Doors 6pm, Music 7pm

With A Little Help from My Friends…

The Last Tuesday of Every Month

“The Beatles Unplugged!

Featuring Don Christiano & Walt O’Brien

A couple of hours of great Beatles’ tunes, performed by two of Rochester’s best musicians.

See ya on Liberty Pole Way!

https://www.facebook.com/donchristiano

https://www.facebook.com/walt.obrien.5

Cover: $7

Doors 4pm, Music 8pm

Infrared Radiation Orchestra play the Rolling Stones

.Infrared Radiation Orchestra will officially release their new CD of Rolling Stones covers, "Hey, Hugh, Get Off of McCloud", on Friday, January 30th at 8pm. Expect creative reimagining of Stones classics with guest appearances by Suzi Willpower, slide guitarist Gregg Cole, guitarist Jason Tort (Violet Mary) and more. Rolling Stones trivia, prize giveaways,

This is the Infrared Radiation Orchestra..

“I don’t know what IT is, but I know that Infrared Radiation Orchestra has it.”-Al Bouchard (Drummer & Vocalist: Blue Oyster Cult/The Dictators)

“One of Central NY’s coolest and most gritty psychedelic garage rock outfits, the Infrared Radiation Orchestra is a throwback band with the slick mindset of a contemporary art group. They crush the sound of the late ‘60s and early ‘70s with guitarist Kim Draheim’s brilliant nuance and soaring solos, and the band’s deep and overall transcendence.”-Ithaca.com

“Nobody sounds like The Infrared Radiation Orchestra. Nobody does what they do. I could name some obvious influences that I hear in their music, but most accurately I would say that what I really hear is a little bit of everything that was good in rock ‘n’ roll from about 1966 to about 1976.”-Jim Catalano, The Ithaca Journal

http://irorchestra.com/

https://www.facebook.com/infraredradiationorchestra/

Cover: $10

Doors 7pm, Music 7:30pm

Lambert Billy

It was twenty-two years ago, a long time in a lifespan when the members of Lambert Billy recorded over twenty songs for the second in a series of solo albums by the Woody Dodge front man. The songs were at various stages of completion, some in the mixing stage others just rough tracks when the project came to a screeching halt. Flash forward 20 years to a chance meeting between producer Ken Frank, who had worked on two Woody Dodge releases and Billy. They began chatting and eventually the discussion led to Lambert Billy. Ken had played on the project and worked on the production, the two decided to head back to the studio and finish it up. Cowpunk Retro was reborn. It was hard at first, “imagine trying to get your head back to the place your were two decades earlier” Billy said, but they moved forward and the recording began to take shape. Two new songs were added “Out of Luck” and “Can’t Find Love”. Mike Iten of “Damn the Flood” was brought in on guitar along with guitarist Chris Elmore. The result can only be described as punk bluegrass. Lambert Billy will be back at Abilene Bar and Lounge on Saturday, January 31.

https://www.facebook.com/lambertbilly1

Cover: $10 at the door

Doors 4pm, Music 7pm

An Intimate Evening with Blues Great and Rochester Music Hall of Fame Member...

JOE BEARD with Gian Carlo Cervone and Mike Patric

Born and raised in Ashland, MS, guitarist Joe Beard grew up with the Murphy brothers, one of whom later found an international following as Matt "Guitar" Murphy. Guitarist Nathan Beauregard lived with Beard's cousin, so he was surrounded by aspiring and veteran blues musicians while growing up, and he began singing at an early age. Beard became interested in playing guitar via the Murphy brothers, who sat in with a young B.B. King when he played at the Roosevelt Lake Club. Beard began to learn guitar at age 17 from Ernest Scruggs, a neighbor, before heading to Chicago. Beard moved to Rochester, NY, and from time to time would visit one of his brothers in Chicago. He quickly became enamored of the blues being played in clubs there by people like Jimmy Reed and Sonny Boy Williamson. Beard sat in with John Lee Hooker one night and received encouraging words from Hooker, and also later sat in with his idol, Muddy Waters.While in Rochester, he formed the Soul Brothers Six, playing bass and singing, but he didn't perform in public on guitar until 1965. Beard befriended classic blues guitarist Son House, who was a neighbor in Rochester, and played a concert for students at the University of Rochester in 1968. Beard worked as an electrician by day and would occasionally play out at night and on weekends for most of the '60s on through to the '80s. He has a reputation as one of the best local players around, and though he may not be a household name in other parts of the U.S., he toured Europe in 1983 and did studio and stage work with Buster Benton, Lafayette Leake, and Memphis Slim. At the famed BK Lounge, Beard and his backing bands opened for Bobby Bland, Albert King, and others.

https://www.facebook.com/joebeardblues

https://www.facebook.com/gian.c.cervone

https://www.facebook.com/mike.patric

Special thanks to our friends, Doug Camp and Cicero Ryland Jr..,true music fans.

