Kevn Kinney‘s music has always been lurking in the cobwebbed corners of your mind, even if you weren’t aware of it. After making the big move from Milwaukee to Atlanta back in the ’80s, he happened to be close to Athens, Ga., the birthplace of R.E.M., when that band was really catching fire. He caught the always-open ear of Peter Buck, who produced some material by Kinney’s band, Drivin N Cryin, which would latch onto a support slot for an R.E.M. tour. Fast forward to the new millennium, and Kinney has moved to Brooklyn, where he’s cut a fine solo record, A Good Country Mile, with Anton Fier and the Golden Palominos. The new disc somehow manages to fit Bob Dylan, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Van Morrison under the same tiny leopard-skin pill-box hat. Kinney will be guest editing magnetmagazine.com all week. Read our brand new Q&A with him.
Kinney: I like nice people.
It’s not always a given. I understand drive and the necessity of success,
but if you’re not a nice person, I could care less.
Which is why I don’t go backstage if I can help it … There’s nothing like
seeing a great show and letting it get ruined by going backstage … I try
to tell people I’m with that there’s nothing back there but warm beer and
sweaty people that want to be left alone …
And when they insist, I warn them …
You just saw a great show. If the band is arguing or the road manager’s a
dick or blah blah blah
you’re gonna ruin it!
It’s happened to me.
And it’s happened because of me …
I apologize in retrospect or advance …
Somedays it’s just harder than others …
But in my defense I’m usually more confused than anything.
All of the people I have included in these past essays are nice people,
grace in the face of chaos,
a kind “thank you” to a fan after the show or a pat on the back to a
supporting musician or sound man
I have learned over the years from watching the like of Lenny Kaye or
Peter Buck just how simple this really is.
Isn’t it great when you get the occasional “Good Morning” from a stranger
or someone holds the door
or someone thanks you for letting them have your seat
sometimes just a smile from a coffee technician
People ask me all the time if I’ve ever met Bob Dylan …
What on earth would I say to Bob Dylan backstage after a show?
I think it would be like a Chris Farley skit. “You know that song? …
Lonesome Death Of Hattie Caroll? … That’s cool.”
I only want to meet Bob Dylan someday maybe in a grocery store
and I’d ask him…
“Hey man, do know which aisle the taco shells are in?”
That would be heaven…
Cause I’m fairly sure he’s a pretty nice guy…
At least a lot nicer than the check out girls at the Associated Grocery on
Manhattan Avenue!
Man, those girls are tough.
Photo after the jump.
