Article Contributed by Dan Ward
Published on 2026-08-16
Full Cord with guitarist, Peter Cavanaugh | photos by Dan Ward
Oh, the uncomfortable feeling when the day has been warm and the rain just makes everything feel wet, hot and uncomfortable. This is all the reason folks visiting St. Joe and Benton Harbor seek shelter and some refreshment at The Livery. Great beer, wonderful food and the friendliest staff around are just the medicine to chase off the muggy-day blues. Tonight there is a special treat for visitors: Michigan’s own hometown bluegrass band Full Cord is playing a concert.
Brian Oberlin (mandolin/vocals), Eric Langejans (guitar/vocals) and Todd Kirchner (bass) form the core of Full Cord and provide stability while special guests expand the sonic tones of the band. Tonight they have brought a new phenomenon in the form of a 16-year-old guitarist named Peter Cavanaugh. Remember that name. You will see it soon and often. With the mentoring of the Full Cord guys, this young man is truly on his way.
The band starts off with a Doc Watson standard, “Southbound,” and the young protégé seems to fit right in. Next Brian gives us one of his favorites, “Mandoliners Dream.” The mandolin rings as Brian pulls the chords right out of the instrument. This song is always a treat and not played often enough for us mandolin lovers.
“Dragging the River for Me,” written by Ferlin Husky, backs up the fast-moving preceding tune and sets the crowd up for a fast run of songs. “Brown Eyed Women,” “East Bound and Down,” “This Must Be Heaven” and “Stealin’” come one after the other as the band hits their stride. Eric and Peter have been exchanging guitar licks, and the younger musician is showing his prowess, making the three senior members smile.
Brian's own tune, “Wild Mountain Rose,” gets to us all. The tight harmonies and expert playing make for total enjoyment. Brian has baited the fans with Peter’s playing, but now he lets him sing a pair: the fan favorite “Ole Slewfoot” and “9 lbs. Hammer.” He thrills the fans, and they applaud his playing and voice. The band uses “How a Muse Gets By” as the basis for a jam session. The always creative fellows reach back to our childhood to play “Let’s All Go to the Lobby” to set up a set break.
After the break, the band comes back with a jam session that leads to the Stanley Brothers’ “Let Me Rest,” backed by a pair of Grateful Dead tunes: “West L.A. Fadeaway” and “Ramble on Rose,” done in an alt-bluegrass mode that really propels the songs. Peter and Eric continue with bespoke guitar riffs that add to the night's entertainment.
The hour is getting late, so the band gives us some train tunes: the band's original “Train, Train Carry Me Away” and Luke Gitchell’s “Yardboss.” Watching the band play, interacting with each other and the audience, makes the night feel very communal. They close the set with another original, “Gainesville Rain.”
Full Cord is out on the road for a few shows leading to Freak Fest, so now is a great time to find them and enjoy some real downhome picking.
