Pennsylvania Bluegrass

There has been some debate on the place of drums in bluegrass lately. It really has caused some debate as more and more artists use drums on their recordings. Their seems to be now middle ground everyone seems to be on one side or the other. traditional Bluegrass on one side and "newgrass" progressives on the other.

Most of the recordings that do have drums on them the drum is barely noticeable so what is the big deal? Drums in Bluegrass have been around for many years. The list of those that have used drums include Jimmy Martin, Flatt and Scruggs, Jim and Jesse, and The Osborne Brothers. Bill Monroe once experimented with drums by placing a snare drum head on the upright bass to have that snare drum sound. Most artists will tell you that it simply ads a little something. Many of the bluegrass recordings made today are produced by Bluegrass legend Carl Jackson, and he does have drums on some of the recordings he produces (ie: Alecia Nugent.) If it is good for the artists who are making the music why should we have a problem with it?

I am a traditional bluegrass fan IMHO the "real" bluegrass is that created by Bill Monroe and early Flatt and Scruggs. I do like some of the new recordings, but I am not sold on the use of drums. If drums are so great then why don't the artists who have them on their recordings use them on stage. I believe you should be able to closely duplicate the recoding. If you are going to have drums (or steel guitar) then you use them on stage also. This applies to country or bluegrass or just about any music. If it is good enough for the record not live.

So which side are you on?;)