Recorded on the fly during a brief British tour, Bill Kirchen?s new album, ?Seeds and Stems,? isn?t a concert recording. But it?s easy to overlook that, especially when the guitarist/singer-songwriter, bassist Maurice Cridlin and drummer Jack O?Dell are busy reinvigorating concert favorites with a mix of hot licks, honky-tonk humor and rockabilly verve. All that?s missing is a throng of cheering fans.
There?s a lot to cheer about, too, much of it vibrantly animated by Kirchen?s twang-centric virtuosity. Sure, longtime followers won?t be surprised when ?Hot Rod Lincoln? takes a parade route that gives Kirchen a chance to pay tribute to myriad influences, from Buck Owens to Iggy Pop, but that doesn?t make the ride any less enjoyable.
On the other hand, Bob Dylan?s ?It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry,? laced with sliding double stops, is a welcome reminder of Kirchen?s soulful side, and it?s not the only one. ?Down to Seeds and Stems Again? and ?Mama Hated Diesels? qualify as well. ?Womb to the Tomb,? a ghost-trucker tale, benefits from a slow, wonderfully evocative take.
?Seeds and Stems? isn?t strictly a trio affair. Other performers ? notably keyboardist Austin de Lone and guitarist Jorma Kaukonen ? play a role. But the fundamental sound is lean, loose and about as live as studio sessions get, right down to the amusing bonus track coda, ?Talkin? About Chicken.?
