Blue Eyed Grass: News

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Delnora Reed and Jayron Weaver are Blue Eyed Grass, and A Blue Eyed Christmas is an alt-country EP sparkler. The harmonies are natural, comfortably crafted, and an absolute delight. The 26 minutes you spend with this excellent release will be time well spent this holiday season!

Before getting to the music, I want to note that Delnora and Jayron have the most fortunate names, particularly for country crooners. Some of us get stuck with run-of-the-mill, old-timey names like "Carol"; others sport standout, ultra-cool monikers. The duo's rootsy music is equally unique and lovely. Each singer is individually remarkably talented, and together they make magic.

So beautiful! I particularly loved Oh Come Oh Come Emmanuel, which opens with each singer doing emotive solo runs before joining for the third verse. The two sing equally well in the same general vocal range; this may partially explain the brilliant chemistry that makes the harmonies blend like melted butter. I also treasure their melding of carols; Deck the Halls with Joy and Silver Jingle Bells will make you embrace these well-familiar seasonal nuggets from a creative, fresh perspective.

Finally, Blue Eyed Christmas completes the EP with Breath of Heaven, the longest track, and the one that brought tears to my eyes. I love well-executed harmonies, especially those that reflect the male/female dichotomy, and these two intermingle like ageless souls.

ChristmasReviews.com has seen too little country music this fall. A Blue Eyed Christmas is an excellent and most welcome companion on this frosty Saturday morning in Minnesota. It's going to be a great day!

--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2009)

By Mary Prickett

On June 27 at 8 p.m. Blue Eyed Grass will perform at the Dallas Theater.

The duo includes Paulding County’s own Nashville Star, Jayron Weaver and Delnora Reed who came together to create a new sound.

Blue Eyed Grass’ music is a mixture of acoustic, country and Celtic flavored music, Weaver said.

“Delnora and I wrote most of the songs,” said Weaver. “But we do put in enough songs people are familiar with so they have a good time at the concerts, because no one really knows what Blue Eyed Grass is.”

The new musical style was an accident that worked in the duo’s favor, Ms. Reed said.

“We originally came together to write songs,” said Ms. Reed. “Separately we are both as country as dirt cloth, but when our styles collided, something new was born. We love country music, but our style isn’t traditional country or blue grass. We came up with our own sound and now we’ve been doing it, we don’t want to do anything else.”

The show will feature original songs and others that have influenced the duo.

“Our concerts turn out people from all ages and all walks,” said Weaver. “We have music that spans every age group from the Everly Brothers to Oasis.”

“We love bluegrass music, but when we are categorized in it, it makes me nervous,” said Ms. Reed. “There are people who don’t like bluegrass, but like our music. Usually you can only fit one demographic, but we fit in across the board.”

This will be Weaver’s third hometown performance with the duo, which, he said, is always a joy.

“We talked to the city before the theater was opened about performing in it and it was wonderful to perform in the renovated theater,” said Weaver.

“We love the Dallas Theater, the atmosphere and the people who come out to see us perform,” said Ms. Reed.

Tickets for the Blue Eyed Grass concert cost $12 for main level and $8 for balcony. They can be purchased at the Dallas Theater Box Office, at 208 Main St. in Dallas, Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. or call at (770) 445-5180 or purchase the tickets online at www.dallastheater-civiccenter.com.

“If you like music you will like our show,” said Ms. Reed. “It makes a great date night or you can bring the whole family.”

Blue Eyed Grass - Blue Eyed Grass
Rated * * * * *
There is a new band in Nashville they everyone needs to pay attention to. Blue Eyed Grass consists of Jayron Weaver and Delnora Reed. If Jayron's name sounds familiar, he grabbed the fourth place position on Nashville Star a couple years ago. They both have an extensive background in music. Delnora has performed for years and has even had two professional recording contracts and Jayron performed with his family's Bluegrass band prior to beating thousands, for a chance at winning Nashville Star. The talent these two possess alone is amazing, but putting them together may be lethal. Their perfect blend of harmonies will leave you with a haunting sensation, and begging for another album. Every song has a mixture of Country, Folk and Bluegrass music which is now being referred to as Progressive Bluegrass. Without trying to compare them to anyone, simply because they are their own sound, they have a sound that could be compared to Nickel Creek and Alison Krauss. Each song's acoustical balance throughout the entire album is breath taking. You'll hear the dobro, mandolin and guitar, but every note is exactly where it belongs. Nothing is out of place.

