C.J. Lewandowski, mandolinist of The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys, discusses his band’s origins and upcoming performances in an interview with KGNU’s Shawna Sprowls. Lewandowski shares insights about their new album, “Wanderers Like Me,” set to release on August 16th on Smithsonian Folkways Records. He highlights their excitement for upcoming shows, including a performance in Denver at the Levitt Pavilion on August 2nd (Interview date: 7/24/2024)
Shawna Sprowls: As promised, I am joined by C.J. Lewandowski of The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys. Good morning, sir.
The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys (C.J.): Hey, how are you?
Shawna Sprowls: I’m good. How are you?
The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys (C.J.): I’m great. Just getting ready to hit the road again after a couple days at home.
Shawna Sprowls: Ah, those days at home are nice, right?
The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys (C.J.): Yeah, very nice. Full of mowing grass and catching up on bills.
Shawna Sprowls: So where do you live?
The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys (C.J.): I live in East Tennessee. The band started in the Smoky Mountains over here. I live in Sevierville, which is the home of Dolly Parton. That’s what we’re most famous for. I moved over here 11 years ago almost and got an opportunity to start a house band. And now a decade later, that house band is The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys.
Shawna Sprowls: That is fantastic. So is it all original members still?
The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys (C.J.): Yes, every one of us, we started the same day, same place, same time.
Shawna Sprowls: Aw, that’s so great. And tonight, you don’t have too far to travel to your gig at The Station End. You guys play a monthly show there? Is that right?
The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys (C.J.): We have a monthly residency that we usually play on Wednesday night, or if we’re passing through. And then some special events, too. This month, I had a special show that I put on because of my Madeline turning 101 years old. So we have a little Madeline birthday party over there and next month there’s going to be a special show too. There’s a lot of support there from The Station, and we love The Station Inn too. It’s the bluegrass home in Nashville.
Shawna Sprowls: Which is saying something.
The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys (C.J.): Yes, for sure.
Shawna Sprowls: You got a little bit of bluegrass over there in Nashville these days. Just a little bit, right? There’s no such thing as too much. I’m one of the hosts of the Saturday morning bluegrass show as well. So I’m a big fan.
The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys (C.J.): There you go. Thanks for doing that.
Shawna Sprowls: Heck yeah. We’re getting ready to do our live broadcast from RockyGrass. Have you guys ever played?
The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys (C.J.): Amazing. We’ve played RockyGrass twice. We taught the academy last year. It was amazing. That was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had in all the years that I’ve been playing music. I was having such a good time hanging out with everybody at the academy and around camp that I changed my flight. So I stayed an extra two days after we played just so I could hang out with everyone. Thank you RockyGrass for making me love bluegrass just a little bit more. When you do it for a living, sometimes you get a little tired.
Shawna Sprowls: That’s saying something. If your event is so much fun that the performers don’t want to leave, that’s saying something. Good job, Planet Bluegrass. I really look forward to this weekend every year. And the following weekend, you guys will be here.
The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys (C.J.): We’re going to be in Denver. So we’re not going to be too far from you. That’s not too far from RockyGrass. And hopefully everybody’s not too exhausted to come out and hang out with us for a night.
Shawna Sprowls: No way. This is at the Levitt Pavilion on August 2nd, that’s Friday night and the doors open at six. The show starts at seven. KGNU is really happy to be presenting this show and another band that y’all hear quite a bit here on KGNU. And I know I have had them in on my show. The Drunken Hearts are going to be opening the show. Have you ever played with them? Do you know them?
The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys (C.J.): I think we have once. I’m not too sure exactly. I don’t pay attention as much as I should.
Shawna Sprowls: So folks, if you’re curious, I am talking with C.J. Lewandowski of The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys, and they are a five piece bluegrass band out of Tennessee. And you’ve got a new album you just finished, is that right?
The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys (C.J.): We’ve got a new album dropping on August 16th, so it can be pre ordered right now through LP, CD, and digital formats on Smithsonian Folkways Records, which is an amazing, historic label that dips in all genres, but they’re really focusing on a lot of Americana and folk music. And we fit the bill with them. This is our second album with them called Wanderers Like Me. That album will be out on, ironically, Laura’s birthday – our fiddle player – August 16th. So if you want to pre-order now, the cool thing at the moment is the first run of LPs are gonna be colored vinyl. I think the first batch and only the first batch is gonna be turquoise. Grab them while they’re hot.
Shawna Sprowls: Get them quick if you want a cool one.
The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys (C.J.): It’s a great album. A lot of songs. We had a single drop yesterday off of it that Laura sings, actually, one called “Trying to Live the Dream”, and it talks about musicians and how they struggle sometimes with making their dreams come true and some of the sacrifices that goes along with it, leaving home, and maybe somebody you really love, but you love music just a little bit more, and it’s a great song. There’s two other singles out right now, “Wanderers Like Me” and “Lonely Pine”.
Shawna Sprowls: We’re going to hear “Wanderers Like Me” coming up here very shortly. I saved that one to play after we chit chatted, cause we’re going to have a chance for you to win a pair of VIP tickets to this show. Again, the show is free, but you can always buy VIP tickets and then you get to be up close in the VIP area and you’ve got your own little bar right there. It’s not a bad place.
The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys (C.J.): Hang out with us real close.
Shawna Sprowls: Yeah, real close, right? Go up there and blow kisses at the band. They like that. Real quick, tell us who all’s in the band for those folks who are just finding out.
The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys (C.J.): Yep, Jasper Lorentzen is on the bass, Jereme Brown on the banjo, Laura Orshaw on the fiddle. Let’s see, Josh Rinkel on the guitar, and myself, C.J. Lewandowski, I’m on the mandolin. We’ve been the same five people. We never did have a fiddle player, we started off as a four piece, and we became a five piece when Laura joined the band in 2017. There’s been no band changes ever, it’s pretty cool.
Shawna Sprowls: Very cool. So again, folks. This is The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys with The Drunken Hearts on Friday. August 2nd at Levitt Pavilion. You heard it from the man. It’s going to be a great show. So we are excited to have you come. I see on your website, Jim Lauderdale says, “Every so often a band comes around that knocks everybody’s socks off and gets people talking. I bet good money you’re gonna really enjoy them, but I don’t want to take your money. Use it to listen to them. I’m putting my money on them”. Jim Lauderdale, high praise from an amazing musician, singer songwriter, who I’ve also interviewed right here, on The Morning Sound Alternative.
The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys (C.J.): He’s one of our best friends. We really enjoy him a lot. We recorded an album with him and he’s been a great person to have on our side.
Shawna Sprowls: Yeah, definitely. You heard it from us. You heard it from Jim. Get yourself to the show. Levitt Pavilion free shows. You do still need a ticket. Basically, you just need to get on their website, levittpavilion.com and reserve your tickets so they can plan on how many people are going to be there and make sure you don’t show up and not have room for you. So reserve your tickets and catch The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys. We’re going to let C.J. get on the road to The Station Inn so they can play tonight. And we will all be looking forward to that new album. You can pre order it. The new album is “Wanderers Like Me”, The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys. Thank you so much for taking time this morning, C.J. I really appreciate it.
The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys (C.J.): Hey, thanks for having me on here. I really appreciate you. Keep playing that good grass for us.
Shawna Sprowls: Oh, I will. You take care now. Travel safely.
The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys (C.J.): All right. Thank you.
