The Rachel Harrington Interview (Part 3)

In the third (and concluding) part of our interview with Rachel Harrington and the Knock Outs, we discuss life with a band, small venues and future plans.

My very good friend Kevin Winter with Rachel and the Knock Outs

How is it for you to work with a bigger band than normal?

Oh, it’s horrible! No...I think it actually could be horrible. I’ve only heard nightmares about having bands, I have to say but every songwriter that I’ve talked to – confidentially – has said Don’t do it! Don’t ever have a band. It’s horrible, there’s politics, blah-blah…and, you know, that might be the case, after you’ve played with some folks for however many years – like the Rolling Stones or whatever – but right now we’re just having a great time. It’s been absolutely a great time. We’d been out on the road for about six or seven days and we were in the van somewhere in Holland and it was like, my stomach muscles feel sore; what the heck is…? I mean, I’m not getting any exercise apart from walking and lugging gear and I’m trying to work out what I’ve done that made my stomach muscles sore and it was just that I’d been laughing so much that my stomach muscles were physically sore for two or three days, just because we were having so much fun. And like I said, there are cute and they smell much better.

How is it when you come to a venue this size – very small, just about 30 people – does that affect you at all?

Well, we just did a house concert a couple of weeks ago in the Netherlands; yeah, we do house concerts…

Rocking The Cleveland Bay

Knock Outs: We played a small pub the other night where we just about managed to fit everything in. It’s always the challenge; how are we going to set everything up tonight?

Do you enjoy the variety of big venues and smaller venues?

It’s great! We’ve played in a punk rock kind of venue somewhere in Belgium and we played a 130 seat theatre in Hereford that was sold out. They’re like children; they’re all unique and you love them all.

And finally…what’s next after this tour and the new album? Are you already working on the next album already or does that come between tours?

You know, Alisa put a bug in my ear today. She said, ‘So…what about next Summer? What do you think about another tour?’ Oh, yeah, that sounds good! Because these gals are all super-busy; they play in great bands already so we have to plan well ahead. So I said, yeah! Next Summer sounds great, and Alisa said, well, you need a new record. Gosh, OK, you’re right, we need a new record! OK…err…so as soon as I get home I’ve got to work on the release of this album in the States and then it sounds like I’m going to have to write some new songs…!

So we’ll see the Knock Outs with you again next year?

Well, we hope so.

Well, that’s all for now, unless there’s anything you’d like add.

Knock Outs: Music is awesome!


We agree!

Music - and the Rachel and the Knock Outs - are awesome!

Coming soon...a new interview with Sara Dennis!

The Rachel Harrington Interview (Part 2)

Following on from part 1, this section of the interview with Rachel Harrington and the Knock Outs covers the potential pitfalls of touring, such as meltdowns and the tricky balance of finances...

In full swing at The Cleveland Bay

You are very honest on your tour blog, highlighting the good and bad points of touring. Is it all worthwhile at the end of the day? 

Is it all worthwhile at the end of the day…what do you guys think?

Knock Outs: Touring? Absolutely. Hell, yeah!

'Hell, Yeah!'

You have the low points, though. The meltdowns…

Knock Outs:  It’s not necessarily with it during the day – but during the show…! Yeah! We play music; it’s fun and it’s a great life. We’re also very focused when we’re touring. We get into town and set up, play the show, pack it all up and then move on to the next one. There’s a nice rhythm to it.

You certainly look to be having lots of fun when you are playing and that comes across as being very genuine.  Financially, are you lucky to break even on a tour?

Well, we’re looking to more than break even. We all like to make a living.

Of course, but based on the comments on your tour blog and doing the maths of the tour – there’s a lot of you – it must be difficult to reach the level where you are making money.

It is. In part we’re able to do this because of my history of touring over here so I already have a certain draw, a certain fanbase who will already come out, so that’s what…you know, last year, I threw it as a trio because I can afford to bring some more folks. Amy and Mo play as MoZo and they’ve got records for sale so that helps with their income. Alisa is working on a record right now so next time we come out on tour she’s going to have that, so yeah, we’re going to figure out a way to make it work. In the meantime it’s a paid vacation. I mean, we’re working out buts off –

Knock Outs: We work hard and play harder!

The interview in progress

To be concluded...

