Kern! Live! And Pre-Popped!
In case you missed it, The Kernal just released a fantastic live album, Kern! Live! I haven’t yet been able to see The Kernal live, but my friend Taylor has and he wrote the following on Instagram:
“Forget lawyers, guns, and money! Send The Kernal instead! This live album! It’s a beautiful portrait of the characteristic moments of unchecked poetic aggression and rapturous absurdity that we have come to love about The Kernal’s shows. I’m at a real loss for words to describe how glad I am to listen in on this performance.”
With the exception of ‘Where We’re Standing’ which originally appeared on 2011’s independently-released (though Bandcamp says 2013), Farewellhello, the live album draws heavily from 2016’s Light Country and includes previously unreleased tracks. The band is tight and the harmonies soar above the old-school country twang without ever sounding kitschy. Quirky, definitely, but never kitschy.
The Kernal combines folk, rock, soul and even a little bit of funk but the foundation is always and unashamedly old-school country. The Kernal’s father used to play guitar for Del Reeves and used to wear the very same red suit that has now become synonymous with The Kernal. That Grand Ole Opry vibe hangs heavy over the album without ever becoming suffocating.
Preview the track “Just The Other Side of Nowhere” from Kern! Live!
Before he was known as the Kernal (his “fake name” as he jokes on Live!, the Kernal went by his real name, Joe Garner and put out two independently-released EP’s. With The Kernal’s permission we are celebrating the release of Live! by looking back at these earliest releases. Garner now says that these are not “his favorite” releases, which is understandable given the more raucous direction his music has taken, but the strong songwriting voice and unique attention to detail is undeniably already present, especially on songs like ‘They’re All Gone’ and “Bury the Hatchet” on Mourning Birds, his debut release.
In 2008, my same friend Taylor wrote the following about the “Mourning Birds” EP, the debut release from singer-songwriter Joe Garner:
Recorded at a mountain studio in east Tennessee and released independently, Garner's is a sound definitely grown from the ground. Earthy, honest and plaintive; Mourning Birds beckons back to the folk ballads of a simpler time and at the same time casts a shadow of unease on its own mirth. Compiled with a handful of friends giving sparse and simple accompaniment to his guitar, Garner's first effort includes six tracks that display the enigmatic range of moods that make this burgeoning songwriter and storyteller a haunted soul not soon forgotten.
Mourning Birds Tracklisting:
They're All Gone
Bury the Hatchet
High School Devotion
June and God
The Ballad of Gypsy Jack
Coyote Cry
Garner followed the strong debut with a very Independent EP 2009. It was hand-packaged and came as a CD-R. I was lucky enough to get a copy but I’m not sure how many people can say the same.
The shift towards old school country is what’s most interesting about the EP, though the songs are still strong. Listening to these back-to-back, the shift to a full band leaves the sparseness of Mourning Birds behind but the Twang hasn’t fully taken over. It might be better classified as alt. country but the shift towards more traditional Country is already apparent. It’s like watching someone finally embrace who’ve they’ve been all along. The EP includes an early version of Farewellhello’s ‘Homicide’ at a slower pace but the core of the song is already worked out.
2009 Tracklisting:
Goodtime Charlie’s
Homicide
Coat of Arms
Reason, What Reason
Though these releases might not be The Kernal’s favorite, they are terrific postcards from the journey of a songwriter finding his voice because he has lots to say.
Visit The Kernal’s profile at Single Lock Records.
Download the Mourning Birds EP at Noisetrade.
Support The Kernal at Bandcamp.
Purchase The Kernal’s music at Amazon.
Download Mourning Birds as a Zip file.
Download 2009 as a Zip file.