Every once in awhile you accidentally stumble upon something unexpectedly awesome. My discovery of The Whistle Pigs while looking for something to do in Nederland Colorado is a perfect example of such an occasion.


Hailing from the hill country of Southern Illinois, The Whistle Pigs are a three man progressive bluegrass/alt-country/insurgent Americana band that utilizes a combination of vocal harmonies, banjo, accordion, and upright bass that sounds a little bit like Trampled by Turtles and a little bit like Bouncing Souls.


The Whistle Pigs at Stage Stop in Rollinsville Colorado The Whistle Pigs playing at Stage Stop in Rollinsville Colorado

Cori & I had the privilege of seeing them play at Stage Stop in Rollinsville Colorado. Joe McCamish, Nate Graham and Alex Pape make up the three man trio. While there I picked up their latest CD Bless Your Hearts & Livers. While The Whistle Pigs are one of those bands you need to see live to get the full experience, their albums are surprisingly well done.


The Whistle Pigs Bless Your Hearts and Livers The Mod Cabin Music Review


Bless your hearts and livers contains 12 tracks. Its starts with a hard pickin' banjo song Alcohol which is about...alcohol.  It continues on with songs about growing up in the   culturally distinct area of southern Illinois known as Little Egypt. Songs like Uppers get you down, Disgraced in my home town and Williamson County deal with serious subject matters like alcoholism, poverty and alienation in a manner that is humorous but not shallow.


Even though they tackle serious subjects, their music has a genuinely happy vibe and they are among the most friendliest and down to earth people I have ever met.


If you ever get a chance to see them play live I highly recommend it. If not, you can buy their music on their website.