Bruce Springsteen, Ron Sexsmith, Damien Rice, Lucinda Williams, Steve Earle, Gillian Welch, Wilco, John Hiatt, Van Morrison, Neil Young, Paul Kelly, Bob Dylan, Ryan Adams
After stints as frontman and songwriter for Melbourne roots music bands The Haybalers and Broken Spoke, Paul Hicks emerged in 2004 with a solo album, 'Kettle of Fish', that led critics to draw comparisons with Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan and Australia's Paul Kelly.
“… a fine new album of thoughtful, all-original material that comes on like a more rural Paul Kelly …” - Keith Glass, Capital News
"...a great storyteller...produces a mix of styles that evoke images as wide as Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen” - Rick Jenner, Capital News
The country stylings of 'Kettle of Fish' led Melbourne music journalist Jeff Jenkins’ to proclaim in Rhythms Magazine that “Paul Hicks should be Australia’s next country superstar”. Jenkins also included 'Kettle of Fish' amongst his top albums for the year alongside Bernard Fanning’s 'Tea and Sympathy' and Ben Lee’s 'Awake is the New Sleep'.
Two years down the track and Hicks has just released his follow-up album of acoustic, roots-rock compositions. Recorded and produced in Melbourne and Foster by former Mary Janes drummer Mark Stanley, FOOD FOR THE JOURNEY is less country than it's predecessor and more lyrically reflective. It's also striking a chord with the critics.
"...songs such as Give me Love First, Carpenter's Son and Buffalo River Road may help to propel him to the upper eschelon of Aussie personal songwriters" (Keith Glass, Capital News, May 2007).
The album features the talents of Stanley on drums/percussion, John Edgar (Sara Storer band) on bass, John Bedggood (Bernard Fanning band) on keys/violin and introduces the guitar wizardy of Robbie Melville. The album is being distributed through Sound Vault Records and is available for purchase online through the following websites:
- www.play4me.com.au
- www.heraldsunhit.com.au
Hi Paul, WELCOME! Many thanks for your friendship. Thanks too for the killer tracks, great work brother. My "BLESSINGS" to you 'n' yours, from me 'n' mine. ...Peace and Respect Always... Jon Royle Cape Schanck
Hey Paul thanks for being our friend, really digging your songs! especially Making My Way Back Home....great gutiar work and flawless vocals, awesome song! keep in touch Jimmy
Hey Paul! Hope all's good with you ... just wondering if you're gonna have any gigs @ Tamworth in January?? I'm hoping to make it down for @ least some of it this year! Catch ya, Kat**
Hicksy, we're having steak tinght......(sorry, I mean "tonight") with a vegetable bake and possibly a glass of cheap red. I have nice red on hand, but the cheap stuff I can get for $11.00 and the cask contains 49 standard drinks. Can any of your fans beat THAT! Pete
