Dana, the Stantons, and long-time musical buddies Dave Goldman and Joe Cleveland celebrate the rootsy music of a bygone American era

When they aren't presenting Dana's originals, Dana "Short Order" Cooke and Jeff and Judy Stanton can be found playing bluegrass, old-time, and classic country music. With Joe Cleveland and Dave Goldman, they have formed McWilliams Hardware, which debuted recently at Bill Knowlton's Bluegrass Ramble Picnic. They offer classic versions of many of their favorite trad/Americana tunes, ranging from Bill Monroe and Flatt & Scruggs to the likes of Hazel Dickens and Gillian Welch. (And they're eager to appear at a venue near you to do the same!)

To get a sample of what they're up to, here is a video of "Walls of Time" from that recent Ramble Picnic appearance.

More about the band . . .

Dana "Short Order" Cooke has been a prominent contemporary-folk singer/songwriter in Central New York since the mid-1990s. But in the early 2000s he found himself lured toward bluegrass music. (The one who lured was his then-playing partner, Joe Cleveland. See below.) Within a few years Cooke was given a mandolin (by Joe Cleveland; see below) and the transformation was well under way. His shift in tastes was shared by the gang of monthly jammers to which he belonged -- four of whom appear below. McWilliams Hardware was a natural outgrowth of these lurings.

Judy Stanton got her first violin and her first Beatles album at the age of seven, which set the course for her career as a freelance violinist/would-be rock star. Along the way she taught violin, composed music for school orchestras, wrote songs, performed improv comedy, and married Jeff. From klezmer to classical, from bluegrass to Broadway, Judy plays it all! (But not simultaneously.)

Jeff Stanton started his musical career on accordion at age eight. To the relief of his family, he switched to guitar and bass after just one accordion lesson. Jeff has been writing songs since before he could drive. After four CDs, one vinyl record, and dozens of demo tapes, he still has a clean driving record. His latest project – entitled “Best of Friends” and co-produced with Judy Stanton – was nominated for a 2015 Sammy in the Americana category.

Joe Cleveland some text here. Plus a link to this clip of Dana and Joe in a previous MH incarnation.

Dave Goldman started his musical career on accordion at age eight. To the relief of his family, he switched to guitar and bass after just one accordion lesson. Jeff has been writing songs since before he could drive. After four CDs, one vinyl record, and dozens of demo tapes, he still has a clean driving record. His latest project – entitled “Best of Friends” and co-produced with Judy Stanton – was nominated for a 2015 Sammy in the Americana category.

As for the band's name . . . Cooke spent the first 10 years of his life in Morris, N.Y., where many members of his family -- both Cooke and McWilliams -- are still based. Throughout his youth, and some time later, his grandfather owned and operated the Main Street hardware store in Morris, and his brother operated the store for a while after grandfather Glen's retirement. The name McWilliams Hardware celebrates that memory.