The Rachel Harrington Interview (Part 1)

I first interviewed Rachel back in 2010, when we talked about the Celilo Falls album. Following the excellent evening at The Cleveland Bay in March of this year, we recorded another interview to discuss the new album - Rachel Harrington and the Knock Outs - and related matters.

Rachel Harrington

Let’s start by talking about the genesis of the new album. How did the idea come about to make a slight change in the direction of your style?

Gosh…well, I’ve always wanted to make a proper country record. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do. Actually, to tell you the truth, Celilo Falls was supposed to be the country record but I ended up not having the funding that I had hoped to have so suddenly I scaled it back and said, OK, it’s got to be an acoustic record! So I put most of those songs on the back burner and then I went out and wrote a new batch of songs and that was Celilo Falls. So I still really want to make a proper country record. I’m not exactly sure what gave me the idea but the idea of putting together an all-girl band was, I think in part, inspired by my Mom’s love for the Dixie Chicks. I’ve loved my previous records and touring partners and everything but I felt like I just wanted to have fun. I thought yeah, let’s make a country record and maybe I could get some girls together that I actually really, really like and we could go and make a record and we could tour the world and gosh, wouldn’t it be fun? And it’s been completely, totally – just pure fun.

So where did you find these magnificent people?

The Magnificent Knock Outs

They were standing on pedestals and God just dropped them down to me.

That’s what I’d thought you say, actually. 

Yeah! Halos appeared and they flew down – it was awesome!

Did you know each other from previous times?

Yeah – I mean, Seattle…the whole of the North West US is fairly isolated so kind of everybody – at least in Seattle – we kind of all know each other. Even if you don’t know them, you know somebody who does and that kind of thing. I’ve known all these three girls for years. So when I had the idea last year I just started putting out feelers about who was available and interested...and this happened. Honestly, none of us had any idea that we were going to set our harmonies as we did. I had no idea any of them sang harmonies but it turned out we could have four-part harmonies which was just awesome.

The harmonies were outstanding, it must be said. I’m intrigued by the track Moonshine Boy. It’s a spin on Sunshine Girl; it’s that you kissing goodbye to the past or is it an extension of your previous work?

Well, let’s see…I think part of it was inspired by the fact that I knew that there might be some response to ‘oh, this album is a new direction…!’ Well, to me it’s not at all, but…OK, it is different but it’s still totally me. So, by putting one of those tracks on the record and also as a live show we play some of the songs from prior records it just feels like it gives it more continuity to me. And we like playing the songs. We now get a fiddle solo on that song. The fiddle makes that song!

'The fiddle makes that song!'

To be continued...

Rachel Harrington and the Knock Outs: New CD

Rachel Harrington 
and the 
Knock Outs

This week we'll be publishing our recent interview with Rachel Harrington. To set the scene, here's another look at Rachel's new CD. The genesis of the CD will be covered in the interview.

Suffice to say that the introduction of an all-girl band has given Rachel a change of direction, although stepping from the worlds of Americana and folk into country and honkytonk does not represent a seismic shift, so fans of previous albums will not feel they have been left behind. Makin' Our House A Honkytonk sets the scene perfectly, just as it did when it when opened the set at The Cleveland Bay. It's pacey, catchy and instantly likeable.

Not every song is so blatantly honkytonk, there's good variety on this CD. There's a duet with Mark Erelli on the smouldering I'll Show You Mine, an updated, punchier version of Sunshine Girl - Rachel's signature tune - now called Moonshine Boy, and an extraordinary (and very funny) observational piece called Hippie In My House.

Track List

Makin' Our House A Honkytonk
He's My Man
Love Him Or Leave Him To Me
Wedding Ring Vacation
Get You Some
I'll Show You Mine
Nothin' To Do But You
Hippie In My House
Moonshine Boy
I'd Like To Take This Chance

As we saw for ourselves at The Cleveland Bay, the Knock Outs are a terrific band who just love playing together. Their enthusiasm is apparent on every song on the CD.

Impressively, Rachel wrote all of the songs (with co-writing credits for Steve Duda and Evan Brubaker on I'd Like To Take This Chance and He's My Man respectively).

Stand out tracks: Makin' Our House A Honky Tonk, Nothin' To Do But You, Moonshine Boy.

