Kenny Wayne Shepherd – On The Move

JLTT: Hi Kenny, thanks for finding time to speak

KWS: Always a pleasure, Pete…I think you’ve heard the new album? I hope so.

Yes indeed – and the previous one was SO good you have set yourself a high watermark…

(Laughs) Well, I hope we don’t disappoint then!

Ah no…this collection seems to bring in a fresh air/Allmans element that just works.

Well, thank you! That wasn’t deliberate in any way, but if you’re hearing it that is kinda good. We didn’t want to just repeat the previous studio record. To make the songs the star, that was my intention as we discussed together in London. This time the aim is pretty similar…over my career of twenty-five years now I have progressed to this stance or approach..many of my fans have been with me all that time, grown up with me, I’m grateful for that. Always.

The overall feel of the album to me – you can disagree of course – has this open-air, open road thing happening…it keeps everything in motion.

Hmm..well I guess the cornerstone of the record might be the four out-and-out rockers we include this time. Like the first song on the album. We have Mr Soul which is the old Buffalo Springfield number. Turn To Stone which is the Joe Walsh tune. Those four songs right there is a big part of the sound picture. Tailwind yes it does maybe have an Allman’s tinge to it, yes.

It’s not city music, is it?

Absolutely not..in some ways it is a continuation from Lay It On Down in that we want to explore where we can take our sound, our ideas…one of the reasons we chose Mr Soul

Well, that band had a limited life due to personal frictions, but what an assemblage of talent!! They always had a sense of direction..of purpose

Exactly AND based upon such strong melodies, that have endured..so here’s the challenge – to stay as productive and adventurous as those classic outfits…if you need a goal well that’s it!

‘Woman Like You’

Let’s talk about some of the songs. An almost Yardbirds feel and I love the horns..it’s very dynamic.

There’s a horn section on quite a lot of this record. I have used horns to various degrees on several of my past records. It seemed a good idea to incorporate them here, on the right songs. And I’m thinking of the rock songs. They’re not overcomplicated parts, they’re designed to enhance certain moments, I’d say.

‘I Want You’

The horns work well here. With the Albert King swagger, you have to play guitar behind the beat.

Yeah, when you solo you have to lean into the phrases whilst the band groove on.

The handclaps sound kinda cool, emphasising the tempo. It’s a lighter feel that we were aiming at here.

‘Tailwind’

Tell me about this – it has a lovely roll and melody and the ensemble singing is terrific

Thanks, Pete – now that song is unique…originally I just played the whole thing on acoustic. Then we thought we might put some electric guitars on it. I then decided to play some slide on it.

Unusual for you!

(Laughs) Now I am a very elementary slide guitar player, I would say. Nothing dazzling going on! it’s just complementary to the tune.

You’re too modest. It sounds just right

I think it was the right thing for the song, let’s say that.

‘Gravity’

This is so moody! It sounds dense, claustrophobic.

Now that’s a difficult song. It’s open to a few contrasting interpretations. There’s a veiled storyline behind it. In one scenario it might be about a guy who dies. After a complicated relationship. The guy is literally jumping in and dies from the jump. OR did he jump into a relationship? Or is it about redemption? They love each other but damage each other at the same time..so many ways to look at it

The sound reminded me of Afghan Whigs, Greg Dulli…that darkness..sonic David Lynch maybe.

I’ll buy that

‘We All Alright’

Now how great is Chris Layton’s drumming on this!?

Yes, he’s absolutely fantastic! He’s been with so many bands and lineups and ALWAYS lifts things to another level..always.

BTW how good is that new B B King Blues Band album with you on Irene Irene?

I haven’t heard that whole record yet!

It’s warm, plenty of cool singers, it swings..oh and I was with Reese (Wynans) in London a few weeks back re his own Mascot album and he said you were great to have aboard for some cuts…

It was a lot of fun contributing to those sessions. There’s so much history with Reese, he’s done so much in his time, as you know better than me! Playing Say What was a gas, with those people. I tried to not copy the original but throw in a few bits of my own thing here and there

Surely In Step was SRV’s best album?

Oh yes, the energy, the songs, the moods…a landmark record

The Reese record owes a lot to Joe Bonamassa

Well, he can play blues, rock, country, jazz..any style. He’s a guitarist, a singer, a songwriter, a producer…the whole package. And he brought that to the production, I think..

What’s coming up?

Well, we have a tour in The States with Buddy Guy..we’re over with you in the UK in July and November..we are on a cruise thing with Joe..we’ll be on the road with this new album through to the end of this year.

Do your children dig your music?

(Brightly) Oh yeah! They don’t tell me that all the time, but they know what I do and how and why.

Good to speak again, Kenny.

As always..keep rocking!

(Many thanks to Kenny, the guys at the Mascot Label Group UK office and John Bull at Rockrpix)

Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band’s new album ‘The Traveler’ is out now on Provogue/Mascot Label Group.

You can read our review of ‘The Traveler’ here: http://bit.ly/31yd1pk 

You can purchase the album here: http://bit.ly/2Uh2gTJ

For more information visit his official website here: http://bit.ly/2UUGeu9

The Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band’s  November 2019 UK Tour will visit the following venues:

Saturday 9th November 2019 – Cheese & Grain, Frome, United Kingdom   http://bit.ly/2peOuFN

Monday 11th November 2019 –  Cambridge Junction, Cambridge, United Kingdom http://bit.ly/2j5hxVm

Tuesday 12th November 2019  – O2 Shepherds Bush Empire, London, United Kingdom http://bit.ly/29St0ac

Wednesday 13th November – Opera House, Buxton, United Kingdom http://bit.ly/2qTnwkb

Thursday  14th November 2019 –  Town Hall, Birmingham, United Kingdom http://bit.ly/2o9Nhwy