The Mammals Do Not Want Your Old Farm Equipment, ep. 339

About this episode

Mike and Ruth Merenda discuss their music and the themes of their latest album 'Touch Grass'.

Mike and Ruth Merenda have been making music together as the Mammals since 2001, with a little break in 2008 to play as Mike & Ruthy. They've been back as the Mammals since 2017 with a couple of great albums, most recently 'Touch Grass' Vol. 1 and Vol. 2. Mike, born and raised in New Hampshire, picked up the banjo after he met fiddler Ruth Unger. Ruth is the daughter of Jay Unger, a much loved folk musician who is best known for his composition, "Ashokan Farewell," used as the theme tune to the Ken Burns 1990 documentary 'The Civil War,' which you now have playing in your head. Essentially, Ruth grew up surrounded by folk music, which she talked all about on her last appearance on Basic Folk. This time around, we dig into a few of the songs on their double album 'Touch Grass.' There are A LOT to choose from: seventeen tracks in all. It was a four-year project recorded at their Humble Abode studio in the Catskills. The songs offer a mix of socially conscious "daytime" folk-rock and introspective "nighttime" Americana. We get into the gospel influence on "O The Cruelty," the barebones arrangements of "Old Friend," and keeping the sadness in check with "Doldrums." They also talk a…

People in this episode

Guests: Mike Merenda, Ruth Unger

Topics covered

• music
• folk
• interviews
• album discussion
• socially conscious themes
• Americana

Keywords

• The Mammals
• Touch Grass
• folk music
• interview
• Ashokan Center
• album
• gospel influence
• Americana

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: The Mammals, Ashokan Center

Books & works: Touch Grass, Ashokan Farewell

Places: New Hampshire, Catskills

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