--- title: Carolina Chocolate Drops Concert Review description: On tour for their new album Leaving Eden, I had the opportunity this last week to attend the Carolina Chocolate Drops concert at Royce Hall, UCLA. To say this was a memorable show is an understatement image: https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/carolina-chocolate-drops-leaving-eden-260x260-150x150.jpg --- [![Deering Banjos - The Great American Banjo Company](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/hubfs/Logos/Deering%20Logo.png "Deering Banjos - The Great American Banjo Company")](https://www.deeringbanjos.com/) - [Hooks & Nuts](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com) - [Banjos](https://www.deeringbanjos.com/collections/banjos) - [Find A Dealer](https://www.deeringbanjos.com/apps/store-locator/) - [Support](https://help.deeringbanjos.com/knowledge) - [Accessories](https://www.deeringbanjos.com/collections/accessories) [Artist Features](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/topic/artist-features) [Carolina Chocolate Drops](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/topic/carolina-chocolate-drops) [Email Articles](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/topic/email-articles) [old time](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/topic/old-time) [stringband](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/topic/stringband) # Carolina Chocolate Drops Concert Review by [Jamie Deering](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/author/jamie-deering) on April 13, 2012 ##### Share ![Carolina Chocolate Drops - Leaving Eden album cover](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/carolina-chocolate-drops-leaving-eden-260x260-150x150.jpg?width=150&height=150&name=carolina-chocolate-drops-leaving-eden-260x260-150x150.jpg "carolina-chocolate-drops-leaving-eden-260x260") From North Carolina, Arizona and New York state, today’s core members of the Carolina Chocolate Drops have followed the siren call of music. They are all multi-instrumentalists and each bring their own richness to the vocal renditions on the CDs and live performances. 2010’s “Genuine Negro Jig” album has been followed by recently released “Leaving Eden”. Both have been well received and “Leaving Eden” includes the addition of 2 guest performers, Adam Matta and Leyla McCalla. There is an increased energy, versatility, and new direction to the music of the group. As Dom Flemons points out:  “There’s a new diversity that comes from the new ensemble. My thought process of how I put together songs for the Carolina Chocolate Drops now is more like working with a jazz group. I could make it work in any sort of way. Based on the players that you have, you can do different things with the arrangements. It was helpful that Hubby also played guitar. Up to then, I was the only one in the group who worked with chords. Rhiannon plays her instruments melodically instead of around chords and the rhythm of the chords. I had been working on ‘Mahalla’ \[an arrangement of a joyfully upbeat piece from spoon-wielding South African slide guitarist and YouTube phenomenon Hannes Coetzee\] for a while on my own, just on the banjo, and I would have liked to have guitar on it too, but I couldn’t get anyone to back me up. Hubby happened to know the song as well, so that track came out of Hubby being there. Adam brought a great, pumping bass vocal part to ‘Po’ Black Sheep,’ and ‘Country Girl’ also has Adam’s particular flavor—along with Leyla’ s cello.” Musical growth and exploration is healthy for any group, but Rhiannon Giddens comments: “We want to remain true to the roots of how we started. We’re always going to have a string band on our records. But we don’t want to just do Piedmont style fiddle-banjo-guitar tunes; there’s more to our musical life than that. We grow in a healthy, slow way that reflects our true development as musicians and as a band.”  The exploration will bring new fans to the live performances of the Carolina Chocolate Drops.  Continues Giddens, “We’ve held on to our original fans and we’ve now got a lot more younger people coming to our shows and more people of color, which is fabulous. We’ve been working off that actively, doing stand-up shows where we cut the talking down a bit, keep the tunes coming, and get everybody dancing. And we still have our shows where we sit and talk about the material, do our slow waltzes and stuff like that. It keeps everything flowing.” ### Concert Review: On tour for their new album *Leaving Eden*, I had the opportunity this last week to attend the Carolina Chocolate Drops concert at Royce Hall, UCLA. To say this was a memorable show is an understatement, starting with the exquisite venue of Royce Hall. Not only does the beauty of the architecture and artwork inside make it special, but the acoustics of this theatre truly lend themselves to live music of any kind. It is one of those older buildings the sound resonates throughout and gets fuller with each note. If you ever have a chance to see a show there I suggest to take the opportunity. I have heard the Carolina Chocolate Drops music for years now and how wonderful they are, but had no idea of the goose bumps I would experience seeing them live for the first time. They are masters of their trade intertwining effortless playing with harmonies and vocal arrangements from the soul and their love for the music they create. Playing an impressive variety of instruments from bones to fiddle, steel mandolin to an acoustic guitar and of course their [Deering Sierra Plectrum](http://www.deeringbanjos.com/sierra-plectrum) and [Vega No. 2](http://www.deeringbanjos.com/vega-2) banjos which make up a core part of the Chocolate Drops sound. I was quite moved personally when Rhiannon shared with the audience that besides her minstrel banjo (a stunning replica of an 1840 model), that all they play are Deering Banjos. Their sound live is as pure as their album, but to feel the energy and emotion they have in performing adds a whole new dimension to each song, not to mention the prompted audience participation. For just a little while it felt like we were all a member of the Carolina Chocolate Drops, a feeling strengthened