Bluegrass' Dailey & Vincent, Round 2

Dailey & Vincent photo courtesy of Rounder Records.

March 20, 2009 — In 2008, new bluegrass duo Dailey & Vincent made a stunning debut, capturing a whopping seven trophies during the International Bluegrass Music Association Awards. Particularly impressive were their wins as both Entertainer of the Year and Emerging Artist of the Year.

Having claimed the newcomer trophy and the industry’s top honor already, much is riding on D&V’s sophomore album, and they delivered a live sampling of that disc, Brothers From Different Mothers, to an invitation-only crowd Thursday at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville.

They trotted out eight songs — mostly from the CD — ranging from the lickety-split "Head Hung Down" to the ballad "Don’t Let Our Sweet Love Die" to the gospel closer "When I Reach That Home Up There." Their harmonies maintain a resonance akin to bass player Darrin Vincent’s former employer, Ricky Skaggs, while their voicings mimic those of the Statler Brothers, and they delivered their vocals impeccably — each of the three, sometimes four, vocalists starting and stopping each phrase with exacting precision.

Their performance was dotted with humor — "It takes a real man to sing like a woman," Darrin told musical partner Jamie Dailey, "and you can get it done" — while the audience was dotted with musicians and figures of significance. The Statlers’ Jimmy Fortune, Charlie Louvin and former Grand Ole Opry chief E.W. "Bud" Wendell" — all of whom are featured on Hall of Fame plaques — were there. So were bluegrass singer Dale Ann Bradley, string musician Kris Wilkinson (who’s appeared on Carrie Underwood’s "So Small" and Patty Loveless’ "How Can I Help You Say Goodbye"), guitarist Jimmy Capps (George Strait’s "Amarillo By Morning," Kenny Rogers’ "The Gambler"), Lorianne Crook and Charlie Chase, and Keith Bilbrey, the recently fired WSM personality whose presence drew a standing ovation.

Given last year’s success, Dailey & Vincent can understandably feel some pressure about following up their self-titled debut. After Brothers From Different Mothers gets its March 31 release, they should be able to feel some relief. The performance was quality stuff, and so is the CD. It’s hard to imagine bluegrass fans won’t be impressed.