Die Young”

  19. John Maglite
    August 9, 2008 at 9:01 pm Permalink

    Someone in the bluegrass world needs to take a cue from Robbie Fulks and do a cover of Cher’s “Believe.”

  20. Dylan Gramm
    August 10, 2008 at 8:01 am Permalink

    Two numbers from EXILE ON MAIN ST, Shine A Light and Rip This Joint, would probably come out as cool bluegrass tunes.

  21. Paul W Dennis
    August 10, 2008 at 8:42 am Permalink

    I’ve not heard Carrie Hassler - unfortunately both stations in my area that ran weekly bluegrass shows have had the bluegrass shows go by the wayside so unless I purchase it myself, I really don’t hear the new bluegrass acts.

    I would like to hear some classic rock tracks tried as bluegrass (”Stairway To Heaven” ??) but I can’t think of any recent pop/rock that I think would make good bluegrass

  22. John Maglite
    August 10, 2008 at 10:55 am Permalink

    Dolly did “Stairway to Heaven” on one of her bluegrass albums.

  23. John Maglite
    August 10, 2008 at 10:58 am Permalink

    It’s really more acoustic than bluegrass, though, so I’d still like to hear a bluegrass version of the song.

  24. Collin Woodard
    August 10, 2008 at 6:04 pm Permalink

    How about Elton John’s “Daniel”?

    Or for fun, Miley Cyrus’ “See You Again”?

  25. Marc
    August 10, 2008 at 8:37 pm Permalink

    Pearl Jam - Daughter
    The Pretenders - I’ll Stand by You
    Katrina & The Waves - Walking on Sunshine

  26. David R.
    August 11, 2008 at 1:09 am Permalink

    John Mayer - Waiting On The World To Change
    (after hearing Aaron Watson’s version of “The Heart of Life” I would like to see what other acts, country or bluegrass, would do with his songs)
    The Killers - When You Were Young

  27. Matt C
    August 12, 2008 at 1:07 am Permalink

    And the winners are: SW, Peter, Zach, and Rick. E-mail me within the next couple of days at mattc at the9513.com or I’ll get in touch with you to get your information.

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