Cover: $10

Doors 7pm, Music 8pm

The Fornieri Brothers Band

Long time favorites of the Rochester NY Music Scene, The Fornieri Brothers Band are Joe

(lead vocals, harmonica & guitar) and Pete (lead & rhythm guitars / vocals) on the front line,

and Pete's son Joe, or as they call him, JoJo, on the bass. This high-powered ensemble of Rock

and Soul, with a bunch of blues thrown in for good measure, recently added 30 plus year

seasoned veteran musicians Jason Muskopf on keyboards and Larry Casey on drums &

vocals. The depth and experience of this group permits it to perform and play a unique

blended sound of rock, blues, jazz that makes this band a must-see. Covering songs of CCR,

Van Morrison, Steely Dan, Dire Straits, Bob Dylan, Elvis Presley, Junior Wells, Paul Butterfield Blues

Band, Freddie King, Louis Jordan, The Beatles, Rolling Stones, The Doors, BTO and much more!

You don’t want to miss this special show at the legendary Abilene Bar & Lounge!

https://www.facebook.com/FornieriBrothers/

Cover: $10 at the door

Doors 4pm, Music 7pm

LYNNE HANSON

Too tough for folk and too blues-influenced for country, LYNNE HANSON’s brand of porch music with a little red dirt can turn on a dime from a sunshine, blue sky ballad to a full on thunderstorm of gritty Americana swamp from one song to the next. Her hard living music has garnered her the nickname “Canada’s own Queen of Americana.” And while her deep, bluesy croon has drawn comparisons to Lucinda Williams and Gillian Welch, it’s the poetry of her lyrics that really sets her apart. Hanson is known for her high energy, roots guitar driven live performances. She has an uncanny way of connecting with her audience with an authenticity that is as entertaining as it is disarming. Hanson has released ten studio albums along with two books of poetry over her 18 year solo career. Along the way she’s won two Canadian Folk Music Awards, as well as the Colleen Peterson songwriting award.  She’s toured extensively across North America, Europe and the UK, and appeared at leading international festivals. Her latest album “Just A Poet” was nominated for a Canadian Folk Music Award for Contemporary Album of the Year.

"Somewhere in the heartlands, in a town called 'Americana USA,' nestles a particular variety of singer songwriter.   Someone who views a melodic sensibility through the bottom of a whiskey glass. Canadian songstress Lynne Hanson could run for mayor of that town." R2 Magazine

https://www.lynnehanson.com/

Cover: Special Low-Dough Show-Fifteen Bucks at the Door

Doors 7pm, Music 8pm

Delilah Jones

All Dead - All The Time!
Delilah Jones is a high energy improvisational jam band from Rochester NY - playing the music of the Grateful Dead.

Delilah Jones is Jack Moore - Guitar/vocals, Mike Bowers - drums , Jason “Smiley” Engleson - keys/vocals, John Bloom - Guitar/vocals, Joe Worden - Bass/vocals

https://www.facebook.com/DelilahJonesBand

Cover: $10

Doors 4pm, Music 7pm

  On Wednesday, February 18, 2026, Abilene Bar & Lounge in downtown Rochester hosts a special singer-songwriter night featuring Chris Wilson, Jeff Riales, and Jerry Falzone—three distinct voices sharing original songs, stories behind the lines, and the kind of stripped-down performances that only happen in a room built for listening. Expect an intimate, roots-forward evening where every lyric lands, every chorus feels personal, and Rochester’s songwriting tradition takes center stage at one of the city’s most beloved live-music rooms.

Chris Wilson

https://www.chriswilson.us/

Jeff Riales

https://jeffriales.com/

Jerry Falzone

https://www.facebook.com/jerry.falzone.7

Cover: $10

Doors 4pm, Music 7:30pm

Ruben Moreno and the Zydeco Re-Evolution

Ruben Moreno is one of the top Zydeco artists in the vibrant music scene of Houston TX, where he was born and raised.

