{{short description|American progressive bluegrass band}} {{update|date=April 2017}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2020}} {{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Musicians --> | name = The Greencards | image = Greencards_Nov_20_2010.jpg | caption = The Greencards at Knuckleheads Saloon in Kansas City, Missouri | image_size = | landscape = yes | background = group_or_band | alias = | origin = Austin, Texas, U.S. | genre = Bluegrass, progressive bluegrass | years_active = {{start date|2003}}–2014 | label = Dualtone, Sugar Hill | website = {{Official URL}} | current_members = * Carol Young * Kym Warner * Carl Miner * Luke Bulla | past_members = * Eamon McLoughlin * Jake Stargel * Tyler Andal }}
'''The Greencards''' are an American progressive bluegrass band that formed in 2003 in Austin, Texas, and relocated in 2005 to Nashville, Tennessee. The band was founded by Englishman Eamon McLoughlin and Australians Kym Warner and Carol Young. The musicians originally performed in local Austin bars, and soon found increasing acclaim. They released one independent album, ''Movin' On'', in 2003, and two albums, ''Weather and Water'' and ''Viridian'', on the Dualtone record label. Their fourth album, ''Fascination'', was released on Sugar Hill in 2009. Their fifth album, ''The Brick Album'' (2011), was self-produced with the direct support of their fans. Pre-production donors were recognized with their names inscribed on the "bricks" that make up the cover art.
Their debut album, ''Movin' On'', was the recipient of local Texas awards and charted on Americana radio stations. Country Music Television named their follow-up, ''Weather and Water,'' as one of the ten best bluegrass albums of 2005, and The Greencards were invited to tour with Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson in the same year. ''Viridian'' would go on to take the number one position on ''Billboard'' magazine's Bluegrass Music Chart, making the Greencards the first international band to do so. ''Viridian'' was a critically praised album, and was nominated for Best Country Album by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The track "Mucky the Duck" from ''Viridian'' was nominated for Best Country Instrumental Performance at the 50th Grammy Awards.
The Greencards are noted for their incorporation of other genres of music within an American bluegrass sound. Often labeled as part of, and said to be representative of, the "newgrass" movement, they draw from Irish folk music, gypsy music, rock 'n' roll, folk balladry, and Latin American musical sources. The Greencards' sound has been compared to progressive American folk rock, and they have been credited with helping to expand bluegrass music.
Eamon McLoughlin left the band in December 2009, and resides in Nashville. Carl Miner, originally from Oregon, joined the group in May 2010, playing acoustic guitar. Miner won the 1999 National Flatpicking Championship at the Walnut Valley Festival, and he resides in Nashville.
== History == === Formation === The Greencards were initially composed of two Australians, Kym Warner on mandolin and Carol Young on bass, and an Englishman, Eamon McLoughlin on fiddle.<ref name="WFAA Dallas-Fort Worth November 2007">{{cite web|url=http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/ent/wfaa/stories/DN-greencards_1102gui.ART.State.Edition1.426cc06.html|title=The Greencards|first=Mario|last=Tarradell|date=November 2, 2007|publisher=WFAA-TV (Dallas-Fort Worth)|access-date=June 1, 2008|archive-date=June 5, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605132252/http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/ent/wfaa/stories/DN-greencards_1102gui.ART.State.Edition1.426cc06.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Raised in South London, McLoughlin began to perform country music shows with his family on weekends, influenced by George Jones, George Strait, and Ricky Skaggs.<ref name="Country Music Television blogs"/><ref name="Americana Homeplace January 2008">{{cite web|url=http://www.americanahomeplace.com/news.2005WhatYearforGreencards.htm|title=2005: What a Year for The Greencards|date=January 8, 2006|publisher=Americana Homeplace|access-date=June 1, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080908115328/http://americanahomeplace.com/news.2005WhatYearforGreencards.htm |archive-date=September 8, 2008}}</ref> Born to Irish parents, McLoughlin's father was head of a London-based country band. At age nine, McLoughlin moved away from piano lessons to play fiddle, and performed with his father's band.<ref name="The Philadelphia Intelligencer August 2007">{{cite news|first=Naila|last=Francis|title=The Greencards' musical meanderings tend to influences from far and wide, with an eye always toward tradition.|date=August 16, 2007|work=The Intelligencer|location=Doylestown, Pennsylvania|page=D1, D2}}</ref> McLoughlin had earlier relocated from Brighton to Austin in 1997, after leaving the University of Sussex with a degree in Politics and American Studies.<ref name="Country Music Television blogs"/><ref name="The Philadelphia Intelligencer August 2007"/><ref name="National Public Radio September 2007">{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=14702537|title=The Greencards: New Folk in Concert|date=September 25, 2007|publisher=WKSU-FM (Kent State University)|access-date=June 1, 2008}}</ref> Trained in London studying Royal Schools of Music Grades before emigrating, McLoughlin also toured with the Asylum Street Spankers, Austin Lounge Lizards, Bruce Robison and Ray Wylie Hubbard after arriving in the United States.<ref name="CMT Greencards bio"/>
