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Danny and Eric's music has a consistent blend of poetry, intestinal fortitude, and song-craftmanship that I envy. I can hope their example sinks in to my own approach to music. We can voyeuristically cover their songs during our sets but ultimately it's best to listen to Bloodkin and surrender to what is coming at you - pure intention in the form of music. Bloodkin's presence in, and their approach to, rock & roll is as much of what makes up the backbone of the Athens music story as any other band that has come through this town. -John Bell (Widespread Panic) |
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Bloodkin by Ian McFarlane
For those who have watched the band develop, and at times just hang on, since their 1994 debut Good Luck Charm through what appeared to be their 2005 swan song Last Night Out, this type of perspective from Hutchens is not only welcomed, it was almost unthinkable but a few years ago.
 Bloodkin by Ian McFarlane |
"I assumed that Last Night Out would be the last Bloodkin album. It was designed to be. Many of the lyrics address that notion specifically. The songs 'Another Lost Son Of Gypsy Rose Lee' and 'Last Night Out' in particular are my goodbyes. I imagined I'd either be dead soon, or else living in a cabin somewhere up in the mountains, completely cut off from everyone," recalls Hutchens. "I entered into a kind of slow suicide, until I was thrown a line by blind luck, fate - my new wife Kristy."
Never underestimate love. You could make an argument that no man is saved without it, and if anything informs the new album, it is love. Love of his wife, love of his first child (and the second that has arrived since the recording), love of music and the simple love of life – something he and Carter had lost track of but have both once again found.
More than thirty years after playing their first notes together, Hutchens and Carter have reassembled Bloodkin and they appear to be entering an inspired new chapter. They say timing is everything and none of this could have happened before now "because we had actually become a band again," says Hutchens.
Chemistry is a strange thing. Difficult to explain or describe, it often makes or breaks a band, and Hutchens can't say enough about the current lineup. Along with Hutchens on guitar and vocals and Carter on guitar, the band now features additional guitarist Eric Martinez, bassist David Nickel, drummer Aaron Phillips and multi-instrumentalist William Tonks.
 Danny Hutchens & Eric Carter |
"All our travels and performances these days, with this lineup, just have a cool sense of camaraderie," beams Hutchens. "This collection of people honestly gets along together, has more fun together, than any band or organization I've ever been a part of. I think there's a common vibe. We're all pulling in the same direction, no one's personal issues are taking precedence – we're doing what a band is supposed to do. All for one and all that stuff. Everybody involved seems to really believe in what we're doing. No one's hanging back or dragging their feet. Everybody's working hard but having fun doing it."
The vibe on the road carried over until Hutchens says it became "irresistible" and they had to go into the studio. There's a funny assumption in the rock world, where folks believe that you write better songs and even play better shows when you're all fucked up and life is dragging you down. There's no denying that hard times have given us great art, but sometimes finding peace can give an artist the key to new inspiration.
Once inside the studio, the band began to lay down tracks like "Rhododendron" about Hutchens' mom; "Heavy With Child," which is a "scattershot of images all having to do with my newly found relationship, marriage, children – and just plain rediscovering a sense of joy;" "Little Margarita" - a reaction to the birth of Hutchens' daughter; and the beautiful disc closer, "Summer In Georgia," which is dedicated to his wife.
But here's the thing, none of these songs ever get saccharine or stuck in clichés. There's balance now where once it was all death and doom and destruction. Today, there is still plenty of gritty residue that will never leave the Bloodkin sound, but now there's a light at the end of the tunnel.
"Baby, They Told Us We Would Rise Again is our chapter of transformation. It's kind of a vindication, kind of a realization of some hopes and dreams," says Hutchens. "Our songs were never about wanting to be lonesome and fucked up sitting in a bar somewhere. That was just honestly the situation we found ourselves in, and we were telling the story without flinching. But there were always those distant glimmers of hope for at least some moments of peace on the horizon, and I think this new record actually documents our growing up a little bit."
Bloodkin is on tour now, you can catch the fever here.
"End Of The Show" with members of WSP :: 01/27/95
JamBase | On The Rise
Go See Live Music!
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