Ain’t no party like a Holy Ghost Tent Revival party

After taking the Greensboro music scene by storm in 2006, Holy Ghost Tent Revival now finds the bulk of the group living elsewhere.  Drummer Ross Montsinger and guitarist/banjoist/lead singer Stephen Murray remain rooted in the Gate City, but trombonist Hank Widmer lives roughly an hour north of Durham, lead guitarist Matt Martin in Abingdon/Bristol, VA area, trumpeter Charlie Humphrey in Boone, and bassist/vocalist Kevin Williams in Asheville.

Despite being spread out, however, the musicians are firmly dedicated to their shared cause.  “We’re all Holy Ghost only,” Montsinger said.  “No side projects.  No day jobs.”

Such camaraderie has resulted in one live disc and three studio albums of their genre-busting sound, the most recent of which, Sweat Like the Old Days, is without a doubt their most complex effort to date.

“Our first two or three little recordings we did, none of us had any real influences.  For this record, we’ve spent a lot of time listening to some of the same stuff together on the road,” Montsinger said.  ‘60s rock has been in heavy rotation, namely The Band and The Beatles (whose Revolver Montsinger cites as their primary aspiration), but also Dr. Dog.  The inspirations have resulted in more guitar and tighter horns, plus impressive two-part harmonies from Williams and Murray.

Sweat Like the Old Days was recorded earlier this year in Reidsville under the guidance of Randy Seals, with whom the group had long wanted to work.  The album was made in Seals’ basement studio over multiple three-day intervals as the group converged from their various locales.  “We’d go out there and pretty much stay all day and all night and try to finish a song a day,” Montsinger said.  “We’d just work on one song at a time.  On the old records, we’d try to do all the songs at once, part by part.”

Seals has since moved to the Glenwood area of Greensboro and now has a more proper studio, in which HGTR is already at work on another album with two songs in the can.  “We try to do what we can when we can,” Montsinger said.  “Our schedules are kind of crazy.”

Following the official release of Sweat Like the Old Days on September 4, HGTR will embark on a steady fall tour that takes them up the East coast and as far west as Colorado, but not before an August 31 stop at a particular preferred locale.

“[The Grey Eagle is] definitely one of our favorites, not only in Asheville, but as far as the whole state goes.  It’s one of the coolest venues in North Carolina,” Montsinger said.  “The size is ideal for us.”  HGTR have yet to sell out a show at the Eagle, but such details hardly matter: the space never feels empty, always sounds great, and, it being Asheville, people are consistently eager to dance to their upbeat tempos.

Friday night also marks the farewell show for ticket-mates Uncle Mountain, which Montsinger anticipates will be an emotional event for all.  The groups are great friends and, with HGTR set to practice at the band’s house the day before the show, there may be some on-stage collaboration.

There’s also the potential for a cameo of other sorts.  Sweat Like the Old Days was largely funded by public contributions, a portion of which was given to Ragsdale High School’s music program in Jamestown.  Montsinger’s father, who retired to Sylva from Durham a few years ago, made a donation at a level that earned him the opportunity to introduce the band onstage, and though Montsinger doubts the prize will be redeemed, he notes that there’s always a chance for the unexpected.  “Will he overcome his stage fright?” he said.  “Wait and see.”