Prior to the founding of The Greencards, Young won the Australian Independent Country Artist of the Year award in 2000, and had recorded two No. 1 Australian-charted country music singles.<ref name="OZtrax, ABC 2007"/> Young was a singer in Outback country bands and acts, including Gina Jeffreys.<ref name="The Australian December 2007">{{cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22895964-5013575,00.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121215170201/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22895964-5013575,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 15, 2012|first=Iain|last=Shedden|title=Band beats Americans at own game|date=December 10, 2007|work=The Australian|access-date=June 8, 2008}}</ref><ref name="Rolling Stone May 2005">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/7350028/greencards_meet_bob_dylan|title=Greencards Meet Bob Dylan|first=Dan|last=Leroy|date=May 24, 2005|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=June 1, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080617174427/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/7350028/greencards_meet_bob_dylan|archive-date=June 17, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref> Young was previously nominated as "Best Female Vocalist" by the Country Music Association of Australia, and won the Australian independent country artist of the year award in 2000 due in part to her No. 1 singles "True Blue Fool" and "Part of the Past".<ref name="CMT Greencards bio">{{cite web|title=CMT.com: The Greencards biography|publisher=Country Music Television|url=http://www.cmt.com/artists/az/greencards/bio.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050215035621/http://www.cmt.com/artists/az/greencards/bio.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 15, 2005|access-date=June 14, 2008}}</ref>
Warner was an aspiring bluegrass musician (which was unusual in Australia) after learning of the music from his father, an early Australian bluegrass pioneer.<ref name="Rolling Stone May 2005"/> The winner of the Australian National Bluegrass Mandolin Championship for four consecutive years, Warner had toured with country music artists including Gina Jeffreys, and with Young in Kasey Chambers's band.<ref name="OZtrax, ABC 2007">{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/oztrax/stories/s1870606.htm|title=Waiting On The Night|date=April 21, 2007|work=OzTrax|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|access-date=June 1, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080507164536/http://www.abc.net.au/oztrax/stories/s1870606.htm|archive-date=May 7, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Sydney Morning Herald April 2007">{{cite news|url=https://www.smh.com.au/articles/2007/04/27/1177459962722.html|first=Bruce|last=Elder|title=Viridian|date=April 28, 2007|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=June 8, 2008}}</ref> Young and Warner knew each other previously, and according to Warner, had been drawn to bluegrass and American roots music through an appreciation of George Jones and Merle Haggard.<ref name="Desert News June 2007">{{cite news|url=http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,665193587,00.html |title=Greencards drawn to American roots music |first=Scott |last=Iwasaki |date=June 15, 2007 |work=Deseret Morning News |access-date=June 1, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070918065158/http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0%2C1249%2C665193587%2C00.html |archive-date=September 18, 2007 }}</ref> Warner and Young made the decision to emigrate to America to pursue musical careers in that country, after they met. Young and Warner later lived together in Sydney while trying to find work in the moribund Australian bluegrass scene. After leaving Australia, they spent time in West Texas before relocating to Austin.<ref name="Rolling Stone May 2005"/>
On an early trip the pair took to Austin, Warner and Young met McLoughlin at a recording session.<ref name="Desert News June 2007"/><ref name="Middletown Journal April 2007"/> Warner was producing an album for the recording artist Bill Atkins and found they needed a fiddle player, which led to the recruitment of McLoughlin.<ref name="The Patriot Ledger February 2006"/> Initially the immigrants came to know one another through their mutual love of Monty Python, Benny Hill, and ''Fawlty Towers''.<ref name="Rolling Stone May 2005"/> They began to have jam sessions afterwards and there was evident chemistry between the trio, which led to their writing songs together.<ref name="Desert News June 2007"/> They named themselves The Greencards in honor of the fact that all three band members carried United States green cards.<ref name="Graham Weekly Album Review Viridian 2007">{{cite web|url=https://georgegraham.com/reviews/greencrd.html|title=The Greencards: Viridian|date=February 7, 2007|publisher=The Graham Weekly Album Review|first=George|last=Graham|access-date=June 1, 2008}}</ref> They eventually began to perform shows locally in Austin to finance the recording of what would become their debut album, 2003's ''Movin' On''.<ref name="Desert News June 2007"/> In the process, they became one of the most popular musical groups in Austin.<ref name="Middletown Journal April 2007"/> Representative of an emerging "newgrass" movement, the Greencards' acoustic sound was said to incorporate eclectic influences from Irish traditional, Romani gypsy, and Latin American musical sources.<ref name="Cybergrass 2008-09-05"/><ref name="The Irish Times July 2007">{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/theticket/articles/2006/0707/1146660098050.html|title=Who the hell are? The Greencards.|first=Kevin|last=Courtney|year=2007|newspaper=The Irish Times|access-date=June 1, 2008}}</ref>
