Spirit of '94

Written by Geoff Union, of Ragged Union, this song tells the story of the Whiskey Rebellion of 1794 in Western Pennsylvania. This original Federal Government, under Pres. George Washington, attempted to tax spirits in the Colonies beginning in 1791. Farmers began to revolt, against taxation without local representation. It all came to a head in 1794, and that is where this song begins. Billy & Geoff played this song, for many years in Two High String Band. It is on THSB’s Hot Texas Bluegrass Burrito, and Geoff’s Cold As Steel record. Trevor, Tony & Dom played it with Geoff for years at Bluegrass Night at Flipnotics in Austin with the Bluegrass Outfit. When Wood & Wire got booked to play the “Whiskey Rebellion” fest in Washington, PA, a few years ago, we decided to work it up, and have been playing it ever since.

Recording Tidbit:

We recorded this version, thinking we would make a single out of it, about a year before we started recording No Matter WHere It Goes From Here in earnest.

Theres mandolin, mandola, two banjos, an electric baritone guitar (double neck with reg 6 string on it too), and an extremely fuzz distorted guitar on this track, additional mandos and guitars played by Billy. Banjos by Trevor, of course

The finger style leading guitar of Tony is the only place you’ll hear that on this record