“For all the buzz that's been made about members of Black Prairie having performed for years as the Decemberists, one truth has stuck through their releases. This is a separate band built on a foundation of folk and bluegrass, and is by no means intended to be anything Decemberists-like. Sure, there's bleed-over - these same instrumentalists with these same minds have contributed to Decemberists projects. But they've done so pulling on their long history and affection for traditional music....At the end of the day, these folks can pick a guitar and banjo and saw the hell out of a fiddle - nothing ironic about it. They proved it on their self-titled debut two years ago, and they're solidifying it here on their new album A Tear in the Eye Is a Wound in the Heart (due Sept. 18 on Sugar Hill Records). – Kim Ruehl, FolkAlley.com, September 10, 2012

“Last night's show at Seattle's Triple Door was stunning! I brought some friends along, who had never heard of the band (and let alone The Decemberists or the Kung Pao Chickens!), and they felt like they were privileged to something special…All musicians played as if they had been forever together…Hell of a show.” No Depression, David Eriksen, September 21, 2012

“I’ve been gushing about the concert to my friends all weekend. And when I try to describe Black Prairie’s style, the best I can come up with is gypsy bluegrass, which hopefully doesn’t undeservingly confine what people might expect but rather pique their interest. Some songs miraculously mesh the two genres while others decidedly lean one way or the other. Regardless, there wasn’t a single song that didn’t have my attention. The instrumentation, harmonization, and stylistic qualities kept me hooked for the entire set.” – wakeandbefine, September 23, 2012