Their self-titled debut album starts off amazing. The first tune is called "Sweet Intoxication." This tune is great. It's a perfect love song about two people meeting. As soon as this song starts, you'll be hooked until the album is over. It doesn't sound like a typical studio album. It feels like you're sitting in front of them live. "The Bed" is a personal favorite. Their vocals will give you chills, yet you'll get closer to the speakers, trying to hear more. Delnora's voice hits some high notes and truly shows off her range. The only way to sum it up, is we have to "sleep in the bed we've made." The lyrics will cut like a knife and the music does too. This album is worth having, just for this one song. "Thirsty" is the first single to be released off this record. It leans more towards the Folk sound than anything, of course with a heavy dobro and mandolin backing. The music on "Out Of Control" is so mellow and relaxing that Jayron's voice just blends in with it. This is another love song that comes together on the harmonies.
You can check out everything Blue Eyed Grass at www.BlueEyedGrass.Net. Also, they are working on a Christmas album that will be available later this year. These are two of the nicest people you will ever meet, and they make you feel like you're apart of something. If you're expecting fast paced, honky-tonk Country Music, this album is NOT for you. For those that enjoy the more independent styles of Country Music and Bluegrass, this IS for you. Check out their site and music. If you are ever able to check them out live, please do, you won't regret it!

Blue Eyed Grass Pays a Visit to 98.3
Jayron and Delnora Play Live On Fresh Hot Lunch

Roosters of Moulton has an owner who really likes music so he's been staging free live music events at his location in the Wal-Mart Shopping Plaza on Highway 24. He's had some very talented individuals this year (including himself), but Brandon really "moved the mark" (we don't say "kick it up a notch" around here) when Nashville's Blue Eyed Grass played there recently. Before they played at Roosters they stopped by to play an in-studio set during Jason's "Fresh Hot Lunch".

Their 20-minute set included songs from their self-titled album and featured "Sweet Intoxiction", the single now in rotation on WALW. Their CD is available on CD Baby (see below) as well as on iTunes. Be sure to visit their website www.blueeyedgrass.net.

Saturday, May 31, 2008
Review: Blue Eyed Grass

When Delnora Reed’s pure, angelic vocals meld with Jayron Weaver’s warm, earthy tones, the end result is like night touching day. The quiet hush of their combined voices is the perfect soundtrack for midnight breaking into dawn. As the roots-oriented duo Blue Eyed Grass, the two harmonize and alternate lead vocals in a debut that demonstrates intelligent simplicity.

Neither Reed nor Weaver is a musical novice and that maturity shows in their work. Reed released her first album, Delnora, at the tender age of sixteen and previously recorded for Dreamworks and RCA, while Weaver, who was part of his family’s bluegrass band as a child, finished as third runner-up on the third season of Nashville Star and toured with Arkansas band Riverbilly. They came together in March of 2007 and ultimately created a sparsely produced album the centers around the quest for connection.

While the record kicks off with “Sweet Intoxication”, a meditation about the euphoria of new love when one is “stoned on the moonlight, drunk on rain”, the emotional cornerstone of the album is “The Bed”, the lament of a couple that can’t quite come together. When Weaver sings “I wish that you could hear/The things that I can’t say”, he ably expresses the frustration of someone seeking out a personal connection. Reed and Weaver’s vocals bob and weave, ultimately intertwining on the chorus of this stark tale of regret: “It’s the price we pay/For all our mistakes/We’re sleeping in the bed we made.” By refusing to shy away from the consequences of missed opportunities, Blue Eyed Grass creates a realistic portrait of domestic strife.

The search for connection is also prevalent in “Thirsty”, a modern hymn that marvels at God’s creation. Surrounded by raging elements, Reed sweetly confesses “Thunder and lightning/To some might be frightening/But I’m relieved/’Cause I’m thirsty.” Her skillful phrasing effectively conveys the comfort that can be found in God’s presence.

In an interesting choice, the duo references Travis Tritt, an artist known for his soulful brand of country (and whose hit “Modern Day Bonnie and Clyde” provided the basis for one of Weaver’s standout performances on Nashville Star) in “Happy Song.” Like Tritt, Blue Eyed Grass has the ability to blend edginess and tenderness. The song’s narrator, tired of being stuck in a state of moroseness, seeks the assurance that everything will be all right, if only for one night. That common thread of searching for comfort helps to bind Blue Eyed Grass’ finely crafted debut together. It is a simple concept, but in their capable hands, it is also quite poetic.

Blue Eyed Grass is:
Delnora Reed (mandolin, lead vocals, harmony vocals,engineer)
Jayron Weaver (guitar, lead vocals, hamony vocals)

Purchase the album:
CDBaby
iTunes
Amazon MP3s

Published: February 10, 2008
By: Isaac Joseph Davis Junior

The Nashville music sensation, Blue Eyed Grass, is creating a nice buzz in the music industry. The dynamic duo (Jayron Weaver and Delnora Reed) has blended their different musical taste to create something that will have fans wanting more. Junior’s Cave believe that the duo is destined to leave a mark on the music industry. Check out this recent spotlight we have the pleasure to conduct with the members of the group.
http://juniorscave.com/blueeyedgrass.html