The belated emergence of big, boss Bill Kirchen as frontman and "solo" recording artist is some of the best news of the decade for lovers of real, authentic down-home country and rock'n'roll music. Kirchen's work in the early '70s as lead guitarist and occasional lead singer for Commander Cody's original Lost Planet Airmen was the musical highlight of that wonderful band, and it has been a real joy to hear him finally reclaim (and expand) the Airmen's old turf in the rockabilly, honky-tonk country, and Western Swing realms, with two superb albums for New Orleans' great Black Top label, 1994's Tombstone Every Mile and now his fine new one, Have Love, Will Travel.Some of Kirchen's fans use terms like "dieselbilly" and "diesel guitar" to refer both to his terrific, twangy low-string Telecaster style (which drove Cody's version of "Hot Rod Lincoln" up the charts back in 1970) and to his long-established penchant for the truck-drivin' song. Have Love establishes its "diesel" credentials right from the opening cut, a fabulous new original, "Womb to the Tomb" -- a sort of trucker's ghost story packed with soulful folk wisdom, sly humor, infectious chugging rhythm and plenty of that delicious twang thang. This tune, and several others on the CD, mark Kirchen's emergence as a first-rate songwriter (working usually with his wife Louise or with his band members) in his chosen idioms: the other originals here (including the beautiful honky-tonk heartbreaker "Which Came First [the Heartache or the Sad Song]" and the blistering rocker "Don't Be True") are among the album's very strongest, and best written, numbers -- ingenious, soulful, and exciting.
Kirchen also includes an obscure truck-drivin' favorite that I've been waiting for years to hear him record, Red Simpson's scarifying "Nitro Express," and draws effectively on the songwriting skills of longtime musical buddies like Leroy Preston (Asleep at the Wheel) and the great Kevin "Blackie" Farrell. Farrell's contribution -- as you'd expect from the author of earlier Kirchen/Airmen classics like "Rockabilly Funeral" and "Mama Hated Diesels" -- is another of the album's high points: "Red Cajun Girl," with its sleight-of-hand intro ("Nashville, would you like a tape of my song?" Kirchen intones, singing alone with an acoustic guitar, and sounding just like an amateur demo tape until the band kicks in around him), weds the familiar theme of Bayou romance to the spare, tragic narrative style of an an ancient murder ballad, and then surprises us again with a bittersweet ending twist. On "High Snakes and Deep Water" Kirchen taps into bluesy swamp atmospherics and captures a pure Louisiana Country sound. Joe New's "The Heart Is A Muscle" is another standout, opening up a gentle classic-soul feel, with delicious Curtis Mayfield-style guitar, rich B-3 swells, and a lovely lyric message. And Kirchen drives the rockabilly trio format to the edge of pure grunge, when he turns the traditional Memphis Minnie/Bob Wills blues, "What's the Matter with the Mill," into a grinding, kick-butt roadhouse stomp, filled with wild, dirty lead guitar and low-down late-night energy.
Kirchen's warm, natural vocal style and hot instrumental chops hold this remarkably diverse body of tunes together with easy, believable authenticity, good humor and unforced feeling. In an age of forgettable, formulaic country hits and noisy pop poseurs, Bill Kirchen's well-honed, road-seasoned American music is a welcome reminder that the real stuff is still being played today -- if you know where to listen for it. Diesel up and hit the Black Top! Good times guaranteed!
