Best bluegrass covers of non-bluegrass songs

As the backwoods setting for 1972’s psychologically churning Deliverance, Georgia knows sumthin’ ‘bout “Dueling Banjos” and squealing like a pig. But to honor the hillbilly-hollerin’-meets-heavy-metal tribute of Hayseed Dixie — performing at Smith’s Olde Bar on Wed., Feb. 8 — here’s a list of bluegrass covers of non-bluegrass songs that’ll hopefully have you squealing with joy.

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1) “Gin & Juice” — The Gourds: These Austin, Texas, honky-tonkers remade Snoop Dogg’s 1993 drawlin’ and ballin’ single into hunch punch. Any good country boy knows Grapesaurus Rex plus bathtub schnapps means some muddin’, or maybe in this song’s case, a drive-by.

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2) “My Best Friend’s Girl” — Hayseed Dixie: You don’t have to be from the Big City to appreciate a Cars song or feel the sting of an unrequited crush. But it’s your own damn fault you told Jessie he could date your sister.

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3) “Ride the Lightning” — Iron Horse: By “Lightning,” this Muscle Shoals, Ala., group means white lightning: moonshine. And Lord knows the alcohol-pickled musicians of Metallica could take a ‘shine to some of that thrash-pickin’ action.

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4) “Dark Center of the Universe” — Iron Horse: Angst-ridden teenage poetry sounds so much less affected and more salt-of-the-Ozarks earnest in this Modest-Mouse-meets-country-mouse track.

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5) “Higher” — Various CMH Records session musicians: Removing the lyrics to make a penitent, oddly touching instrumental has improved this Creed song by 200 percent. Removing the music would make it the greatest Creed song of ever.