Their first performance together as a band was at the Austin Irish pub Mother Egan's. Given a noon to 3 pm time slot, they began to fill the pub with patrons week after week. Their fans at Mother Egan's soon began calling them the "Bluegrass Bunch". Several months later, The Greencards began performing an additional three to five times per week in Austin, in addition to their Mother Egan's Sunday show. Warner credited the frantic pace of their performance schedule during their Austin formation to their cohesion as a group and with driving them to create more new original music.<ref name="The Patriot Ledger February 2006"/> During their time performing locally in Austin, they toured with various local Texas musicians, including Robert Earl Keen.<ref name="Graham Weekly Album Review Viridian 2007"/> Warner said that during their early career performing together, audiences would always assume they were American musicians until they finally spoke between songs, revealing their English and Australian accents.<ref name="Knoxville News 2008-03-07"/>
Mario Tarradell of WFAA-TV news called the idea of an American bluegrass band composed of two Australians and an Englishman not as "outrageous" as it may seem. He quoted McLoughlin in an interview:
<blockquote>The ironic thing is that we grew up listening to primarily American music and fell in love with American music. I love country music. I grew up with George Jones and Charley Pride and Jim Reeves. All that stuff was playing in the house. That's what I wanted to seek out. That's what I wanted to play. Carol was into Tammy Wynette. Trev Warner is Kym's dad, and he was the first person to bring bluegrass music to Australia.<ref name="WFAA Dallas-Fort Worth November 2007"/></blockquote>
=== ''Movin' On'' (2003–2004) === {{main article|Movin' On (The Greencards album)}}
{{Listen|filename=The Greencards Movin' On.ogg|title="Movin' On"|description=Sample of "Movin' On", the title track of the 2003 album ''Movin' On''. The song is a typical example of their "jam band" sound from this time period.|format=Ogg}}
In 2003, The Greencards recorded and self-released ''Movin' On'', their debut album, which sold 10,000 copies at shows and online, and entered the top five on the Americana radio charts.<ref name="The Patriot Ledger February 2006">{{cite news|url=http://ledger.southofboston.com/articles/2006/02/24/life/life02.txtl|title=Trio is going places: The Greencards are headed for Club Passim|first=Jay N.|last=Miller|date=February 24, 2006|work=The Patriot Ledger|access-date=June 1, 2008}} {{dead link|date=June 2010|bot=DASHBot}}</ref> Pat Flynn, one of the band members of the New Grass Revival, guested on the recording of ''Movin' On'' as a session guitarist, and would return to do so again on ''Weather and Water''.<ref name="Knoxville News 2008-03-07">{{cite news|first=Wayne|last=Bledsoe|title=Musical pilgrims find acoustic music mecca in U.S.|date=March 7, 2008|publisher=Knoxville News|url=https://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/Mar/07/musical-pilgrims-find-acoustic-music-mecca-in-us/|access-date=September 27, 2008}}</ref> The album was said to break past traditional rules of bluegrass music by integrating a jam-band mindset while blending classical folk balladry and rock 'n' roll into the sound.<ref name="Post and Courier February 2008"/> Contrasting with that appraisal, the album was also cited as a traditional and successful "lo-fi" approach to bluegrass music.<ref name="Phases & Stages 2005-07-22">{{cite news|first=Margaret|last=Moser|title=Phases & Stages|date=July 22, 2005|newspaper=The Austin Chronicle|url=https://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/review?oid=oid:280675|access-date=September 27, 2008}}</ref> Critics noted the virtuoso solos on mandolin, fiddle, and guitar on ''Movin' On''.<ref name="Paste 2005-01-25">{{cite magazine|first=Brian Quincy|last=Newcomb|title=The Greencards – Movin' On|date=January 25, 2005|magazine=Paste Magazine|url=http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2005/01/the-greencards-movin-on.html|access-date=September 27, 2008}}</ref>
The Greencards gained more fans and became known by name quickly after the release of ''Movin' On''.<ref name="Glide 2005-07-10">{{cite news|first=Jason|last=Gonulsen|title=The Greencards: High Energy Acoustic|date=July 10, 2005|publisher=Glide Magazine|url=http://www.glidemagazine.com/articles/47757/the-greencards-high-energy-acoustic.html|access-date=September 27, 2008}}</ref> The band was credited with performing the most energetic sets during the course of the 2004 Austin City Limits Music Festival, were said to bring a global sound to bluegrass, and—by drawing on influences such as Bob Dylan and The Beatles—were pushing the genre's boundaries.<ref name="Glen Arbor Sun July 2006">{{cite news|url=http://www.glenarborsun.com/archives/2006/07/the_greencards.html|title=The Greencards, an American Composer, Prairie Winds open festival|date=July 13, 2006|work=Glen Arbor Sun|access-date=June 1, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080613211534/http://www.glenarborsun.com/archives/2006/07/the_greencards.html|archive-date=June 13, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref> Their live show during this period was ranked by the ''Houston Chronicle'' in the top five nights of live music for the year in 2004.<ref name="Podunk 2007-04-21">{{cite web|title=The Greencards|date=April 21, 2007|publisher=Podunk Bluegrass Music Festival|url=http://www.podunkbluegrass.net/indoor_shows/2007_Greencards.asp|access-date=September 27, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724191755/http://podunkbluegrass.net/indoor_shows/2007_Greencards.asp|archive-date=July 24, 2008}}</ref>
''Movin' On'' earned The Greencards the 2004 Austin Music Award for Best New Band.<ref name="Austin Chronicle March 2004">{{cite news|url=https://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/story?oid=oid%3A202959|title=2003–04 Austin Music Awards|first=Christopher|last=Gray|date=March 19, 2004|work=The Austin Chronicle|access-date=May 29, 2008}}</ref> Several months after the awards, the band was signed by Dualtone Records and began work on their next album, ''Weather and Water''.<ref name="Desert News June 2007"/> The label re-released ''Movin' On'' at the beginning of 2005, generating still more airplay and sales.<ref name="Americana Homeplace January 2008"/>
