The modern-day “Master of the Telecaster” is a man of many musical styles.
If you go
Bill Kirchen and the Hammer of the Honky Tonk God, with special guest Maryann Price and the Trio Del Rio
Where: Birchmere, 3701 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria
When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday
Info: $25; ticketmaster.com
Sure, you know Bill Kirchen for his blazing guitar work on Commander Cody’s 1972 version of the song “Hot Rod Lincoln” but you might not know that he’s also a much-in-demand player and songwriter for everyone from Elvis Costello to Emmylou Harris and Nick Lowe. Well his new album “Word to the Wise” will not only remind you of the various styles Kirchen plays but just how well. “This album started out with the working title ’40 years Without a Day Job,’ Kirchen, a resident of Calvert County, Md., said. “In a way I feel it’s more about just being thankful than bragging I hope. I can’t believe I have been able to support the family doing something I loved so much.”
Despite his modesty, “Word to the Wise” displays just why Kirchen’s musicianship is so revered with styles moving from pop (“Bump Wood”) to blues “Time Will Tell the Story”) to country (Merle Haggard’s “Shelly’s Winter Love”). Joining him on the album are many of the long-time musical friends he has collaborated with in one way or another. Costello, Commander Cody, Lowe, Paul Carrack are among the many that join him on these songs, most of which he wrote with the guest in mind.
“What I was trying to do was that I wanted to work with guests I knew very well, people who are very important to me,” Kirchen said. “I wanted to make this the real deal and choose guests who I’ve been honored to work with throughout the years.”
Some of the guests go back to Kirchen’s earliest musical roots. Many don’t realize that Kirchen began his musical career in a jug band during the Ann Arbor, Mich., high school days he shared with classmates Iggy Pop and Bob Seger. A trip to the Newport Folk Festival cemented his musical ambitions and he never looked back.
Many of the songs were recorded live when Kirchen collaborated in person with individual guests. Many guest artists contribute to albums virtually but Kirchen took the time to work one-on-one with guests.
“We took the [technology] and traveled around the country harvesting the vocals,” Kirchen said. “I’m very pleased with how it turned out.”
