IIIrd Tyme is the charm

For the past 20 years, Russell Moore and IIIrd Tyme Out have delighted millions with their brand of bluegrass singing and playing. They’ve played many times on the Grand Ole Opry as well as on the Great American Country and RFD-TV channels.

Thursday, Russell Moore and IIIrd Tyme Out will twice delight the audience at the 37^th Annual North Carolina State Bluegrass Festival. They will perform at 3 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. at Tom Johnson Rally Park.

Although IIIrd Tyme Out has performed in western North Carolina for many years, McDowell County is a new experience for the band.

“It will be a first time for us,” said Moore, who helped start the band back in 1991.

Formed in Cumming, Ga., the group’s name was chosen because at that time this was Moore’s third professional bluegrass band. He had just left Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver before forming the new group.

“It was our third time out,” said Moore, who is 47.

Judging by the group’s success, the third time was the charm.

Since then, the group has won seven consecutive International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) awards for “Vocal Group of the Year” while Moore himself has taken home two IBMA “Male Vocalist of the Year” trophies. They have received more than 50 industry awards, including “Bluegrass Band of the Year” and “Male Vocalist of the Year” (Moore), both from the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music in America (SPBGMA).

The current lineup consists of Moore, who does lead vocals and guitar; Steve Dilling, who provides vocals and banjo; Justen Haynes, who does vocals and fiddle; Wayne Benson, who does vocals and mandolin; and Edgar Loudermilk, who is on vocals and bass. The band’s website lists 17 recordings, which include studio albums, live albums, greatest hits collections and even a DVD.

Born and raised in Pasadena, Texas, Moore heard some of the local groups in that area as a youth. The first group he joined was the Bluegrass Ramblers of Texas, which toured around Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas.

“They kind of introduced me to the inner workings of a band,” said Moore to The McDowell News.

In 1983, Moore decided to move closer to the origins of the music.

“There’s not a lot of bluegrass in and around Pasadena,” he said. “That is basically the reason I moved east and into the thick of things.”

His next band was Southern Connections. He formed that group with Scott Vestal and his brother, Curtis. Moore ended up in Cumming Ga., located 30 miles north of Atlanta. That is where his third group IIIrd Tyme Out would be formed in 1991.

“Today, I am only the original member left in the group,” he said.

But unlike some bands, IIIrd Tyme Out has had a pretty stable roster of performers.

“We have been real fortunate as far as turnover in the band,” he said. “We have not had that many over the years.”

Moore said he’s proud of the members of his band. Dilling started his 19^th year as a member just last month.

“He is one of the best MCs in the business,” said Moore of his bandmate. “He knows how to talk to a crowd and make them feel like a part of the show.”

Benson has been with the group for 17 years. Moore said Benson is one of the best mandolin players in the business.

Haynes has been with the group for eight years. “He is a fiddle player but he plays just about anything with strings,” said Moore of his fiddler.

Loudermilk has been with the group for five years but has been in the business for a long time. He formerly played with Rhonda Vincent & the Rage and was also a part of Marty Raven’s group. He is related to the legendary Louvin Brothers.

Russell Moore and IIIrd Tyme Out have recorded for such labels as Rebel and Rounder but the group is now with Rural Rhythm Records. The label was formerly located in California but is based in Mount Juliet, Tenn.

“They feel like they are going to be more in touch with the bluegrass community,” said Moore. “I think it is going to turn out to be a great move for them. Lonesome River Band, Lou Reid & Carolina, The Crowe Brothers are also on the label. They have a good lineup of bands on their label.”

Moore and his band spend around 200 days a year on the road playing between 100 to 125 tour dates. The economic downturn has not had a negative impact on the group’s performance schedule. Moore considers him and his bandmates to be fortunate in that aspect.

However, all that time on the road takes a toll on their personal lives.

“Our time at home is very valuable to us,” he said. “This is the path that we chose. We have very supportive families. They understand why we are doing this. It is for the love of the music.”

Some places are better than others to play.

“There’s pros and cons associated with any venue that you go to,” said Moore. “There’s a different set of elements that you deal with every time you get your instrument out of your case. We enjoy doing the TV stuff and exposing our music before a wider audience.”

The group is now finishing up a new project for Rural Rhythm Records. It is slated to be released Oct. 25.

“This will kind of tie into a celebration of 20 years as IIIrd Tyme Out,” said Moore. “It will have 14 songs. I believe it is going to be titled ‘Prime Tyme.’”

The songs, both covers and originals, are influenced by bluegrass, country, rock ‘n’ roll and swing music.

“We will have a little more bang for the buck,” he said. “There’s several songs that have never been recorded before.”

As they promote the new album, Moore and IIIrd Tyme Out will not only play but also reconnect with their fans. That includes taking the time to sign autographs and pose for photos.

“We interact with our fan base because we realize the tour support is what we count on,” he said. “We depend on it week in and week out. We don’t lose sight of that. They are the ones who enable us to live our dream.”

This evening, Russell Moore and IIIrd Tyme Out will take the stage at the festival right before the legendary Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys. Stanley, one of the founding fathers of bluegrass, is 84.

“He’s still got a heavy touring schedule,” said Moore of the musical icon. “I hope I can still perform like he does when I am as young as he is.”