Leatherwoods fill Hempstead Hall with old-style music

By Rick Kennedy, managing editor
Harkening back to a simpler and long ago time, the Leatherwoods delivered nostalgia on all fronts with their old-fashioned acoustical sounds in Hope’s Hempstead Hall on Sunday afternoon.
Whether playing old standards like “Coming Around the Mountain” or the Gospel classic, “Amazing Grace,” the Bluegrass supergroup from Mountain View performed only with classic acoustical instruments; there was group leader, Pam Setser playing four instruments, while to her left side, another multi-talented musician, Danny Dozier, played a guitar, a mandolin, and a harmonica.
Backup singer Teresa Johns, anchored a big bass, while Roger Fountain showcased his talents on the fiddle. All the artists proved competent and talented at their crafts, showing why each of them have won various awards and accolades over the years.
Other highlighted music selections ranged from Hee Haw’s Grandpa Jones to a hypnotic instrumental version of George Harrison’s “Here Comes the Sun” by Dozier.
The clear front-person was Setser, who sang the majority of the sounds, played a set of spoons, engaged the audience with stories about the group, their instruments, and her upbringing.
One local person, Setser, called by name was George Smith, a longtime friend, who is now the current Southwest Arts Council director that booked the show.
Smith, himself, was on stage, playing an ancient one-string device, known as a “picking bow,” while Arts Council President John Hollis, also appeared on stage during “Coming Around the Mountain.”
In all, the show ran through a brisk first hour, before a 15-minute intermission, followed by approximately 45 more minutes of entertainment.
The show also saw a performance of “Amazing Grace” by Linsey Heard, and several performances by a professional clogger, Gina Holderby, who included four local students from Hope’s Dancetastics Dance Studio on stage for one of the routines.