Scott Law

In 1999 Law founded Scott Law Music, writing music and performing as a live and studio musician.[1] Among numerous projects in the late 1990s and early 2000s, he sang and played guitar on the album Seven Hidden Treasures by Tough Mama, released on Liquid City on September 27, 1999. He also helped mix the album. Law played guitar on the album Slide and Joy by the resonator guitar player Orville Johnson, released on January 1, 2000. Also in 2000, Law produced, co-wrote, and played mandolin and acoustic guitar on the album Pedalhorse by Hanuman.

In 2003 he moved to Portland, Oregon, leading his own groups and collaborating with such bands as The String Cheese Incident, an established jam band from Colorado.[7] The album On the Road: 06-19-04 North Plains, OR by The String Cheese Incident, released in September 2004 on Sci Fidelity, includes Law on guitar. Law then played mandolin on the January 2005 album Melting Pot by Melvin Seals, who is best known as the longtime keyboardist from the Jerry Garcia Band. By the end of 2005 Law had also shared stages with various jam acts such as the Tony Furtado Band, Phil Lesh and Friends, the Everyone Orchestra, playing guitar and mandolin and at times sharing vocals and songwriting duties.[2] Also in 2005, during a benefit concert at Red Rocks Amphitheatre he was invited onstage by Phil Lesh, bassist of the Grateful Dead, to perform on Jerry Garcia's guitar, named "wolf." Stated Law, "To hear the tones emanate from my own fingers just as I had heard them on my first Grateful Dead albums and multitudes of bootlegs was a thrill and taught me some things. Holding that iconic guitar alone was also a mix of emotions. On one level, it's just oh well, lets see what's up with this cool guitar... while on another, it's holy shit, this is Jerry's guitar!"[3]

Scott Law in 2006

Law released his first solo album as a singer-songwriter, the LP Deliver with the Scott Law Band, on September 20, 2005 through Liquid City Records. It was recorded with five other musicians, as well as a number of guest artists.[2] Denver Westword wrote in November 2005 that the album blends genres such as "'70s rock with a tinge of funk, a hint of pop, a smidgen of alt-country and even a little newgrass."[2]

While touring with various lineups as his own bandleader, he also continued to work as a member of other groups. After the release of Deliver, Law joined the band Honkytonk Homeslice, and was a primary member and co-writer for their debut album Honkytonk Homeslice, released on September 5, 2006 on Sci Fidelity Records. In late 2006 he was a featured electric guitarist on the track "Shine" by The String Cheese Incident, which was included on the album On the Road: Travelogue, Summer 2006.

Scott Law (right) performing with Tony Furtado (left) in 2009

Law's solo LP Acoustic Collection was released on May 9, 2008 on Volcano Underground. On September 30, 2008 a live recording of the song "Window", a collaboration called The Piano Throwers with Colorado bassist Tye North and Portland drummer Carlton Jackson, was included on the compilation St. Jeffrey's Day – The Songs of Jeffrey Frederick, Vol. 1. While in Portland, North, a former member of the group Leftover Salmon, introduced Law to notable fiddler and composer Darol Anger, and for a short time Anger joined Law, North and Jackson to form a group called Strings for Industry.[7] On February 4, 2009 Law self-released the full-length solo album Living Room, and continued to tour in support of both his solo material and with musicians such as Tony Furtado and Darol Anger.

External video
"Coal-Burning Grease Fire" Live - Darol Anger & Scott Law (April 9th, 2011)

On October 1, 2012 he released the extended play Scott Law Reunion Band. It was recorded in the Southeast Portland pub the Goodfoot, where he and his backing band frequently perform. Willamette Week praised the improvisational aspect of the album, writing that "Scott Law is infamous in Portland for his ripping, old-school blues and honky-tonk guitar work and manic stage energy, which, naturally, means he's a singular live act." The review in particular praised the two original songs, but stated that the covers such as "Factory Girl" by the Rolling Stones and traditional pieces gave the album a "subdued" feel. The review further stated that "For those who have never seen Law's live show, the record is a good introduction. But for anyone who has heard the man shred in person, this isn’t representative of that experience."[5]

By 2013 Law and Anger were playing together in a band called Republic of Strings, spearheaded by Anger. They also continued to do gigs as a duo.[7] He was a composer and guitarist on the track "Till I'm Blue" with Tim Bluhm, included on Nicki Bluhm & the Gramblers by Nicki Bluhm & the Gramblers in August 2013.