 Ruben Moreno is a musical alchemist whose Zydeco journey began at the tender age of 7, when the rhythmic patter of a washboard first sparked his creative fire. By 10, he was lighting up the stage at Austin’s iconic Continental Club with Leroy Thomas & the Zydeco Roadrunners, setting the tone for a career that blends tradition with innovation.

 Mentored by legends like Leroy Thomas, C.J. Chenier, and Andre Thierry, Ruben quickly emerged as the youngest gem in C.J. Chenier’s Red-Hot Louisiana Band. His 2011 debut solo album, Por Ti Volare, produced by Thierry, soared like a phoenix, earning accolades from icons such as Buckwheat Zydeco.

 Ever the boundary-breaker, Ruben weaves Zydeco with soulful threads of blues, Chicano grooves, and hip-hop. His creative ventures include a Certified Gold collaboration on Texas Sun with Khruangbin and Leon Bridges, as well as dynamic projects with Baby Bash that bridge the gap between classic Zydeco rhythms and contemporary beats. 

 From enchanting nights at the New Orleans Jazz Fest to electrifying 70,000-strong audiences at Austin City Limits Festival 2024, Ruben’s performances are vibrant canvases where passion meets innovation. With international tours, competition accolades, and congressional recognition for his community contributions, Ruben Moreno continues to light the way—blending the timeless spirit of Zydeco with the pulse of tomorrow.

https://www.rubenmoreno.live/about

Koray Broussard

Koray Broussard, leader of "The Zydeco Unit", is a rising Zydeco star who rides atop the fertile Zydeco scene in and around Acadiana in SW Louisiana.

 For Koray Broussard, Zydeco is a family affair. The Opelousas, LA native is a third generation Zydeco musician; his father John, uncle Jeffrey and grandfather Delton are all noted players in SW Louisiana and beyond.

 By tracing Koray's family lineage it’s easy to see the route Zydeco music has taken over the last several decades. From the rural sound of his grandfather's string-based front porch numbers to Koray’s club-ready R&B fusion, the genre has ensured its enduring relevance by being both adaptive and constant.

 Koray Broussard's musicality was understandably shaped by his iconic family roots and his early start playing zydeco (age 8 on drums in his dad's band). Add to that his instrumental versatility (accordion, guitar, bass and drums) and openness to contemporary influences, he was shaped into a performer who both honors tradition and pushes the genre forward exploring new possibilities.

 When asked how old he was when he began to play the accordion and who his teacher was, Koray replied, “I’m 36 and no one really taught me how to play. It’s been around me since the day I was born and it’s in my blood. I had no choice but to pick it up, lol. I love it with a passion!”

https://www.facebook.com/koray.broussard/

Tickets: $15 advance, $20 day of show and on sale now online at https://abilene.showare.com and at the bar

Doors 4pm, Music 7:30pm

Johnny Cash Birthday Bash #16

Hosted by “The Abilene Three,” featuring Tommy Brunett, Brian Williams, “Jimmy Mac,” and Special Guest, Tony Cajiga

Join us in celebrating the life and music of Johnny Cash. There’ll be a ton of great musicians joining in all night..

Sponsored by Iron Smoke Distillery

Iron Smoke Whiskey Specials All Night Long!

Tickets: $20 advance, $25 day of show and on sale now online at https://abilene.showare.com/ and at the bar

Doors 11:30am, Music 2pm - 5pm

We’re opening at 11:30am for one Huge-ah St. Patty’s Party.

There’ll be drink specials all day and a Massive Post-Parade Bash from 2pm till 5pm with Live Celtic Rock by…

SISTERS OF MURPHY

They’ll be performing a musical blend of Celtic drinking songs and Rust Belt Rock ‘n’ Roll.

Sisters of Murphy

Sisters Of Murphy is a 7 piece Celtic-Rock band that hails from the city of Rochester, NY, USA.

Boasting a 20 plus year career of live shows and a host of original releases, "SOM" continues to write, record, and perform, sharing both their memorable songs and classics from legends of the "Irish" genre.

