Donal Hinely--guitar, vocals...glasses?
On one hand, I'm a singer/songwriter in the Texas tradition, telling hard luck stories and writing music that skirts the outer fringes of country, folk, bluegrass, and straight ahead rock. On the other hand, I'm a practitioner of the obsolete art of the glass harmonica and entertain thousands of people each year with my homemade musical instrument at festivals, street fairs, coffee houses, and special events.
This requires a split personality.
But as the great Townes Van Zandt once said, "I may be a schizophrenic but at least I've got each other."
Though I don't have a working band at the moment, I have been fortunate to work with some great folks on my last three records:
David Henry
Will Kimbrough
Kim Richey
Tommy Womack
Chris Carmichael
Mindy Smith
Fats Kaplin
Dave Francis
Steve Bowman
Robin English
John Henry Trinko
Park Ellis
Ken Coomer
Johnny Bellar
John Wheeler
Dave Harrison
Tommy Williams
May 8th, 2008: Blue State Boy is now available on ATOM Records!!! Just go to www.atomrecords.com and get you some. You'll be glad you did. Reviews, news, videos are forthcoming....
"A song like "Giants" is one many of us will be humming to ourselves as we speak up, speak out and march towards voting booths in 2006 and 2008 to turn America around."--Tony Peyser, BuzzFlash
Building on the critical success of 2003s We Built a Fire, songwriter Donal Hinely returns with the timely
and provocative Giants, a stirring new album driven by memorable images and well-crafted songs. Like recent
offerings by Todd Snider and Steve Earle, Hinely strives to reach beyond the political landscape and unlock the common human experience. From the acoustic folk of the title track to the roots rock of "Before Music was a Product" to the raw country of "Blue Ink," Giants is a journey that resonates with both head and heart. Nashville producer/cellist David Henry (Josh Rouse, Cowboy Junkies,Vienna Teng) ties together this diverse mix of songs with his lush, trademark sound and guitarist Will Kimbrough (Rodney Crowell, Todd Snider) adds tasteful accompaniment, showing why he continues to be one of the most sought-after session men in the country. Hinely is also a noted practitioner of the glass harmonica and plays a homemade set of 24 water-tuned wine glasses and brandy snifters. He picked up the instrument when his older brother Terry--a master of the rare art and long time musical partner--was killed by a reckless driver in Dallas. Track 5, "The Shakes," provides a musically unique moment as the glasses accompany ukulele, cello, and drums.
Giants has received significant attention from folk and roots radio, remaining on the Americana Music
Association album airplay chart for over 11 weeks and debuting at number 6 on the Euro Americana Chart. In November 2005, "Giants" was the most added single in American folk radio according to FOLKDJ. Giants was also
nominated for album of the year by both the Independent Music Awards and the Acoustic Music Awards. Hitting all points of the compass in 2006, Hinely was a showcase artist at both the South by Southwest Music Conference in Austin, Texas and the North by Northeast Music Conference in Toronto.
Hinely left his hometown of Denton, Texas for Nashville in 1994 and has since earned recognition in the
songwriting community for his original perspective and honest performances. The Indie Acoustic Project
honored We Built a Fire alongside Rodney Crowell's Houston Kid and Kate Campbell's Monuments as the best Americana album of the year in 2003. The CD features a stellar lineup including Kim Richey, Mindy Smith, Will Kimbrough, and members of Wilco, the Edwin McCain Band, and Hayseed Dixie. Hinely has gained experience in the streets and pubs of the world, once taking his guitar and a one-way ticket to Australia and working his way back home through Asia and the capitals of Europe.
Donal, Thanks for finding me bro. LOVE YOUR VOICE & MUSIC! Bought your new album, and am diggin' it.
