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Cryin’
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Drivin’ N’
Domino Effect was in Athens recently for
“a rock and roll jam session” at the Rockf ish
Palace. Members of the Atlanta based
band Drivin’ N’ Cryin’ adopted the alias
Domino Effect in order to test out new mate-
rial in front of a smaller crowd. As lead
singer Kevin Kinney explained, “we just
wanted to play in Athens and not have it be
an insane thing.”
Regardless of Kinney’s intentions, how
ever, Domino Effect mixed new songs with
crowd pleasers from past albums in a zany,
no holds barred rock show that kept the
standing-room-only crowd on its feet all
night. Styles ranged from the harsh guitar
sound, reminiscent of songs like “Power
house" and “Scarred But Smarter” to the
more familiar country sound of “Catch the
Wind” and “Check Your Tears At The Door.”
When asked before-hand what they
planned to play at the Rockfish, guitarist
Buron Fowler, who joined the band prior to
the recording of their latest “Mystery Road”
album, described a basic uncertainty.
“Usually Kevn’II just start playing something
and we’ll try to pick it up and, hopefully, at
least two of us will finish at the same time.”
It was even rumored that bassist Tim
Nielsen might break out his sax and play
some hip jazz tunes. He didn't. What he and
the rest of the b'and did is give the crowd one
hell of a rock show that built in intensity and
shook the Palace walls. The climax came
with a surprise appearance from Peter Buck
of R.E.M. and Brian Cane of the New Invin-
cibles, who joined in on a few numbers,
including the crowd favorite “Straight to
Hell.”
The majority of songs, though, were new
and were described by Fowler as having a
rougher sound. Drivin’ N’ Cryin’ will head to
the studio before long for work on their latest
album. One of the goals of the album,
Fowler said, will be to capture the band’s
live, unpolished sound. Whatever the re
sults may be, the new album should be
released sometime in September of this
year.
In the meantime, bandmembers are
certainly keeping busy. Kevin Kinney is
scheduled to go on tour with Peter Buck in
support of Kinney’s solo acoustic album
which was produced by Buck. The record,
entitled “McDougal Blues”, should be in
stores by February 5, and the two will kick off
their tour with a Valentine's Day show. As
Kinney explained, “me and Peter are gonna
get in a van and just drive up north and do
some shows and by the time we get to
Athens . . . we'll join the Chattahoochee
Coochee Men,” which features members of
Drivin’ N’ Cryin’ as an all acoustic band.
Kinney jokingly mentioned that the album
was recorded on the twentieth anniversary
of Woodstock, which he “cares little about."
Despite the band’s growing popularity,
Kinney feels that they’ve only experienced a
limited degree of success. He hopes to
appeal to a broad audience and said he
would consider the band successful “when
half the audience is black.” Fowler noted
the Drivin’ N’ Cryin’ has not achieved the
same degree of success in the north, but
Kinney explained that this does not bother
him because the band has missed playing
to smaller crowds.
Drivin’ N’ Cryin’ seems to always be on
the go these days. In what spare time they
do have, Fowler likes to spend time with his
family and Kinney even manages to read a
little on the side. “I like biographies, Marlon
Brando books mainly."
Drivin’ N’ Cryin’ should be in Athens
again, playing two shows at the 40 Watt
sometime in early spring.
by Bryon Justice and Mark Bixler
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