THE STORY OF SISTERS OF MURPHY

Silverdish Record's artists Sisters Of Murphy are a Celtic Rock band hailing from Rochester, N.Y. USA. Twenty plus years and 3 releases later, Sisters Of Murphy continue to perform, write, and record their fusion of Irish inspired Rock & Roll, drawing on traditional Celtic elements with lyrical themes that range from humor and fun, to passion and perception. Legendary 3HB brew master Geoff Dale calls SOM "The most fun band going in Rochester and it is not even close!" 

Sometime way back in the early 2000's, Rochester, N.Y. natives, vocalist Mark Tichenor and bassist Bruce Lish, decided to step away from performing their original rock music to form a Irish-Celtic themed party band to play gigs surrounding St. Patrick's day to celebrate their love for Celtic Rock, have some fun, and challenge themselves on stage. Their collaborative creation, Sisters Of Murphy, have since evolved to include 7 members, a legion of dedicated fans from years of live performances, and pockets of listeners of their discography around the globe. 

Musically, Sisters Of Murphy set themselves apart from their peers by writing songs that flirt with Rock, Traditional Celtic, Pop, and Alternative elements creating a modern sound that becomes a genre of their own.

In 2024, SOM continues to perform live, with shows scheduled this spring and summer. Live surprises include new original songs being introduced on stage at select shows as well as new cover songs from legends of the genre.

https://www.facebook.com/events/373087045472197/?ref=newsfeed

https://sistersofmurphyband.com/home

Doors 7pm, Music 8pm

The Living Room Session

TLRS started in the living rooms of friends, the idea of Dublin-born Phelim White. What started as piano, acoustic guitar, fiddle and upright bass quickly morphed into its present lineup. The addition of Chris Coon(keys/sax), Stevie Hartman(guitar), and MF Jones(bass), rounded out the lineup and steered it towards its current mission of weaving smoothly through 60’s Blue Note jazz, 70’s funk and R&B, 80’s new wave, pop and rock and a mix of tunes from the 90’s on. They delight in bringing mostly b-sides and more obscure tunes to the party. Artists covered include :Sade, The Mavericks, Pretenders, Elvis Costello, U2, Donny Hathaway, Grant Green, Tina Turner, Depeche Mode, The Band, Leon Bridges, Morphine, Van Morrison, Bowie, The Meters, Nina Simone, ZZ Top…and much more!

https://www.facebook.com/p/The-Living-Room-Session-100068065377226/

Cover: $10

Doors 7pm, Music 8pm

Miller and the Other Sinners

During the recording of his solo album, Poisons Sipped, David Michael Miller, members of the world famous Campbell Brothers and a small ensemble of both internationally known and talented musicians came together to form, "Miller and The Other Sinners."  

Miller and The Other Sinners is a nationally touring Southern Soul band from Buffalo, NY, bringing a blend of gut bucket delta grit, memphis soul, gospel spirit and funky rhythm and blues.  Since August of 2015, they have performed over 700 shows across 21 states and Canada from house parties to festivals.  They have an unforgettable show filled with infectious grooves and tremendous musicianship all supporting well written songs that really connect.   

David Michael Miller, founder, lead vocalist, guitarist and songwriter for Miller and The Other Sinners, is a well established musician in the Western New York music scene, for 6 years fronting the band, Dive House Union.  David has shared the stage with artists such as Tedeschi Trucks Band, Steve Miller Band, Joe Bonamassa, Jonny Lang, Gary Clark Jr., Bobby Blue Bland, Jimmie Vaughan, Shemekia Copeland, Eric Gales and many others.  He represented the WNY Blues Society in 2013 and 2014 at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis  in both the Band and Solo/Duo categories.  He continues to participate in the Blues in the Schools program in Western New York.  In 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017, he was presented with the best Male Blues Vocalist Award by Buffalo's Night Life Magazine and in 2015 was presented with the Arts Services Institute award for "Artist of the Year."  

David's has built on the successful independent release of his first solo album in 2014, Poisons Sipped, which landed in the the top 25 Blues Rock Albums of 2014 on the Roots Music Report.  His 2nd album, Same Soil, debuted at #11 the second week of July on the RMR Blues chart and then climbed to #3 with two songs in the top 50 Blues songs played worldwide on radio and internet radio.  David released a live record with his band Miller and The Other Sinners called "3 Nights at the Strand" and is in the studio currently working on a series of bi monthly releases for 2019. 

