Years ago, I read somewhere that there is still debate in the scientific community regarding where all the water on Earth originated.  One prominent theory is that it was carried here by comets that bombarded our planet in its early history.  And for some strange reason, this idea has stuck with me.  Whenever I turn the handle on my kitchen faucet, I can’t help thinking that this isn’t just ordinary tap water filling my glass; it’s four-billion-year-old extraplanetary space juice.

I brought this up recently with Dr. John D. Bolten.  Bolten is the Chief of the Hydrological Sciences Laboratory at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, and he leads NASA’s International Water Strategy.  Oh yeah.  And he also happens to front the popular Maryland-based, old-timey progressive roots band Geraldine and is an acclaimed singer, songwriter, and musician in his own right. (All that talent in one person? It’s just not fair.)

Bolten told me that it’s actually likely that Earth’s water came from multiple sources, including hydrogen and oxygen that were already here, trapped deep in Earth’s core.  But that in no way diminishes how essential water is to the well-being of our planet and the life it supports.

The organizers of the Annapolis Baygrass Music Festival must have known this when they reached out to Bolten and Geraldine about writing a song for their festival.  They were looking for something that would echo the festival’s mission of protecting the Chesapeake Bay through education, awareness, community, and music.

At first Bolten wasn’t sure how to tackle this one.  Obviously, he loved what the festival was promoting, and he jumped at the chance to produce a song that combined his passions for music and water resources management.  But first and foremost, he wanted to write something that was fun and interesting and enduring, while still evoking a core message.  Not an easy task, and one that has confounded nearly all writers of protest songs over the last sixty years not named Dylan.  But he did it.

In the Water is an astonishing song.  It’s straightforward yet subtle, timeless yet fresh, simple yet elegant.  Clocking in at just over two and a half minutes, In the Water serves as a banjo-driven reminder that water conversation is self-preservation.  And it’s one of the highlights of Paw Paw, the Geraldine band’s latest album, which was released in May of 2023.  Bolten said that the first line of the song came to him quickly and the rest of it just followed along.

We’re just floating by
On a river of days of lows and highs
We’re just drops of rain
Falling together down the darkened drain

In addition to band members Josh Anderson on fiddle, Jocelyn Haversat on bass, Jonathon Vocke on banjo, and Bolten on guitar and vocals, the song features a guest performance by local legend Cris Jacobs on dobro and vocals. 

In the Water is one of nine songs on Paw Paw, all penned by Bolten, and all really, really strong.  The album’s songs touch on a variety of moods, tempos, and subjects.  They run the gamut from a country waltz to a singer-songwriter ballad to a traditional Appalachian fiddle tune.  Apart from Embers, which features just Bolten on guitar and vocals, all the songs have that signature Geraldine sound.  It’s a distinctive mix of Americana, folk, bluegrass, alt-country, and roots.  Or as Geraldine describes it, “Good time, old time.”

Under the Mountain, a song in the traditional bluegrass vein from Paw Paw, is sung from the perspective of a coal miner with a young family as he’s preparing for his shift, was recently recognized by Common Ground on the Hill in its 2023 Acoustic Roots Songwriting Competition.

As for his songwriting, Bolten said that he works on his craft a lot.  “I try to write all the time.  I’m always seeing things, always taking notes.”  When asked about what makes for a good song, Bolten responded, “You never know what songs are going to resonate with people.  A lot of my songs are introspective and personal, and those seem to be the ones that people connect with most.”

Although there’s a fair share of introspection on Paw Paw, its overwhelming feel is one of joyousness.  There aren’t too many songs more raucous than the two tracks that bookend the album.  The title track, and album’s opener, is a fun, culinary romp in the woods in search of the elusive fruit of the paw paw tree.  The trees, which are native to Maryland, produce an edible fruit that grows to half a foot long with a flavor reminiscent of mangos, citrus, and banana custard.  You may have never tasted a paw paw for the same reason you may have never heard the Geraldine band before: they resist commercialization.

Grand Old Time closes out the album.  If you’re a fan of the Baltimore roots music scene, Grand Old Time, with its traditional melodies and local references is guaranteed to bring a smile.  (Its cameo by Caleb Stine makes me smile just thinking about it.)

Listen to the old timer, fiddlin’ at five and dimer
Making that fiddle talk
Granny will your dog bite, Paddy on the Turnpike
Watch him play the Ookpick waltz

This is our time, our time, our grand old time
This is our time, our time, our grand old time

The musicianship throughout Paw Paw is exceptional.  Josh Anderson’s fiddling prowess (and range) is on full display, especially on the songs Big Skies and Chicken TV.  (BTW-Chicken TV, another of the album’s cheerier tracks, is an absolute audience participation hoot in Geraldine’s live shows.)  Jonathon Vocke is a virtuoso banjo player.  His two-finger technique nicely complements the band’s style and figures prominently on the album.

Jocelyn Haversat played upright bass and added vocals.  Her vocal accompaniment on Big Skies is especially impressive.  It’s understated, evocative, and adds a touching depth and poignancy to the song.  Sarah Larsen, who joined the band this year, is a super talented multi-instrumentalist whose playing and vocals are a perfect addition to the Geraldine sound.

As great as the album is though, to fully appreciate Geraldine, you have to catch them in concert.  When he’s not busy leveraging NASA technology to improve the lives of people all over the globe, Bolten and company put on a not-to-be-missed show.

The Annapolis Baygrass Music Festival will be held at Sandy Point State Park on September 30 and October 1.  Geraldine will serve as the festival house band, and without giving too much away, their performance there will include an all-star rendition of In the Water.  It promises to be a grand old time.  More information is available at baygrassfestival.com.

All things Geraldine, including Paw Paw, are available on the Geraldine website:  geraldineband.com.