His full-length acoustic album Black Mountain was released on Volcano Underground on October 29, 2013.[4] The album draws on acoustic music and the string-band sounds of the Appalachian Southeast. It also draws on influences such as bluegrass, alt-country, celtic music, and jam bands.[4] Law produced the album himself, and it was recorded on two-inch tape live in studio with a band and several guest artists. Among the band members were progressive bluegrass quintet The Deadly Gentlemen, vocalist Aoife O’Donovan of Prairie Home Companion, and vocalist and Law's frequent collaborator Nicki Bluhm.[4] Darol Anger is featured on fiddle as well, and there are four purely instrumental tracks on the album, including "Melinda's Reel."[8]

The album was largely well received. Relix Magazine praised the covers such as Danny Barnes’ "Get It While You Can" and Lester Flatt's "I’ll Stay Around", but also stated "this album reflects Law's own vision. The instrumentals (four in total, including "Melinda's Reel") highlight his expert, soulful guitar playing as a bandleader." Also, 'Leave the Leavin’ Up to You' is the perfect amalgamation of Law's style: vintage strings meet high-lonesome harmonies on a new classic."[8]

As of the summer of 2013 he had maintained a touring schedule of 100 to 150 gigs a year, hitting house concerts, small venues, and large music festivals.[3] Throughout 2013 he was bandleader for a number of his own electric and acoustic groups,[4] including the Scott Law Electric Trio.[7] Stated Law, "it's sort of a power trio. It's not heavy, in terms of when you think of a power trio, but the players of the music are really strong. It's a sturdy, grooving trio."[7] He also played in the band Brokedown In Bakersfield with Nicki Bluhm and Tim Bluhm, which includes band-members from Animal Liberation Orchestra (ALO) as well.[7]

In November 2013[6] he ended a month-long tour of Europe with Nicki and Tim Bluhm, performing three-part harmonies together on a variety of original songs from their individual song catalogues.[9] Law toured the United States throughout November and December 2013 in support of Black Mountain, hitting both coasts.[6] Also in 2013, he had tour dates collaborating with Chris Funk of The Decemberists, Keith Moseley and Bill Nershi of The String Cheese Incident, Peter Rowan, and Tony Trischka.[4] In the summer of 2013, he also performed duets with Chris Funk, a founding member of The Decemberists, as part of a Portland tribute to Johnny Cash. On New Year's Eve for 2014, he performed a show in Portland with The David Grisman Folk Jazz Trio, Darol Anger and Tony Furtado.[4] As of spring 2014, he was playing in a musical duo with Tony Furtado called Banjo Killers. In May, he and Furtado held a concert in Seattle debuting Black Mountain, with a number of musicians from the album performing as well. Tony Furtado also performed a set of his own original music.[10]

He was a composer with Billy Nershi for the title track off Song in My Head by The String Cheese Incident, released in April 2014. In September 2014 he was touring with Nashville bassist Samson Grisman, also the son of David Grisman. Grisman had contributed to Black Mountain, and they performed songs and instrumentals from the album, as well as the folk and bluegrass canon. On May 31, 2014 he performed with Phil Lesh & Friends at Central Park Summer Stage with John Medeski, Warren Haynes and John Scofield. In late October he performed at Capitol Theatre as a member of PLF, also performing other dates early in 2014 at Terrapin Crossroads, with the performances also featuring John Kadlecik of the band Furthur. He also spends one week a month in residency at Terrapin Crossroads.