Tanyas prove themselves worthy of good name

For those of you who think "bluegrass" and imagine stereotypical redneck, old men in overalls and plaid shirts, Canadian group The Be Good Tanyas will present a pleasant surprise. \nCountry without being twangy, easy to listen to without being bland, the all-woman group came together in 1999 to write songs about their separate and collective lives on the road. The result is their first album, Blue Horse, a listening experience perfect for all kinds of travel, from driving down sleepy country roads in the middle of the night to speeding down the city expressway in broad daylight.\nThe group is composed of Samantha Parton, Frazey Ford and Trish Klein. All three contribute on vocals and guitar, Parton and Klein play the banjo and Parton plays the mandolin. A few "very special" guests add fiddle, electric violin, drums and a double bass to the 12-song album, which is a mix of original songs written by the three women and traditional folk songs.\nEach song on Blue Horse sounds distinctive, proving the group can handle a variety of styles and types of music. Two of the best tracks come at the beginning and end of the album. The album begins with "The Littlest Birds," a catchy song about life's smaller and simpler pleasures. At the end is "Light Enough to Travel," one of those great self-discovery "road trip" songs perfect for a long drive and some deep thoughts.\nJudging from the concert schedule on their Web site, The Tanyas typically play events in Canada. This weekend's Lotus Festival is the first time the group has performed a U.S. festival in at least two months, so Saturday is not only a perfect time to get to know them, but it might be one of only a few chances. So plan a trip, see The Be Good Tanyas, buy the CD and be guaranteed the perfect music for any long trip home.