=== ''Weather and Water'' (2005–2006) === {{main article|Weather and Water}} Their second Dualtone album, ''Weather and Water'', was released on June 28, 2005.<ref name="Americana Homeplace January 2008"/> Warner stated that during the recording sessions, Dualtone Records let them record what they wanted, with no interference or changes requested.<ref name="Knoxville News 2008-03-07"/> In a review of ''Weather and Water'' in ''The Washington Post'', it was noted that on this album, unlike their debut, the focus was on the music supporting lyrics, rather than the blues virtuosity of ''Movin' On''.<ref name="Washington Post review June 2005">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/09/AR2005060900707_pf.html|title=The Greencards "Weather and Water" Dualtone|first=Geoffrey|last=Himes|date=June 10, 2005|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=June 1, 2008}}</ref> All three members of the band sang on ''Weather and Water'', but Young's voice was noted for its "dreamy, haunting quality".<ref name="The Patriot Ledger February 2006"/> Their music through the ''Weather and Water'' album had been called Celtic-influenced and bluegrass-flavored by John Lehndorff of the ''Rocky Mountain News'', but he noted that the band had a distinctly American sound despite their overseas origins.<ref name="Rocky Mountain News June 2006">{{cite news|url=http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_4782305,00.html|title=Tried-and-true Telluride dares to fill the air with new talents|first=John|last=Lehndorff|date=June 17, 2006|work=Rocky Mountain News|access-date=May 29, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080309011659/http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0%2C1299%2CDRMN_15_4782305%2C00.html|archive-date=March 9, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref> In early 2005, The Greencards performed at South by Southwest in Austin for the first time, and afterwards made their debut at the prestigious MerleFest.<ref name="Americana Homeplace January 2008"/>
{{Listen|filename=The Greencards Time.ogg|title="Time"|description=Sample of "Time", a single released in 2005 from the album ''Weather and Water''. "Time" was called the 'centerpiece' of the ''Weather and Water'' album.|format=Ogg}}
Jason Gonulsen of ''Glide Magazine'' noted that The Greencards' debut ''Movin' On'' did not capture the band's live energy, but that ''Weather and Water'' overcame this, and was one of 2005's best bluegrass albums.<ref name="Glide Magazine August 2005">{{cite news|url=http://www.glidemagazine.com/articles/47026/the-greencards.html|title=The Greencards: Weather and Water|first=Jason|last=Gonulsen|date=August 10, 2005|work=Glide Magazine|access-date=May 29, 2008}}</ref> The music video for the band's single "Time" from ''Weather and Water'' received heavy airplay and rotation on Country Music Television.<ref name="Desert News June 2007"/> "Time" was described as the centerpiece track of ''Weather and Water''.<ref name="Glen Arbor Sun July 2006"/> ''Weather and Water'' was also cited as expanding the boundaries of the bluegrass genre.<ref name="Glen Arbor Sun July 2006"/><ref name="Americana Music Awards 2006"/>
Country Music Television named ''Weather and Water'' one of its ten favorite bluegrass albums of the year, saying, "At the nexus of bluegrass, country and pop, this charming trio immediately win over such diverse audiences in concert. Luckily, their winning personality translates to this disc—even with several melancholy, yet melodic, songs. Not for nothing did Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson choose them to open their summer tour of minor league ballparks."<ref name="Country Music Television December 2005">{{cite news|url=http://www.cmt.com/news/articles/1519437/20051228/blue_moon_rising.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060103095728/http://www.cmt.com/news/articles/1519437/20051228/blue_moon_rising.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 3, 2006|title=Ten Favorite Bluegrass Albums of 2005|first=Craig|last=Shelburne|date=December 28, 2005|publisher=Country Music Television|access-date = May 29, 2008}}</ref> The Greencards were the opening act for Dylan and Nelson on their 2005 summer tour.<ref name="Sun Journal October 2007"/> Kym Warner credits Gary Paczosa, an engineer who worked on ''Weather and Water'', with helping them get the opportunity to tour with Dylan and Nelson. Paczosa had previously served as an engineer on recordings for Alison Krauss, Nickel Creek and Dolly Parton. "He makes the best-sounding acoustic records in the world", according to Warner.<ref name="Rolling Stone May 2005"/> Throughout 2005 they toured extensively with Dylan and Nelson, and afterwards toured with Tommy Emmanuel.<ref name="Jam Base June 2006">{{cite web|url=http://www.jambase.com/Articles/Story.aspx?StoryID=8727|title=Telluride Turns Thirty-Three|first=Nick|last=Hutchinson|date=July 12, 2007|publisher=JamBase|access-date=May 29, 2008}}</ref> During the summer segment of the 2005 tour with Nelson and Dylan, Warner wanted to have the opportunity to pick Dylan's brain about music and performing. However, Warner did not get to spend much time alone with Dylan during their time on the road together. Dylan later told Warner at the end of the tour, "You'll be fine from now on."<ref name="Glide Magazine May 2007">{{cite news|url=http://www.glidemagazine.com/articles/52131/the-greencards.html|first=Jason|last=Gonulsen|title=The Greencards, The Lucas School House, St. Louis, Missouri|date=May 30, 2007|work=Glide Magazine|access-date=June 8, 2008}}</ref>
