Known for their distinct blend of traditional-meets-modern bluegrass standards, Henhouse Prowlers have returned with their latest offering, their new album, Unravel.
Unravel pays homage to the past, while also exploring a fresh sound and listening experience. Released in April, the title refers to how the four band members individually combine to create their cumulative art. Pioneered by Chris Dollar (vocals, guitar), Jon Goldfine (vocals, bass), Jake Howard (vocals, mandolin), and Ben Wright (vocals, banjo), each of the four members aimed to tap into their authentic selves with this album, employing an ethos of vulnerability along the way.
After a stellar opening with "Look Up To The Sky," which immediately shoots out of a banjo-fueled cannon full of curious lyrical introspection, "Palomino" follows, which we found to be standout track. Written by Howard and opening with an awakened acoustic guitar, the reserved brightness shines through in this harmonic number. The track seems to be about the distressing escape rural America can provide, especially while on tour, something these guys know quite well.
"The protagonist of this song is leaving behind his troubles and hitting the road to find the quiet and serene peace you find when you travel to the more rural parts of this country," Howard said of the song. With vocals from Howard, Dollar and Goldfine, the band aimed to use a softer sound and give the notes more weight.
Howard was also the primary writer of the eighth track, "Space Man." The song came to be in about ten minutes, and was inspired by a story of two astronauts stuck in space for 286 days. With all four band members on vocals, they also added a more playful if not funky touch after bringing forth an intriguing question: "What would I think about Earth/home after being gone for so long?" Howard pondered. "Not sure how this tune ended up being more lighthearted after such a serious question, but glad it did."
The track strays slightly from their classic bluegrass sound, as they were conscious of mixing up their sound and how it plays to audiences. The overall vibe is a little more free-spirited and groovy in what is one of their more creative tracks.
The final track, "Land of Confusion," is the album's one cover song, and a curious one at that. The track, originally done by Genesis, is definitely relevant to the times we live in. It's an honest and bleak look at society that was felt in 1986, 2025, and likely 40 years from now. "There's too many men, too many people / Making too many problems / And not much love to go 'round / Can't you see this is a land of confusion?" Despite the dismal nature of much of the lyrics, the ultimate message is uplifting, as they ask that we accept our world and try to make it better collectively.
Henhouse Prowlers say it took an "unraveling" in order to mine these songs from deep within themselves, which delightfully transcended into this collection of 12 tracks exploring the gamut of bluegrass music.
The spirited quartet will be on the road this summer in support of Unravel with shows all over the Midwest and Northeast among other locales, including a stop in the capital to play at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress in August.
Photo by Lily Shea
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