Susto Stringband leans into a deeply traditional bluegrass current on “Hands in the Dirt,” the latest preview of Susto Stringband (Volume 2), due May 29 via Missing Piece Records. Led by SUSTO frontman Justin Osborne, the track pairs wistful fiddle with old-time string-band drive, grounding its weight in the plainspoken wisdom of rural life.
“Hands in the Dirt” lets its traditional bluegrass character breathe through Nat Copeland’s fiddle, Helena Rose’s banjo, Jackson Grimm’s mandolin, and Joey Brown’s steady bass, while Osborne’s vocal carries the song’s worn-in clarity.
“‘Hands In The Dirt’ is an older tune of mine that actually predates SUSTO,” says Osborne. “I wrote it based on some advice my dad gave me in my 20s, when I was feeling burned out from DIY touring, and ready to give up on the dreams of writing and performing that I’d been pursuing. His advice was basically to work harder (lol) which over time has proven to be sound advice. My dad passed away back in 2020, and since then I’ve enjoyed bringing this one back into the sets from time to time, because it really reminds me of my dad and makes him feel closer. It was a blast to work up this Susto Stringband version of the song for Volume 2, and I’m really proud to finally be re-sharing a song that I’ve had such a personal connection to for many years.”
Lyrically, Osborne moves through spiritual exhaustion and earned perspective before arriving at the song’s central refrain: a return to the country and to something elemental.
The band also shared a live performance video filmed during SXSW in Austin last month. The upcoming LP continues the group’s bluegrass and old-time reinterpretations of SUSTO material while also making room for songs that came before the band itself, including this one.