At the end of 2005, The Greencards relocated from Austin to Nashville, to be closer to their production company and its staff.<ref name="Americana Homeplace January 2008"/><ref name="Washington Post review April 2007">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/12/AR2007041200771.html|title=The Greencards "Viridian" Dualtone|first=Geoffrey|last=Himes|date=April 13, 2007|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=June 1, 2008}}</ref> Coinciding with their move to Nashville and work on their second album ''Weather and Water'', the changes in location and sound were observed by critics to be a deliberate move from the jam-style of their debut album ''Movin' On'' to instead concentrate on Americana-focused music.<ref name="Washington Post review April 2007"/> By 2006, The Greencards had an annual slot at Merlefest, held yearly in Wilkesboro, North Carolina.<ref name="The Patriot Ledger February 2006"/> The band was nominated in the Americana Music Association Awards for 2006 in the category of New/Emerging Artist of the Year, winning the award.<ref name="Americana Music Awards 2006">{{cite web|url=http://www.americanamusic.org/site.php?content=honors_awards|title=5th Annual Americana Honors & Awards Nominees|year=2006|work=Americana Music Awards|access-date=May 29, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012213145/http://www.americanamusic.org/site.php?content=honors_awards|archive-date=October 12, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> In December 2006, their tour van rolled over on a patch of ice after leaving a performance in Bryan, Texas on the way back to Austin, but with no serious injuries.<ref name="Americana Homeplace January 2008"/>
=== ''Viridian'' (2007–2008) === {{main article|Viridian (album)}} thumb|The Greencards performing at The Mucky Duck, the inspiration for their Grammy-nominated song "Mucky the Duck" On their previous albums, The Greencards had individually recorded their musical tracks separately in isolation booths of recording studios. For ''Viridian'', the band members recorded their album together in real time in an open room, which was said to be a factor in creating a spontaneous feel for some of the album.<ref name="OZtrax, ABC 2007"/> Most of the songs on ''Viridian'' are sung by Young, and all of the tracks were written by The Greencards, with the exception of "Travel On", which was penned by Kim Richey of Nashville.<ref name="Washington Post review April 2007"/><ref name="Country Stars Online review 2007">{{cite web|url=http://www.countrystarsonline.com/reviewarchives/2007/Greencards%20_JM.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070228102935/http://www.countrystarsonline.com/reviewarchives/2007/Greencards%20_JM.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 28, 2007|title=The Greencards – Viridian|first=Jim|last=Moulton|publisher=Country Stars Online|access-date=June 1, 2008}}</ref> Their sound, through ''Viridian'', was likened to the Canadian alternative country band The Duhks.<ref name="Country Stars Online review 2007"/> After its release, ''Viridian'' claimed the No. 1 position on ''Billboard'' magazine's Bluegrass Music Chart.<ref name="Sun Journal October 2007">{{cite news|url=http://www.newbernsj.com/entertainment/pamlico_36962___article.html/bluegrass_music.html|title=The Greencards blend bluegrass, country and pop in Bayboro|first=Tom|last=Mayer|date=October 11, 2007|work=Sun Journal|location=New Bern, North Carolina|access-date=June 1, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20070811151205/http://www.newbernsj.com/entertainment/pamlico_36962___article.html/bluegrass_music.html|archive-date=August 11, 2007}}</ref> Doug Lancio, a producer who had previously worked with Patty Griffin, was said to have been a positive factor in the success of ''Viridian''. Prior to the 2007 album, Lancio had not worked with The Greencards.<ref name="Desert News June 2007"/> The Greencards are the first international musical act to reach No. 1 on the Bluegrass Music Chart.<ref name="Middletown Journal April 2007">{{cite news|url=http://www.middletownjournal.com/hp/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/04/27/go042707greencards.html|title=Bluegrass chart toppers perform at Southgate House|first=Richard O|last=Jones|date=April 27, 2007|work=The Middletown Journal|access-date=June 1, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716090656/http://www.middletownjournal.com/hp/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/04/27/go042707greencards.html|archive-date=July 16, 2011}}</ref>
In a review of ''Viridian'', Embo Blake of ''Hybrid Magazine'' noted Carol Young's vocal skill, as she "effortlessly diphthongs cadence" on the track "Waiting On The Night".<ref name="Hybrid Magazine 2007">{{cite web|url=http://www.hybridmagazine.com/reviews/0507/greencards.shtml|first=Embo|last=Blake|title=The Greencards Viridian|year=2007|work=Hybrid Magazine|access-date=June 8, 2008|archive-date=May 13, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070513180902/http://www.hybridmagazine.com/reviews/0507/greencards.shtml|url-status=dead}}</ref> According to the WFAA-TV in Dallas/Fort Worth, the album has a traditional bluegrass core, with a worldly flavor.<ref name="WFAA Dallas-Fort Worth November 2007"/> Bruce Elder of ''The Sydney Morning Herald'' called ''Viridian'' a "tour de force".<ref name="Sydney Morning Herald April 2007"/>
