Up The Mountain is a "fake Christian country band" (their own description) featuring the "rhythm section" of the Cardigans : Magnus Sveningsson (bass), Lasse Johansson (guitar/vocals/mandolin), and Bengt Lagerberg (drums). It also features Maria Davidson (vocals/guitar), Lotta Wenglen (vocals/guitar/maracas), Johan Olsén (vocals, banjo), "Dubbel" Johan Bandling Melin - pedal steel guitar and various guests : Titiyo Jah, Anna Maria Espinosa, Daniel Lemma and Sylvester Schlegel.
Formed in 2006, the band mostly plays cover versions of songs by (or made popular by) Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, but also country-ish covers of songs from The Velvet Underground or Beck. And let's not forget their sole original composition, aptly titled Up The Mountain, written by Magnus.
If you hate country music, you probably won't like Up The Mountain very much. But if you have at least a slight interest in the genre and if you enjoyed the Cardigans' country-rock songs of the Long Gone Before Daylight era, you'r
e in for a very enjoyable experience, and their inspired performances are also a good way to discover the works of the great artists mentioned above, if you don't know them already.The band has released 2 live albums ; you can still buy the second one directly from Magnus, at a bargain price, on his ebay page (he hasn't got any CD directly on sale, click on "Contact member" - you'll need an ebay account).
With his permission (thanks !), I have
the pleasure to offer you three songs from the second live album :1. Up The Mountain/Neverending Song Of Love (sung by Lotta Wenglen & Maria Davidsson)
2. Born In Time (sung by Anna Maria Espinosa)
3. Gotta Get Drunk (sung by Lasse Johansson)
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