It's so validating to find a musician that appreciates America's Beatles like us Trickheads do. Sometimes, because of Cheap Trick's up and down career true blue Trickheads dismiss them or completely give up. But, your obviously a "true blue" Trickhead, and appreciate their 35 plus year career. It's so cool to meet you in cyberspace and I'm looking forward to you coming to Austin or Waco or somewhere close to Killeen(central Texas) to check you out live and meet you!
Hope you don't mind... I posted a link to your page on the Cheap Trick message board - I have to share anything and everything Cheap Trick with other fans. :)
Hi! Thx 4 Ur friendship, thx 4 Ur visit & interest. Isn't Cheap Trick the most awesome, wicked band?! Of all the super bands that I follow, Cheap Trick is one that reminds me of the best times - the 80's!!! Hope the friendship grows & please feel free 2 send messages/comments anytime. Sending prayers 4 blessings, peace & love everlasting in Ur life & wishing the best 4 those closest 2 U. Continuing 2 exp& my playlist in the 4mat of Progressive Rock/Jazz Fusion/Blues of course. So please come visit my page again soon & KEEP ON ROCKIN'!
i really enjoyed listening to the cheap trick song - thanks so much - it brought back a lot of happy memories. i hope you don't mind but i added it to my page. xo
hey man no problem! The song's awesome- and it made me laugh....sounds like stuff I'd say! :P I grew up on them- I used to tell kids at school to listen to them in 2nd grade=D well, I'm seeing them tomorrow in Milwaukee~ I'll rock out extra hard for ya! lol.
Absolutely super to hear from you, old chap. Vegas sounds like a broadcast to tresure, get that audio down man, it'd be great to hear from the DOMA crew - pass on good ol' firm british handshakes all round to your lads from the beam team - yes there are more than two of us now! Ether tapes about to be packaged here, shipping your way soon. oh, i spoiled the surprise, but upped the anticipation, eh? good times despite the chaos, good vibrations! TEAM beam
I haven't really been up to much, just living near Denton still and working. Thanks about the pic comment :) I do hope to see you at TRF. I'm not sure when I will get to visit, but I will look for you! It would be great to see you in the old spot....brings back memories, great memories! Take care, and it's so wonderful to hear from you! Keep in touch for sure!
I drove thru Nashville a couple of weeks ago and wanted to stop and say hello, but I realized you guys were still in Tx! Hope you have a wonderful Father's Day!
yep, we're staying fairly dry...had a few inches of water in the basement, so we're in the process of cleaning that up..but, lots of this city are full on flooded, as is Cedar Rapids and Iowa City...pretty bad...appreciate your thoughts and hope all is well with you
Hey! Love the new song! I miss getting to see you, and I didn't make it out to Scarborough this year...it's been a tough one. Hope all is good with you and hope to see you at TRF! ~Steph
Donal....thanks for the kind words. I'd love to be working on a CD, believe me!...it's not for lack of songs that's for sure. The gears are turning and when I'm ready I may enlist your help as a co-producer producer...hey, where's my copy of Blue State Boy?
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Thanks for another great Scarborough season. The CD is awesome! Oh...congrats on making a blog entry...did your son teach you how?? Sorry that was rude, but funny. (you and your Cheap Trick Blues) Tim
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I wanted to say thanks for the wonderful show tonight. I regret having to leave early, but I have class early and finals , so sleep was calling.
Thanks for the smiles and the laughs, as well as the beautiful music. You have such a gift for writing and singing, and your songs are inspiring. They gave me a lot to think about tonight, and a lot to reconsider about my life and, heehee, politics.
Thanks again :) I hope to catch you next time you're in Norman, don't ever stop singing and giving us so much to love!
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Donal, As always, I loved the show this past Saturday. Your last show of the day is one of the main reasons I keep coming back every year. I hope you can make the Texas Renfest in the Fall. The new album is great. Frank
Enjoying the new cd just got it today thanks and congratulations. I'm sure it was a labour of love. Since you never come the Norfolk, Virginia area I guess I'll see you at the Ohio Renaissance Festival again this year.