In the wake of ''Viridian'', The Greencards have been internationally referred to as one of the most popular Americana musical acts in the United States.<ref name="OZtrax, ABC 2007"/> Bruce Elder went on to say that the band may, after ''Viridian'', be the best country music performers to ever come out of Australia.<ref name="Sydney Morning Herald April 2007"/> In 2007, they were nominated for Best Country Album at the 21st Australian Recording Industry Association awards, ultimately losing to Keith Urban.<ref name="Cybergrass 2008-09-05"/><ref name="ARIA 2007 awards">{{cite web|url=http://www.ariaawards.com.au/history-by-year.php?year=2007|title=ARIA Awards History 2007|access-date=September 20, 2008|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080718204222/http://www.ariaawards.com.au/history-by-year.php?year=2007 <!--Added by H3llBot-->|archive-date=July 18, 2008}}</ref> In December 2007, it was announced that their song "Mucky the Duck" from ''Viridian'' was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Country Instrumental Performance at the 50th Grammy Awards, but it ultimately lost to Brad Paisley's "Throttleneck". Written by Warner, "Mucky the Duck" was inspired by one of the band's favorite Houston musical venues, The Mucky Duck.<ref name="Post and Courier February 2008">{{cite news|url=http://www.charleston.net/news/2008/feb/21/international_musicians_unite_greencards/ |title=International musicians unite with 'Greencards' |first=Keith Ryan |last=Cartwright |date=February 21, 2008 |work=The Post and Courier |access-date=June 1, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080306080944/http://www.charleston.net/news/2008/feb/21/international_musicians_unite_greencards/ |archive-date=March 6, 2008 }}</ref> Eamon McLoughlin is a regular blogger for Country Music Television.<ref name="Country Music Television blogs">{{cite web|url=http://blog.cmt.com/author/mcloughlin/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070705232745/http://blog.cmt.com/author/mcloughlin/|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 5, 2007|title=Country Music Blog: Eamon McLoughlin|year=2008|publisher=Country Music Television|access-date=June 1, 2008}}</ref> After the Grammy Awards, he wrote about the band's experience at the event, noting that despite not winning, the bar had been raised for their next album.<ref name="Country Music Television blogs February 15, 2008">{{cite web|url=http://blog.cmt.com/2008-02-15/grammy-nomination-raises-the-bar/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080220233750/http://blog.cmt.com/2008-02-15/grammy-nomination-raises-the-bar/|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 20, 2008|title=Grammy Nomination Raises the Bar|first=Eamon|last=McLoughlin|date=February 15, 2008|publisher=Country Music Television|access-date=June 1, 2008}}</ref>
The Greencards announced on their website in August 2008 that they had returned to the studio to record their fourth album with producer Jay Joyce. In September 2008, again via their website, they announced that they signed with Sugar Hill Records for their fourth album, to be released in spring 2009.<ref name="Cybergrass 2008-09-05">{{cite news|last=BMNN|title=The Greencards Sign With Sugar Hill – New Album Due Spring 2009|date=September 5, 2008|publisher=Cybergrass|url=http://www.cybergrass.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=5291|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708215037/http://www.cybergrass.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=5291|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 8, 2011|access-date=September 20, 2008}}</ref>
=== ''Fascination'' (from 2009) === {{main article|Fascination (album)}} On April 21, 2009, The Greencards released their fourth studio album, ''Fascination''. Warner describes the album as "their most focused" work. On their previous albums, the three band members had individually put forward ideas for the music, until enough cohered into the finished work. For ''Fascination'', he says they put aside their individual pride to create a stronger work. The years of touring experience The Greencards have accumulated since their earliest work has helped them, as well. Referring to when they formed the band, he said, "We just played in Austin. We just wrote probably anything, which was the only stuff we knew, which was more of a traditional thing. But since then, we've had five or six years of touring, all of the experiences, all of the people you meet. We've been so fortunate to play at all of these festivals which have a really eclectic form of music styles."<ref name='CMT 2009-05-11'>{{cite news|first=Whitney|last=Self|title=The Greencards Hope to Charm Listeners With Fascination|date=May 11, 2009|publisher=Country Music Television|url=http://www.cmt.com/news/country-music/1611109/the-greencards-hope-to-charm-listeners-with-fascination.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090518203301/http://www.cmt.com/news/country-music/1611109/the-greencards-hope-to-charm-listeners-with-fascination.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 18, 2009|access-date=June 3, 2009}}</ref>
According to Young, the music on ''Fascination'' was a progression for the band, and a challenge for them. Comparing their prior work to the new album, she said, "They're probably a bit more bluegrass-influenced than this one here. While we still have the bluegrass and roots music influences, we really wanted to push ourselves harder on this one, something a bit more challenging to play live." She described their music through their fourth album as having evolved, explaining that it began as traditional roots and bluegrass, but after six years is "our own little sound".<ref name='VCS 2009-05-21'>{{cite news|first=Bill|last=Locey|title=The Greencards expand their rootsy musical palette|date=May 21, 2009|newspaper=Ventura County Star|url=http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2009/may/21/acoustic-colors/|access-date=June 3, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120914073905/http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2009/may/21/acoustic-colors/|archive-date=September 14, 2012}}</ref> The track "The Crystal Merchant" was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Country Instrumental Performance.
