Today we’d like to introduce you to Addison Bartlett.
Hi Addison, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
We began in 2016 with myself, Addison on mandolin and vocals, Jason on banjo, and Jason’s cousin, Josh, on guitar. Jason and Addison both grew up in Bowie and played together in an Irish rock band called Stout Seven. After several failed incantations of a bluegrass ensemble, we finally made one work while relying on rotating bass players and fiddle players when possible.
We didn’t grow up on bluegrass, but instead mostly punk, thrash metal, jazz, and blues. Regardless, the band honed its bluegrass skills in the vain of Jim and Jesse, Flatt and Skruggs, and everything Ralph Stanley. At the end of 2020, Cousin Josh moved to Florida where he lives with the love of his life and their adorable dog, TJ. Prior to Josh’s leaving, the band started playing consistently with Stefan Custodi on bass and picked up guitar player Cory Chubb for guitar.
Since then, the band has continued performing with this unit all over the DMV. The band recently performed as support for Arm Chair Boogie at the 8×10, a gig produced by Charm City Bluegrass. Prior to that, the band opened for The Po Ramblin Boys at Pearl Street Warehouse in DC. Unfortunately, due to legal circumstances (jail), our banjo player was unable to perform at that show.
The band always looks forward and never stops striving to move ahead.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Personalities. With artistic creativity comes strong personalities that sometimes have a difficult time finding common ground. As previously said, finding a consistent, steady-handed, sober, sane bass player has been a struggle but we landed one.
The surprisingly smooth aspect of performing has been the ability of all four of our core players (Addison, Jason, Cory, Stefan) to play multiple instruments. We switch off on instruments sometimes depending on our moods. It makes for diversity in our own craft and spontaneity for our audience.
We are not good at addressing the audience in between songs. We are an awkward lot and it shows through with our attempts at humor while engaging our audiences between sets. Luckily, our audiences are normally drinking.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
We play hard-driving bluegrass the way it was done by Jimmy Martin and Bill Monroe (just not as well). We play hardcore country the way it was promoted on Starday records.
We are known for arguing on stage and playing fast bluegrass. When we don’t feel like ripping a barn burner, we pull a random song we grew up with (usually 80s southern rock) and perform it with what instruments we have. We are also known for our diverse honky tonk country repertoire.
We are proud of our PG county roots which were the home of the Stoneman Family for some time and the home of the local Washington area Football team’s stadium. Folks seem to like the memes we share on Instagram, too.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
Being carefree, I think.
Contact Info:
- Email: moosejawbluegrss@gmail.com
- Website: www.moosejawbluegrass.com
- Instagram: @moosejawbluegrass
- Facebook: @moosejawbluegrass
- Twitter: @moosejawDC
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnlFFKSzuABoYOXj6nmtBYQ
- Other: https://moosejawbluegrass.bandcamp.com/releases
