After a Grammy win and seven years of radio silence, bluegrass’ fiercest five-piece the Travelin’ McCourys return with One Chord That Rings True while continuing to blaze their own trail.
It’s been a long, quiet stretch since the Travelin’ McCourys stormed onto the bluegrass scene with their Grammy-winning debut in 2018. But silence can be deceiving. Behind the scenes, the band’s been woodshedding, writing, touring relentlessly, and now One Chord That Rings True arrives like a lightning strike on a clear day.
Unannounced and unhurried, the album is their first full-length studio release in seven years. And it was worth the wait. Across 10 expertly crafted songs, The Travelin’ McCourys remind us why they’re the reigning IBMA Instrumental Group of the Year and the only bluegrass band where every member has won “Instrumentalist of the Year” in their category. With Ronnie McCoury (mandolin), Rob McCoury (banjo), Cody Kilby (guitar), Jason Carter (fiddle), and Alan Bartram (bass), the band brings a rare collective firepower. All five take turns on lead vocals, showcasing not just instrumental chops but a vocal dynamic that adds different color to every track.
The single “Runaway Train,” co-written with the family’s patriarch Del McCoury, was the third most-played bluegrass song on radio in 2024. And while that track alone could anchor a lesser album, it’s only one gem in a set that features inventive takes on the Waterboys' "The Whole Of The Moon," Paul Simon’s “50 Ways To Leave Your Lover,” Bruce Hornsby’s “White Wheeled Limousine,” and a delightful reimagining of Johnny Cash’s “Passing Thru,” which gives the album its title. “That’s something our dad taught us,” says Ronnie. “A good song is a good song. We’re just giving it our voice.”
There’s a river-deep sense of continuity and evolution here; traditional enough to honor their roots, yet progressive enough to flirt with jam band energy. Over the years, the McCourys have shared stages with Phish, String Cheese Incident, Warren Haynes, Dierks Bentley, and the Lee Boys, all while creating the genre-bending Grateful Ball tour. That’s the kind of spirit you’ll find all over this album.
Recorded in between tour stops and road miles, One Chord That Rings True is also bittersweet; it’s the final recording with Jason Carter before his departure to focus on a solo career. His fiddle work, soulful and searing, adds an otherworldly beauty to the record. “We can’t just be another version of our dad’s band,” Ronnie says. “We have to move forward.” And forward they go… one chord, one note, one roaring solo at a time.