In 2009, The Greencards continued to tour, performing again at MerleFest, the Strawberry Park Bluegrass Festival in Preston, Connecticut, Bluegrass in the Park in Henderson, Kentucky, and were on the bill for Lollapalooza.<ref name='CMT 2009-05-11'/>
=== ''Buy A Brick'' campaign === On November 8, 2010, The Greencards announced that they would self-finance the production on their next album, set for May 2011, rather than taking an advance from a record company. The ''Buy A Brick'' campaign is selling a package of an advance copy of the final CD, a digital image of the album artwork, video updates of the recording of the album and the subscriber's name (up to twenty characters) on the album artwork. Subscriptions are either $100 or $200 US with the more expensive package getting the album one week earlier and the subscriber's name on the front of the CD package.<ref name="BuyABrick">{{cite web|url=http://www.thegreencards.com/#/buy-a-brick|title=Buy A Brick|access-date=November 21, 2010}}</ref>
== Musical style and influences == thumb|The Greencards in concert in 2007
Considered by critics to be part of the progressive bluegrass ("newgrass") musical school, The Greencards draw from a wide variety of musical influences, ranging from Bob Dylan and the Beatles to the Celtic tone of Irish traditional music, gypsy themes, and Latin sounds.<ref name="The Irish Times July 2007"/><ref name="Glen Arbor Sun July 2006"/> Despite the wide array of influences that shape their music, The Greencards have always maintained a distinctively Americana sound.<ref name="Rocky Mountain News June 2006"/> While the various sounds that influence their work are always detectable, none ever dominate the band's music.<ref name="PLAYBACK:stl March 2007">{{cite web|url=http://www.playbackstl.com/content/view/5899/157/|first=Brad|last=Proctor|title=The Greencards | Viridian (Dualtone)|date=March 21, 2007|work=PLAYBACK:stl|access-date=June 8, 2008|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070629152231/http://www.playbackstl.com/content/view/5899/157/|archive-date=June 29, 2007}}</ref> Jim Abbott of the ''Tribune News Service'' described The Greencards as polished, "earthy, charming roots music with a sophisticated sheen", but noted that some bluegrass purists may miss the vocal idiosyncrasies that can be found on other acts such as the Del McCoury Band.<ref name="The Orlando Sentinel July 2005">{{cite news|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-133851742.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130414064019/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-133851742.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 14, 2013|title=The Greencards have a sound as unique as their members|first=Jim|last=Abbott|date=July 7, 2005|work=Orlando Sentinel|access-date=June 1, 2008}}</ref> Their appeal has been attributed to both their "instrumental dexterity" as well as the manner in which they both revere and flaunt bluegrass conventions.<ref name="The Philadelphia Intelligencer August 2007"/> The progressive nature of The Greencards' bluegrass sound has been compared to Nickel Creek and Alison Krauss & Union Station.<ref name="WFAA Dallas-Fort Worth November 2007"/>
The Greencards' work on ''Movin' On'' had a looser, jam-based feeling to it, which they later firmed into a more polished sound after relocating to Nashville from Austin for ''Weather and Water''.<ref name="Washington Post review April 2007"/> John T. Davis in ''No Depression Magazine'' stated The Greencards' best work on ''Weather and Water'' contained a "stillness", which he felt contrasted with the speed and "frantic" pace of some of the songs on ''Movin' On''.<ref name="No Depression 2005">{{cite journal|last=Davis|first=John T.|title=ROOTS Across Oceans — The Greencards find a home between Oz and the US|journal=No Depression Magazine No. 59|date=September–October 2005}}</ref> While other critics had mentioned The Greencards in the context of jam bands, Davis went on to say that he felt the band was not one, and that they favored a leaner and "clean" sound driven more by Celtic roots.<ref name="No Depression 2005"/>
During their 2005 tour with Dylan and Nelson, Buzz McClain of ''The Washington Post'' believed that The Greencards play traditional American music better than some Americans do, because of their deep respect for bluegrass and the Americana sound.<ref name="Washington Post June 2005">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/14/AR2005061401467_pf.html|title=The Greencards' Down-Home Customs|first=Buzz|last=McClain|date=June 15, 2005|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=June 1, 2008}}</ref> According to David McPherson in ''Bluegrass Unlimited'' magazine, the band's three-part harmonies evoke the soul sounds of gospel music.<ref name="Bluegrass Unlimited 2005">{{cite journal|last=McPherson|first=David|title=The Greencards — An Unlikely Combination|journal=Bluegrass Unlimited|volume=40|issue=5|date=November 2005}}</ref> Kym Warner has said that Robert Earl Keen, Kelly Willis, and Patty Griffin were key influences musically in The Greencards's sound during their time in Austin, with the previously unreleased Griffin song "What You Are" being covered on their album ''Weather and Water''.