Thanks to all the following people for their contributions in the studio and on stage: Jacob Detering(production, arrangement, guitars,) R. Scott Bryan(percussion, guitars,vocals,) David Aholt(piano, keys,) Logan Detering(bass,) Christopher Hughes(drums,) David Nichols(drums,) Steve Cakouros(bass,) Obeid Khan(guitar), Ross Bell(horns,) Chris Bosslet(bass,) Grover Stewart(drums,) Lauren Markow(Red Pill Entertainment,) Ken Zarecki (Version Train,) Alan Copeland Photography, Joe Meyer (Drums) and Blake Travis (Percussion)
Influences
FM radio, Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, The Clash, JJ Cale, John Hiatt, Tom Petty, John Prine, Bruce Springsteen, Paul Westerberg, Neil Finn, The Minutemen, The Pixies, Michelle Shocked, Robert Hunter, Bob Mould, and everyone else who ever wrote songs that I couldn't get out of my head.
“I was a writer first. I didn’t know I wanted to sing until I started putting my words to music,” says Bilchik, of St. Louis, Missouri. Blending rock and contemporary folk, his words and music offer a personal perspective with wide appeal. “When I perform my songs, it’s like taking a tour of what I’ve learned about life in the past 10 years. Every time I play, it’s a reminder that your whole life comes along with you wherever you go. You can’t run away from it. I’m hoping that people who hear my music feel that I’ve said something they’ve been thinking about, too.”
Kevin’s life path swerved significantly from the expected. “Like a lot of people, I knew there was something out there for me, but I didn’t know what or where it was,” he says. “That’s when I started taking my own route. I caught rides to random places out West. I followed bands around on festival tours. I apprenticed in non-traditional jobs and lived in unconventional communities. Those times and places and people led me to some of the ideas and lessons that drive my songs today.”
But there was always a guitar, he adds. “As a little kid, I took about two piano lessons before I quit, and I played the trombone for a couple of days. But I grabbed a guitar whenever things were uncomfortable socially, or when nothing was happening. So there was always the opportunity to channel my experiences into a song.” And he did. “I’ve spent the past 16 years finding my voice as a singer and writer, playing music on back porches, in basements, coffee houses and bars, working restaurant jobs, and writing lyrics on napkins and take-out order forms.”
A chance meeting in a St. Louis guitar shop jump-started Kevin’s official music career. “The people I met that day are still some of my best friends, collaborators and critics,” he says. “And I still look at every day as another chance to pick up my guitar and see what happens.”
Thanks! I liked your stuff too. Here is a music video for one of the songs I played yesterday. Let me know what you think. See you soon, ian http://www. youtube. com/watch?v=yW2zKJwbRlA
what it be cuz?! wish i could come check out one of yr gigs some time... damn! soon enough, i guess... how are things in the STL? give everyone my best...
Sweet man... thanks for the kind words. Yeah, I'm bringing my live room audience tape next time... we'll call it "people in your pocket" and we'll never be lonely again. And you can bring all yer blow-up people and cardboard cut-outs... we'll prove that local live music CAN draw.
So sorry I didn't return your call about tonight--I was in Milwaukee finishing up the mix on the record & yesterday we were driving back, unpacking, ect...
I hope you have a great show tonight w/Auset! I got to see them while I was up there--it was a sweet show!
Kevin! You were awesome last night, thanks so much for sharing. It was great to hear you. Solid solid solid. Good luck with everything, hope you make it to Nashv sometime soon!
