"Mountain Heart boasts new voice, familiar sound"
By Jim McGuinness
"...Sunday’s performances will mark the group’s first local appearance with new lead singer-guitarist Josh Shilling, who joined the group after founding member Steve Gulley left to form Grasstowne.
The group became aware of Shilling after seeing him play piano and sing in an R&B band. When Gulley departed, they sought him as a replacement.
“He has a stage presence, a charisma and an ability that I have not heard outside of Michael McDonald or John Cowan or Vince Gill,” Van Cleve says. “Anything you want to be at the time, that’s how vocally capable Josh is.”
The Martinsville, Va., native made his Mountain Heart debut at the Grand Ole Opry in January, earning a standing ovation and encore after leading the sextet through his own original ballad, “Who’s The Fool Now.”
Although the lead singer is new, Van Cleve says fans who attend Sunday’s show will hear familiar sounds.
“We’ve always tried to stretch the boundaries and will continue to do that,” Van Cleve says. “But we’re always going to try to be within the realm of sanity. We know what we’re good at, and we’re gonna play to that...”