by their humorous banter and emotional stories between songs. Sitting in the audience or listening to their album I experience what music felt like in the 18' and 1900's, almost like going back in time, but they have brought it back to life for us and it is a special part of today's music. They are magical in that they are bringing these styles and songs back to life and they fit in our hearts as a part of today’s culture. Talking with Rhiannon, Dom, Hubby, and Leyla is like talking with an old friend - warm and genuine. You can’t help but feel good after getting to chat with them. If the hour had not been getting late I would have enjoyed talking with them for hours more about music, banjos, and life….three things they are more than qualified to speak on. ## COMMENTS [![Kristin Scott Benson chooses the Deering Golden Series banjos](https://hubspot-no-cache-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/default/1901150/e1746c92-ee50-47bc-9b8c-8cc1edf426a2.png)](https://hubspot-cta-redirect-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/redirect/1901150/e1746c92-ee50-47bc-9b8c-8cc1edf426a2) [![New call-to-action](https://hubspot-no-cache-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/default/1901150/1753c9a8-491f-4b2b-b9ef-50457c195d9b.png)](https://hubspot-cta-redirect-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/redirect/1901150/1753c9a8-491f-4b2b-b9ef-50457c195d9b) ## Search Blog Post ## YOU MAY ALSO LIKE Mar 28.2025 [Artist Features](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/topic/artist-features) ## [Steve Martin & Alison Brown release new music](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/steve-martin-alison-brown-timobrien) If you are looking for some new music, then look no further than the new single from Alison Brown and Steve Martin, featuring the remarkable Tim O'Brien!  The... [Read More](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/steve-martin-alison-brown-timobrien) Nov 13.2024 [Artist Features](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/topic/artist-features) ## [Steve Martin & Alison Brown On the Kelly Clarkson Show](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/steve-martin-alison-brown-on-the-kelly-clarkson-show) "Don't you feel like everything is going to be alright?!" Steve Martin and Alison Brown dish on their new single "Wall Guitar," and open up about how they got... [Read More](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/steve-martin-alison-brown-on-the-kelly-clarkson-show) Oct 7.2024 [Artist Features](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/topic/artist-features), [Bluegrass](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/topic/bluegrass-artists), [Tony Trischka](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/topic/tony-trischka) ## [Tony Trischka Pays Tribute To Earl Scruggs](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/tony-trischka-browns-ferry-blues) On January 6th, 2024 the banjo world and bluegrass world at large celebrated what would have been the 100th birthday of banjo legend, Earl Scruggs. Tony... [Read More](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/tony-trischka-browns-ferry-blues) Sep 12.2019 [Artist Features](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/topic/artist-features) ## [Introducing the San Diego Charity Banjo!](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/introducing-the-san-diego-charity-banjo) We are so pleased to introduce you to the San Diego Mumford & Sons Charity Banjo. Giving back to the region where all Deering and Goodtime Banjos are made. In... [Read More](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/introducing-the-san-diego-charity-banjo) ### sign up for our newsletter ### Popular Posts [The Four Essential 5-String Banjo Rolls](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/the-four-essential-5-string-banjo-rolls) [Ukulele Sizes – Soprano, Concert, Tenor & Baritone](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/ukulele-sizes) [Celtic Tunes on the 5 String Banjo](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/celtic-tunes-on-the-5-string-banjo) [Learn Melodic Style 5 String Banjo With G Scales](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/learn-melodic-style-5-string-banjo-g-scales) [How To Wear Banjo Picks](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/how-to-wear-banjo-picks) ### Recent Posts [Steve Martin & Alison Brown release new music](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/steve-martin-alison-brown-timobrien) [The Artisan Elephant Goodtime Banjo - Giving Tuesday 2024](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/the-artisan-elephant-goodtime-banjo-giving-tuesday-2024) [Buying A Banjo on Amazon](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/buying-a-banjo-on-amazon) [Steve Martin & Alison Brown On the Kelly Clarkson Show](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/steve-martin-alison-brown-on-the-kelly-clarkson-show) [Keith Urban Covers Sabrina Carpenter's "Espresso" on Deering Phoenix Banjo](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/keith-urban-covers-sabrina-carpenters-espresso-on-deering-phoenix-banjo) ### Archives - [June 2013 (35)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2013/06) - [April 2020 (20)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2020/04) - [August 2020 (15)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2020/08) - [May 2020 (12)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2020/05) - [July 2020 (12)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2020/07) - [March 2020 (10)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2020/03) - [September 2020 (10)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2020/09) - [April 2012 (9)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2012/04) - [June 2012 (9)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2012/06) - [March 2017 (9)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2017/03) - [August 2019 (9)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2019/08) - [June 2020 (9)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2020/06) - [October 2013 (8)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2013/10) - [September 2016 (8)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2016/09) - [August 2018 (8)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2018/08) - [September 2019 (8)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2019/09) - [May 2012 (7)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2012/05) - [May 2013 (7)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2013/05) - [August 2013 (7)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2013/08) - [May 2015 (7)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2015/05) - [June 2015 (7)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2015/06) - [August 2015 (7)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2015/08) - [July 2016 (7)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2016/07) - [December 2017 (7)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2017/12) - [October 2019 (7)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2019/10) - [October 2020 (7)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2020/10) - [September 2012 (6)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2012/09) - [March 2013 (6)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2013/03) - [April 2013 (6)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2013/04) - [July 2013 (6)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2013/07) - [July 2014 (6)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2014/07) - [May 2016 (6)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2016/05) - [August 2016 (6)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2016/08) - [May 2017 (6)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2017/05) - [June 2017 (6)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2017/06) - [June 2018 (6)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2018/06) - [May 2019 (6)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2019/05) - [November 2020 (6)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2020/11) - [December 2020 (6)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2020/12) - [July 2012 (5)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2012/07) - [December 2012 (5)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2012/12) - [September 2014 (5)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2014/09) - [October 2015 (5)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2015/10) - [March 2016 (5)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2016/03) - [April 2016 (5)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2016/04) - [June 2016 (5)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2016/06) - [August 2017 (5)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2017/08) - [September 2017 (5)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2017/09) - [May 2018 (5)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2018/05) - [September 2018 (5)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2018/09) - [October 2018 (5)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2018/10) - [March 2019 (5)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2019/03) - [June 2019 (5)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2019/06) - [January 2020 (5)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2020/01) - [May 2021 (5)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2021/05) - [December 2021 (5)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2021/12) - [January 2022 (5)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2022/01) - [August 2012 (4)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2012/08) - [October 2012 (4)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2012/10) - [September 2013 (4)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2013/09) - [March 2014 (4)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2014/03) - [April 2014 (4)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2014/04) - [October 2014 (4)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2014/10) - [December 2014 (4)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2014/12) - [March 2015 (4)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2015/03) - [November 2015 (4)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2015/11) - [November 2016 (4)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2016/11) - [February 2017 (4)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2017/02) - [October 2017 (4)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2017/10) - [July 2018 (4)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2018/07) - [November 2018 (4)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2018/11) - [December 2018 (4)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2018/12) - [December 2019 (4)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2019/12) - [February 2021 (4)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2021/02) - [February 2022 (4)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2022/02) - [March 2023 (4)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2023/03) - [August 2023 (4)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2023/08) - [November 2012 (3)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2012/11) - [February 2013 (3)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2013/02) - [November 2013 (3)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2013/11) - [February 2014 (3)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2014/02) - [May 2014 (3)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2014/05) - [June 2014 (3)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2014/06) - [August 2014 (3)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2014/08) - [February 2015 (3)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2015/02) - [April 2015 (3)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2015/04) - [July 2015 (3)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2015/07) - [September 2015 (3)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2015/09) - [December 2015 (3)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2015/12) - [January 2016 (3)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2016/01) - [February 2016 (3)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2016/02) - [December 2016 (3)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2016/12) - [July 2017 (3)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2017/07) - [November 2017 (3)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2017/11) - [March 2018 (3)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2018/03) - [April 2018 (3)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2018/04) - [April 2019 (3)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2019/04) - [July 2019 (3)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2019/07) - [November 2019 (3)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2019/11) - [February 2020 (3)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2020/02) - [March 2021 (3)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2021/03) - [August 2021 (3)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2021/08) - [September 2021 (3)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2021/09) - [November 2022 (3)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2022/11) - [May 2023 (3)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2023/05) - [September 2023 (3)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2023/09) - [May 2024 (3)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2024/05) - [October 2024 (3)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2024/10) - [February 2012 (2)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2012/02) - [March 2012 (2)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2012/03) - [November 2014 (2)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2014/11) - [January 2015 (2)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2015/01) - [October 2016 (2)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2016/10) - [April 2017 (2)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2017/04) - [January 2018 (2)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2018/01) - [February 2018 (2)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2018/02) - [January 2019 (2)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2019/01) - [April 2021 (2)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2021/04) - [October 2021 (2)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2021/10) - [August 2022 (2)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2022/08) - [June 2023 (2)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2023/06) - [November 2023 (2)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2023/11) - [November 2024 (2)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2024/11) - [April 2011 (1)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2011/04) - [September 2011 (1)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2011/09) - [January 2012 (1)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2012/01) - [January 2013 (1)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2013/01) - [December 2013 (1)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2013/12) - [January 2014 (1)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2014/01) - [January 2017 (1)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2017/01) - [February 2019 (1)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2019/02) - [January 2021 (1)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2021/01) - [June 2021 (1)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2021/06) - [July 2021 (1)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2021/07) - [March 2022 (1)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2022/03) - [May 2022 (1)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2022/05) - [June 2022 (1)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2022/06) - [July 2022 (1)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2022/07) - [September 2022 (1)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2022/09) - [October 2022 (1)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2022/10) - [February 2023 (1)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2023/02) - [April 2023 (1)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2023/04) - [October 2023 (1)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2023/10) - [December 2023 (1)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2023/12) - [January 2024 (1)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2024/01) - [February 2024 (1)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2024/02) - [June 2024 (1)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2024/06) - [July 2024 (1)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2024/07) - [August 2024 (1)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2024/08) - [September 2024 (1)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2024/09) - [December 2024 (1)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2024/12) - [March 2025 (1)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2025/03) see all [![Deering Banjos - the Great American Banjo Company](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/hubfs/Logos/Deering%20Logo.png "Deering Banjos - the Great American Banjo Company")](https://www.deeringbanjos.com/) 3733 Kenora Dr. Spring Valley, CA 91977 - [619-464-8252](tel:+619-464-8252) - [info@deeringbanjos.com](mailto:info@deeringbanjos.com) - [HOME](https://www.deeringbanjos.com/) - [BANJOS](https://www.deeringbanjos.com/collections/banjos) - [FIND A DEALER](https://www.deeringbanjos.com/apps/store-locator/) - [ARTISTS](https://www.deeringbanjos.com/blogs/deering-artists) - [CONTACT US](https://www.deeringbanjos.com/pages/contact-us) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Jamie Deering", "url" : "https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/author/jamie-deering" }, "datePublished" : "2012-04-13T20:25:49.000Z", "headline" : "Carolina Chocolate Drops Concert Review", "image" : [ "https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/carolina-chocolate-drops-leaving-eden-260x260-150x150.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/carolina-chocolate-drops-concert-review", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/hubfs/Logos/deering-logo-green-406325-800x163.png" }, "name" : "Deering Banjos" } } ```