<ref name="Glide 2005-07-10"/><ref name="No Depression 2005"/> The recordings on ''Viridian'', in particular the songs "River of Sand", "Waiting on the Night" and "When I Was in Love With You", were said to evoke the sounds of progressive folk rock that emerged in the 1960s.<ref name="Washington Post April 2007">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/17/AR2007041701577.html|title=Greencards: Bluegrass With Varied Accents|first=Buzz|last=McClain|date=April 18, 2007|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=June 1, 2008}}</ref> In ''Nashville Scene'', Edd Hurt noted the eclectic tone of the band's overall body of recordings, and believed that their albums belonged to the tradition of singer-songwriter musicians.<ref name="Nashville Scene 2007-03-22">{{cite news|url=http://www.nashvillescene.com/Stories/Arts/Music/2007/03/22/Immigrant_Songs/index.shtml|title=Immigrant Songs|access-date=October 2, 2008|last=Hurt|first=Edd|date=March 22, 2007|newspaper=Nashville Scene|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070328221140/http://www.nashvillescene.com/Stories/Arts/Music/2007/03/22/Immigrant_Songs/index.shtml|archive-date=March 28, 2007}}</ref>
Their musical appeal to fans has been attributed to both their "instrumental dexterity" as well as the manner in which they both revere and flaunt bluegrass conventions.<ref name="The Philadelphia Intelligencer August 2007"/> Naila Francis described The Greencards's sound as having a mellow tone, with "tender ballards and yarns" in their songs, but punctuated by bursts of energetic musical restlessness.<ref name="The Philadelphia Intelligencer August 2007"/> Country Music Television in particular noted their melancholy but melodic sound.<ref name="Country Music Television December 2005"/> The Greencards have described their sound as "high energy acoustic music".<ref name="News 8 Austin March 2004">{{cite news|url=http://www.news8austin.com/content/living/rooftop_music/?ArID=100555&SecID=427|title=The Greencards on the roof|date=March 11, 2004|publisher=News 8 Austin|access-date=May 29, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080522151220/http://www.news8austin.com/content/living/rooftop_music/?ArID=100555&SecID=427|archive-date=May 22, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref>
== Discography == {|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" ! rowspan="2" | Title ! rowspan="2" | Details ! colspan="1"| Peak chart positions |- style="font-size:smaller;" ! width="60"| US Bluegrass<br> {{cn|date=April 2022}} |- ! scope="row"| ''Movin' On'' | * Release date: 2003 * Label: Dualtone Records | 10 |- ! scope="row"| ''Weather and Water'' | * Release date: June 2005 * Label: Dualtone Records | 3 |- ! scope="row"| ''Viridian'' | * Release date: March 2007 * Label: Dualtone Records | 1 |- ! scope="row"| ''Fascination'' | * Release date: April 2009 * Label: Sugar Hill Records | — |- ! scope="row"| ''The Brick Album'' | * Release date: June 2011 * Label: Darling Street Records | 8 |- ! scope="row"| ''Sweetheart of the Sun'' | * Release date: August 2013 * Label: Darling Street Records | — |- | colspan="4" style="font-size:8pt"| "—" denotes releases that did not chart |- |}
==Awards and nominations== ===ARIA Music Awards=== The ARIA Music Awards are a set of annual ceremonies presented by Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), which recognise excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of the music of Australia. They commenced in 1987.
{{awards table}} ! {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |- | 2007 || ''Veridian'' || Best Country Album || {{nom}} || <ref>ARIA Award previous winners. {{cite web|url=http://www.ariaawards.com.au/history/award/Best-Country-Album|title=ARIA Awards Best Country Album|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA)|access-date=9 April 2022}}</ref> {{end}}
== References == {{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
== External links == {{commons}} * {{cite web | last = Country Music Television | author-link = Country Music Television | year = 2008 | url = http://www.cmt.com/artists/az/greencards/artist.jhtml | archive-url = https://archive.today/20121205234537/http://www.cmt.com/artists/az/greencards/artist.jhtml | url-status = dead | archive-date = December 5, 2012 | title = The Greencards | publisher = MTV Networks | access-date = September 1, 2008 }} * {{cite web | last = Internet Archive | author-link = Internet Archive | year = 2008 | url = https://archive.org/details/TheGreencards | title = The Greencards | access-date = September 1, 2008 }}
{{s-start}} {{s-ach|aw}} {{s-bef|before=Mary Gauthier}} {{s-ttl|title=AMA New/Emerging Artist of the Year|years=2006}} {{s-aft|after=The Avett Brothers}} {{s-end}} {{The Greencards}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Greencards, The}} Category:American bluegrass music groups Category:Australian bluegrass music groups Category:Country music groups from Texas Category:Musical groups from Austin, Texas Category:Musical groups established in 2003 Category:2003 establishments in Texas Category:Australian expatriates in the United States