Guthrie Kennard

always have my eyes open for new and new-to-me Americana acts. Here's a man you may not have heard of: Guthrie Kennard. He's one of those dudes who seems to have been everywhere and yet often under the radar.

(READ MORE) - No Depression

Texas blues and roots legend Guthrie Kennard has found success with Matchbox, the latest of his signaturely dark and gritty Americana records. The album, released in May, rocketed to the top of the Euro-Americana charts. It currently rests at number two and has every hope of seeing number one in the near future.

This success is unsurprising to anyone who has followed Kennard's career as a legendary sideman to such Americana and blues luminaries as Ray Wylie Hubbard and Smokin' Joe Kubek. Matchbox is a testament to Kennard's skill as both a musician and as songwriter. His ability to evoke mix inky darkness with levity and balance the hard times with the good is uncanny.

With an enviable array of legendary musicians surrounding him including Ray Wylie Hubbard, Grammy Award winner Mark Benno and the legendary Buddy Miles (the former drummer of Band of Gypsy’s), Kennard’s meaty, skillful songwriting and unmistakable growl take the listener down a dusty road filled with juke joints and fishin’ holes. Each song, be it a meditation on life lived and life to come, or his spooky account of the celebratory Day of the Dead with “Streets of Jaurez”, or a swampy tribute to “Catfish Fishin’,” is sure to climb inside your head and spin it around.

Kennard’s music is steeped in Texas tradition, influenced by blues, and is a shining example of all that is great about Americana. Upon first hearing his gravelly voice, you might expect an album full of rocker songs about booze and regret— and there are definitely plenty of those on Matchbox, but Kennard’s songs will also surprise you with their subtlety and insight. Kennard is something of a sage, and an unassuming wisdom comes through particularly in his hit song “My Mind Rolls Like a Wheel”. Of course, then he turns aroundand cranks out “Monkey Wrench”, a long and lean ode to a lady mechanic, just to keep everyone guessing. Kennard fits in among such luminaries as Lucinda Williams, Steve Earle, Ryan Bingham, Billy Joe Shaver, Robert Earl Keen, and of course Ray Wylie
Hubbard who produced the album. Kennard’s punchy and authentic style is unmistakable but also retains an elegant subtlety that puts Matchbox at the top of the heap.

For more information, please visit www.guthriekennard.com



free-press-release.com Guthrie Kennard Euro-Americana Charts roots music - Shut Eye Records

I’ve listened to this CD many times now and every time I come away with a new and different impression. At first it seemed to be a nice short set of songs with Dylan-esque gravelly vocals. I wasn’t at impressed at first as I am now. Vocally, it is a crackle-filled approach to singing, with drawn out nasal sounds and a little distortion thrown in. That’s only where part of the charm of this comes from; Kennard’s singing adds a little backwoods authentic sound to the songs.

What really sounds cool and made this album for me is the blend of acoustic, baritone and electric guitar work by Kennard with some slide, electric, acoustic, resonator guitars and mandolin interspersed throughout by four other artists. Couple this web of six string harmony with Kennard’s angst filled lyrics, and you have an interesting little CD with acoustic and electric guitar blended together well and vocals by Kennard and backed occasionally by a few more of his friends .

Who is Guthrie Kennard? He’s a Texas based singer-songwriter who was originally from Richmond, VA and transitioned to Texas between 1968 and 1971, when he made Texas his permanent new home. From his website bio: “He recorded with Smokin’ Joe and Doyle Bramhall, Sr, on Bird Records. Opening for artists including Robin Trower, John Mayall, Taj Mahal, Leon Russell and Donovan He toured Europe with Grammy winner Marc Benno, and co-wrote “Laverne” on Benno’s album “Snake Charmer.” While in Europe Guthrie played some great venues like the Womad Festival, The Colne Festival, Nuits de Blues, the International Music Festival in Turkey and most recently the Cork Jazz & Blues Festival in Cork Ireland. After a career of collaboration with some great musicians, Guthrie finally broke out on his own as a singer / songwriter to tell his own story on his first CD “Ranch Road 12” produced by legendary Texas troubadour Ray Wylie Hubbard. Now with his newest projects “Unmade Beds” released October 2009 and “Matchbox” to be released in early 2010 Guthrie continues to brand his own unique style of music.”

Kennard delivers a sound that is a blend of Piedmont and Texas hill country with lyrics filled with life’s struggles, hopes and despair. Songs like “Another Day, Another Dollar”, “Streets of Juarez” and “Bristol” evoke pictures of lives without hope, a dark and somewhat grim but realistic commentary on life in Kennard’s eyes. The melodies are simplistic yet haunting, and when you blend Kennard and the sounds of the other musicians the songs begin to grip you and tear at your soul.

The 10 tracks here depict an experience of life in Texas, a world where happiness is fleeting and every small moment of joy should be savored for it may be the last. As I said, these tracks grew and grew on me. Filled with darker themes and grit, but still a very interesting listen!

Reviewer Steve Jones is secretary of the Crossroads Blues Society in Rockford. IL.

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- Crossroads Blues Society

"There are a lot of cool spots for live music there, and Tap-In Grill and Pub is one of those places. As the name suggests, it's a pub-style bar, with a decent menu and nice, warm vibe -- and excellent music. Just witness the performance of Guthrie Kennard on Saturday night...."

- DFW.COM

"Matchbox consists of 10 tracks and through them all, Guthrie shows us that we yet again have another songwriter whom is more than willing and able to connect with his audience, portraying the world around him in words we are all familiar with and in a style and form we can all truly appreciate..." - Blues Underground Network

"All I can say is that my radar must be set pretty high because I realized lately a lot of great music and musicians has been flying under my radar and that includes an artist I've been listening to this week Guthrie Kennard." - No Depreesion

"Which such a strong musical consistency to this Album, it would be hard for anyone to choose a couple of favorites, but I will give it my best shot by picking, "Another Day, Another Dollar", and "Cross That Line" with all the rest following very closely behind..." - The Blues Report

Kennard has the laconic deep voice that was made for storytelling. Produced by Ray Wylie Hubbard, who also played Resonator on some of the songs, Matchbox is a hardcore alt.country album with a blues feel that gets stuck in your head after the first spin (and there will be many more). - The Flood Review

Texas blues and roots legend Guthrie Kennard has found success with Matchbox, the latest of his signaturely dark and gritty Americana records. The album, released in May, rocketed to the top of the Euro-Americana charts. It currently rests at number two and has every hope of seeing number one in the near future. - Shut Eye Records

I have been listening to this album for a while - with a smile on my face. This is a guy with 40 years experience and it shows...

- SqueezeMyLemmon.com