American Pastimes starts with a tribute to the late Mary McCaslin that features seven of her California songs. There's a substantial set of blues & jug tunes by the New Roanoke Jug Band. Bruce Molsky, Ola Belle Reed keep it traditional. European musicians calling themselves The Old Time String Band perform like authentic hillbillies, while The Savage Hearts do a Spanish theme. The Seldom Scene talk railroads, and Breaking Grass provides advice to a drinking man and pleads with a woman bearing sidearms. The last thirty minutes is a high-octane, string-breaking romp provided by Allison Williams, the Foghorn String Band, the Tennesse Mafia Jug Band, the Freight Hoppers, the Empty Bottle String Band, David Grier, and Elizabeth La Prelle.