There's more on Rachel, her music and the Knock Outs on this page.

Billy Walton Band: Crank It Up!

Billy Walton Band 

Crank It Up! 

Billy Walton has been very active in the New Jersey shore music scene for over 15 years. Now, with the formation of the Billy Walton Band, his hard blues style is pushing much further afield.

Billy's guitar solos naturally feature heavily, particularly on the faster numbers. Stylistically, there are similarities to the likes of Eric Clapton and Mick Taylor. Lyrically, the inspirations come from further afield; there are, for instance, strong hints of Bryan Adams on Summertime Girl.

The majority of the tracks are indeed 'cranked up'. Fast numbers open and close the CD but there are some gentler songs in the middle of the track list to add contrast.

Apart from the guitar, other stand out instrument is the saxophone, which lifts several numbers just at the right time.

Billy Walton Band

Track List

Deal With The Devil
Crank It Up
Lifeline
The Night The Deal Went Down
Till Tomorrow
Night Turns Blue
One In A Million
Summertime Girl
Hot Blues
Black Jack Dealer

Stand out tracks: Deal With The Devil, Till Tomorrow, Black Jack Dealer.

Live!

Further details are available on the Billy Walton Band website.


(All images used in this review are © Billy Walton Band website)

Clare Free: Dust and Bones

Dust and Bones 

Clare Free

Both with a band and as a solo artiste, Clare Free has enjoyed an increasing amount of radio and magazine coverage over the last year or so. 

 All of the songs on Dust and Bones are Clare’s own compositions; an impressive achievement. The themes should resonate with most listeners. For example, Can’t Slow Down portrays a world which ‘ain’t kind to a human heart’ and in which ‘…we’re always rushing caught in life’s slip stream’, while Tempted speaks of being able to ‘Hear my demons talk to me in dirty ways; my self control slowly slips away.’ 

The subject matter is often dark, but tinged with hope, an aspect especially noticeable on Stronger Than You Think and Small Miracles. Elsewhere, there are songs of broken love (Dust and Bones) and unwanted attention (Creepy). All good topics for Clare’s fiery, passionate blues style. 

Track List 

Can’t Slow Down 

Dust and Bones 

Little Miss Jealousy 

Believe In Me 

Stronger Than You Think 

Small Miracles 

Scars 

Tempted 

My Last Day 

Creepy 

Stand out tracks: Can’t Slow Down, Stronger Than You Think, Creepy. 

Follow Clare’s progress on her official website.

Ron Sayer jr: Better Side

Better Side
Ron Sayer jr.

Ron Sayer’s own description of his music is ‘…a mix of many different styles I’ve absorbed in a sponge-like way over the years (funk, rock, country, jazz etc)’. Such a fusion shouldn’t necessarily lead to confusion for the discerning listener, as the music is ‘…always served marinated in blues sauce. Just the way it should be!’

He earned his first guitar at the age of seven, having been promised the prize on the condition that he ‘…could learn the Star Wars theme on my cheesy Bontempi organ.’ Cream provided early inspiration; many others followed, from classic old bluesmen such as BB King and Muddy Waters to ‘…some not so obvious but still incredible players’ such as Tommy Emmanuel. Ron periodically plays bass guitar for Oli Brown too.

With Oli Brown

Better Side showcases Ron’s guitar skills in combination with his talent as a singer/songwriter (all bar two tracks were written by him). The riff-driven blues have the backing of a full band (drums, keyboards, bass, backing vocals) to give everything a punchy, accomplished sound.

Faster tracks (such as Bad Thing and Manana) intermingle with slower blues (I Ain’t Leaving, What Would You Do?). The keyboards add a touch of the soul sound here and there and, of course, guitar solos are an integral feature throughout the CD.

The only song I didn’t warm to was My Mother In Law, which proceeds in predictable fashion and seems at odds with the rest of the selection.

Track List 

Bad Thing
I Ain’t Leaving Don’t
Make Me Stay
Manana
Right
All The Time
You Can Cry
Piece Of Me
Your Pleasure, My Pain
My Mother In Law
Little White Lies
What Would You Do?
Baby Blue

Stand out tracks: Bad Thing, Piece Of Me.

Find out more on Ron’s official website.