David is accompanied by a killer core of “Other Sinners" and the variation and diversity are what make the shows ever fresh and entertaining.  Some of these Sinners include, Jay Moynihan on sax and guitar (Buddy Guy's former sax player for nearly 10 years), sometimes members of the world renown Campbell Brothers, Ms Cinnamon Jones  and several other talented WNY musicians rounding out the band depending on the show.

David Michael Miller

Since he was very young and singing in church, music has always been a big part of David's life.  After learning guitar at age 11, he quickly began writing songs.  Throughout his high school and college days, David was in several bands, did an internship in Nashville and married his high school sweetheart to begin a family.  After taking a break from music for a few years, David began leading music in church services and through that started a Seattle influenced rock band called Painted by Moses. 

 This band released an EP and then after a full album on an independent label which unknown to the band, was in hot rotation on gospel music and college stations around the country.  Shortly after this, David took a break from performing music as he started his own IT business but rediscovered his blues and gospel influences during this time also developed his love for soul music. 

 He then formed the roots music band, Beautiful Bones, with his 16 year old son on drums, nephew on bass, Jim Ehinger on keys and several other talented local musicians.  This lead him to joining up with The Todd Eberwine Band that became Dive House Union, a root music jam band having released two live albums to date and that he still plays out with mostly in the Buffalo, NY area.  He has garnished several local awards for his vocals, and with both Beautiful Bones and Dive House Union, has had the privilege of sharing the stage with artists such as:

• Joe Bonamassa

• Steve Miller Band

• Tedeschi Trucks Band

• Rusted Root

• Jonny Lang

• Gary Clark Jr.

• Bobby Blue Bland

• Jimmie Vaughan

• Shemekia Copeland

• Eric Gales

• Walter Trout

• and many more...

In early 2013 David had solicited the help of producer, Jesse Miller, to record  songwriter album.  Then after losing his job in May of 2013, David made the decision to pursue his passion for music against many odds, finish the album and see where it goes.  This where the story of Miller and The Other Sinners begins.  Known for his soulful voice, passionate guitar playing (electric, acoustic, and slide), and mature song writing, David is the leader and fuel for the Sinner's engine.   https://www.millerandtheothersinners.com/

Tickets: $15 advance, $20 day of show and on sale now at the bar and online at https://abilene.showare.com

Doors 6pm, Music 7pm

Igor & The Red Elvises

Igor Yuzov was born in Germany, raised in Ukraine and studied in Russia. He grew up in the former Soviet Union, where folk music was the norm and rock'n'roll was illegal. A rebellious streak, however, led him to seek out the forbidden music. As soon as it became possible, Igor left Russia for America with his “Folk'n'Roll" band Limpopo and was personally greeted by Ronald Reagan. In 1993, Limpopo won Ed McMahon's Star Search and their popularity began to blossom. In 1995, Igor dreamed that Elvis Presley came to him and told him to start playing rock'n'roll. Igor and his Russian friends became Red Elvises and gave street performances on Santa Monica's 3rd Street Promenade. As their crowds grew larger, the City of Santa Monica ordered them to discontinue their street performances. Evolving over the years, Igor’s music has been labeled "Siberian Surf Rock” which contains humorous lyrics and grooves that forces his audience to dance. Over the past 20 years, Red Elvises have constantly toured all over the world with occasional breaks to record new music and to participate in film and television projects.

As an independent band, Red Elvises have produced 12 studio albums, two live albums, a live concert DVD, and a Greatest Hits compilation. Some of their most notable film contributions include music and or performances in “Six String Samurai”, “Mail Order Bride”, “Armageddon”, “Skippy”,  “Melrose Place”, “Fastlane", “Penn and Teller's Sin City Extravaganza”, “VH-1 Behind the Music”, and “MTV”. Red Elvises have performed for large festivals, private parties, and played on massive stages such as 2005's Live 8 Benefit Concert. No matter where they perform, Igor & Red Elvises always bring the party with them!

https://www.facebook.com/igorandredelvises/

Tickets: $18 advance, $22 day of show and on sale now at the bar and online at https://abilene.showare.com

Doors 4pm, Music 6:30pm

Big Lake

Big Lake plays acoustic music with an Americana/Bluegrass influence. They take pride in playing a cover song and making it sound like their own. Artists that they cover include, The Dead , Stones,  Led Zeppelin, Neil Young,  Allman Brothers, Little Feat , the Band,  Jason Isbell, Tyler Childers, Sturgill Simpson, Hayes Carll, Eilen Jewel. Bob Dylan, Watchhouse, Townes Van Sandt, CCR, Tony Rice, Johnny Cash, and many others. They all love a wide range of music and styles. Another interesting thing about this group is that with the exception of their drummer, they all attended UB at the same time, so it is really fun to still be friends after all these years and to create together. They’re very excited to be playing at Abilene because they all understand the type of Music Fan you are…and they can’t wait to play for ya!

