It’s an uncomfortably warm Sunday night at The Basement in East Nashville when Kevin Burke and company steps onto the stage. There’s probably a crowd of 30 to 40 people sipping on craft beers, who decided to come celebrate a night of free music; Some half paying attention to the exhausted group of guys setting up onstage, the others staring at the glass bottom of an IPA. It’s been a long string of days for the band, and the 13 hour drive home to New York the next morning seems none too appealing.
But then something neat happens, in the moment between mic check and Burke introducing the squad, all those thoughts slip away, and anything bothering these rock star ruffians is dropped. All that matters is the next 30 minutes of the group’s honest work.
Between Burke’s tears on the ivory and keyboardist Raymond Long’s casual swaps to bleating trumpets and kazoos mid-song, one thing becomes clear, the group takes their vibe and runs with it, playing music on gut and soul. They’re grateful for that, especially considering the group came together unexpectedly, and almost not at all.
“I actually had a whole different band of guys, all from Long Island who were in different bands, and a few weeks before the tour, they all bailed except for Evan. On a whim I called these guys up, and now we’re the misfit band. But I got very lucky, because every one here is at a crazy caliber of playing,” said Burke.
Burke is no stranger to the touring life. Playing in hardcore and pop-punk bands over the years, he’s gotten the tour experience, but heading out on the road for his own work, is a completely different animal.
“We’ve learned a lot this week,” Burke says, laughing with Long after a sigh of contempt. “Making sure everyone is comfortable on tour was important. Everyone here was new to touring except me, so it was more difficult for some people than others, but keeping everything normal under irregular circumstances was big.”
Burke’s musical school of thought comes from two distant, but similar worlds. Injecting vintage 60s and 70s California soul with the emotional drive behind punk and hardcore, a preconceived dissonance turns itself into genuine and introspective tracks. Something Burke prides himself on when it comes to songwriting.
“In the late 60s, there was that idea of the “for the cause” generation, where there was a sense of unity, after that people began to take a step back and focus on themselves and their feelings. Artists like Jackson Brown and Carole King is where I take a lot of my style of lyrics and writing,” said Burke.
Burke’s music is taking flight at the right moment. With a track premiere from U.S.A Today and an upcoming tour across the west coast, Burke is excited for the adventure that lies ahead, which will lay the road to his eventual solo full length release.
“I have a ton of new songs that I’ve been writing and we’ve been playing them out on the road since we haven’t recorded yet. I plan on doing some support tours in the fall and upcoming college shows. We’re also going to be playing CMJ Festical in NYC in October. I’m going to start on my full length soon. I have a body of songs to start arranging and building from the ground up,” said Burke.”
When asked if his band mates will be sticking with him on tour, Burke laughed and said. “I just hope they stick with me, I got really lucky to do this with them.”
Burke’s emotional investment, longstanding history and friendship with the group create a wide range of potential for the band. Each one of them having a strong background in music in one way or another gives the band a sense of fresh, bona fide talent.
Our conversation is briefly interrupted by a friendly local bar owner. Complimenting Burke and the band on their set, he invites the group to stop by Printer’s Alley downtown for a drink and live music.
“Come see us! We’ll feed ya’ and drink ya’” The owner shouts. “We just opened up eight weeks ago after the place was shut down in 1998 after they slit the owner’s throat. It’s an incredible place though, you should please come!”
A sense of excitement and slight shock washes over Burke. For this moment is just one of the snapshots of his musical adventure. He drives for success but stops to appreciate the opportunities around him. He knows at any moment this success and bits of luck could run out, but he pushes forward, and gives himself and his mates a chance to just play music.
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