Big Lake is Jessica Guinness, lead and backup vocals, Ron Permoda, stand-up and electric bass, Fred Haas, drums, Rolf Witt, mandolin and guitar, and Todd Simonson, lead and harmony vocals, guitars…Part-time players, Ben Proctor, dobro, and Valerie Tyrell, violin

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61571608207579

Cover: $10

Doors 4pm, Music 7pm

Bill Kirchen - Titan of the Telecaster!

Upon tallying how many decades he’s worked as a professional guitar slinger, Telecaster master Bill Kirchen quips, “Well, they don't make 50 years like they used to.” They don’t often make careers like his, either.
From performing with his Who Knows Pickers jug band in Ann Arbor High School’s senior talent show (also on the program: the future Iggy Pop), to birthing the Americana genre with the original “hippie country band,” Commander Cody and his Lost Planet Airmen, this affable Austinite has been everywhere, man, flying alongside some of the planet’s coolest cats — including the Jesus of Cool, Nick Lowe, and Lowe’s old protégé, Elvis Costello.
Kirchen has toured the world with Lowe, who produced an album by Kirchen’s post-Airmen band, the Moonlighters, and Costello recruited Kirchen for high-profile gigs like the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival — and even named his festival band after Kirchen’s Hammer of the Honky-Tonk Gods album. Lowe appears on that 2006 album, and its 2010 follow-up, Word to the Wise, along with Costello, Maria Muldaur, Dan Hicks and other luminaries.
Now those albums, plus Kirchen’s third Proper Records release, 2013’s Seeds and Stems, are being combined with three bonus tracks from Transatlantica, his 2016 project with pub-rock progenitor Austin de Lone, as a two-CD retrospective titled The Proper Years. Waxworks, is a vinyl best-of version of the full collection. 
A well-balanced mix of engaging originals and wonderfully rendered covers, The Proper Years admirably conveys Kirchen’s versatility as a player and singer — one of the first to mash up rockabilly, country, western swing, honky-tonk, jump blues, jazz, boogie-woogie and even the “psychedelic folk rock” he played with the Seventh Seal, the band he formed while attending  the University of Michigan. (MC5 manager/activist John Sinclair got them a dealon the ESP-Disk label, home of Sun Ra, but the band turned it down.)
Somewhere between steering Commander Cody’s “Hot Rod Lincoln” into a top-10 hit and scoring a Grammy nomination for Best Country Instrumental Performance, Kirchen dubbed his sound “dieselbilly,” wrapping his fondness for country’s truck-driving song subgenre (as in big rigs, not pickups), its intersection with the Bakersfield Sound and his own name into one memorable moniker. 
Kirchen’s right-place-at-the-right-time career has put him at the forefront of many musical movements, including outlaw country; Commander Cody’s 1974 album, Live from Deep in the Heart of Texas, recorded at Austin’s legendary Armadillo World Headquarters, made Rolling Stone’s 100 Best Albums of All Time list.  
But whatever label Kirchen’s music wears, it’s always notable for its balance of high-octane energy and deft understatement. There’s no leadfoot excess; Kirchen’s all about finesse — a sensibility absorbed from the symphonies and Broadway musicals his parents loved, along with the orchestral works he played as a school-band trombonist. Through another major influence, Interlochen Center for the Arts summer camp counselor David Siglin (who would go on to run famed Ann Arbor venue the Ark), Kirchen became immersed in folk traditions and learned to love the “big, sonorous tones” of an undistorted guitar.  “I was more interested in sounding like Doc Watson than Eric Clapton,” admits Kirchen, whose main guitar was crafted by Rick Kelly of Carmine Street Guitars from 200-year-old pine floorboards recycled from film director Jim Jarmusch’s loft. 
It’s fitting that this collection begins with his ode to that Telly-modeled “stick of wood” he calls “the bicycle of the electric guitar —the most efficient way to get from point A to point B.” That song also serves as exhibit A in a collection showcasing a central facet of Kirchen’s songwriting: his wit. If there’s a laugh to be reached for — or stooped to —Kirchen’s goin’ for it; you don’t survive years in a band named Commander Cody and his Lost Planet Airmen, or drop album titles like Seeds and Stems, without possessing a gleefully subversive, double-entendre-loving funny bone.  “I like music where at least someone onstage is smiling sometimes, fer crissake,” jokes Kirchen, who’s often grinning happily when he’s not busy singing.
But for every injection of humor, there’s an equal dose of heart (and in some cases, heartbreak). And songs like “Tell Me the Reason” or “Get a Little Goner” illustrate another truism: Kirchen often sets the saddest or mostbiting lyrics to the jauntiest melodies.  Those two were cowritten by his wife, Louise; “Goner” also features frequent contributor Sarah Brown (coincidentally also raised in Ann Arbor).
Kirchen likes collaborating; on Word to the Wise, a musical reminiscence of sorts, he tapped several favorite artists to join him, carefully selecting or writing songs for each. In the liner notes, he explains, “The criteria we used were that you had to be A) someone I had actually played with, either on stage or record, and B) not dead yet.”  Sadly, Norton Buffalo, who played harmonica with the Airmen and Moonlighters, passed away shortly after recording “Valley of the Moon” — in which Kirchen revisits scenes of his early life with Louise on a trip to attend a funeral (for Hacienda Brother Chris Gaffney, another musical mate). Dan Hicks, who delivered a note-perfect duet on the title tune — written for him —died in 2016. But as of this writing, Lowe, Costello, Maria Muldaur, Paul Carrack, original Asleep at the Wheel vocalist Chris O’Connell and Commander Cody (aka George Frayne) are still very much with us.  
Kirchen’s entertaining liner notes explain his connection to each, tracing many of these relationships directly to longtime collaborator and “mainman” Austin de Lone, who appears on all three solo albums and shares billing on Transatlanticana. Philadelphia-born keyboardist de Lone and his band, Eggs Over Easy, moved to England in 1970, urged by Jimi Hendrix’s manager, Chas Chandler. Their rootsy mix of blues, country and rock caught on — and germinated the pub rock movement, whose acolytes included Brinsley Schwarz, in which Lowe played bass. In 1972, de Lone moved to California, where he met Kirchen. Years later, de Lone wound up joining the Moonlighters and introducing Kirchen to Lowe, who produced the band’s 1983 album, Rush Hour (and introduced Kirchen to Costello). That album was engineered by Paul Riley, who eventually would produce all four of Kirchen’s Proper Records albums. 
A devoted Anglophile, thanks to two aunts who married Brits, Kirchen began recording for the label after owner Malcolm Mills promised, “I'm going to give you the best deal you've had in 25 years.”  He did, too. Mills not only supports Kirchen’s recorded output, he also supports the guitarist on stage, right alongside bassist Riley. “Where else do you get a record company where the owner plays drums, the producer plays bass, and they tour with you?” Kirchen says of his good friends. “They’re the best.”
That’s just another twist in an incredible career trajectory set in motion, according to Kirchen, by two pivotal events: the 1964 and ’65 Newport Folk Festivals. As a high-school kid on a quest to catch Mississippi John Hurt, he thumbed to the first one, then went back the following year — and witnessed Dylan going electric. “That pretty well blew away the competition for what I was going to do before, or if, or when I grew up,” he says of those experiences.
Five years later, he found himself sharing a bill with John Lennon, Yoko Ono and Stevie Wonder, when Commander Cody and the Airmen, who’d formed in Ann Arbor, played a benefit for Sinclair after he got 10 years for two joints. A mere 50 years later, Kirchen’s still having a blast. He’s even planning another tour with Riley and Mills. But releasing this package, he says, “nicely puts a bow on a whole, very enjoyable period of my life.”  
“Not that it's over,” he adds quickly. “I mean, I've got more stuff in the works.” 
Then he cracks, “Don’t tell anybody, but it's not as hard as it looks.”

https://www.billkirchen.com/official

Tickets: $30 advance, $35 day of show and on sale now at the bar and online at https://abilene.showare.com

Special thanks to our good friends at Bop Shop Records for all their support