Spontaneous Soulhat Gets Its Rocks Off

Marc Schultz / Charleston City Paper

9/14/00 5:17:46 PM

Soulhat are one of those bands whose name seems familiar, but not immediately placeable. That’s because the Austin, Texas-based band has been around since 1990, peddling their mix of groovy guitar-rock and joy-infused funk, burrowing their way slowly into the popular conscience.They’re best known for the single 'Bonecrusher,' a hard-edged piece of rock-funk before "hard-edged" became the pop-rock requisite, turned up as a radio presence in 1995 and became, for a time, the NBA's theme song for their highlight shows. It was the first country-wide attention the band had garnered, and it would not be long-lasting. Their follow-up single, the title track from Good to Be Gone, was not as well-received. Singer/songwriter Kevin McKinney called it “a depressing little song,” and it seemed to throw listeners for a loop.But one of the McKinney’s greatest strengths as a songwriter is that very ability to throw his listeners for a loop, to constantly mix up the musical landscapes of his albums and live shows. On the latest album, the independently-released Experiment on a Flat Plane, the band’s sound moves from the bass-heavy funk loop-de-loop of 'Plastic' to the laid-back ska-laced groove of 'Mailbox' before plunging into the all-out hoedown madness of 'WNBA.'

The stylistic crash course that makes up their sound, says McKinney, is "not something I consciously think about. As a songwriter, I like to write whatever happens, however it comes out. It’s nice to be able to play different sorts of styles.”

As is evidenced by the disappointing returns from the band’s second single, “the problem is that it’s hard for people to figure out where you’re coming from.”

“But it’s good for us,” he adds, with a laugh.

This laugh is something that peppers McKinney’s speech, a laughter that signifies the joy McKinney has just talking about his music; it’s a joy that comes through on his CD and in his live performances. But the band has been through some tough times, especially those surrounding their most notable success. Though signed by a major label with a hit single under their belt and touring with Blues Traveler (back when Blues Traveler was the band of the moment), drummer B.E. “Frosty” Smith quit the band. McKinney soon followed, and Soulhat officially broke up.

A successful two-night-only reunion in 1996 was enough to rekindle McKinney’s interest in the band. Three of the original four band members signed on for the new incarnation of Soulhat, but by 1998, Soulhat belonged to McKinney and three newcomers.McKinney has always been the songwriting heart of Soulhat, churning out music that is immediately likable and fresh, music that McKinney calls “a spontaneous and unique thing.”

Spontaneity is something that McKinney values in his live performances: “If you want to see someone regurgitating their album, see someone else. If you want to see someone get their rocks off on their instruments, see us. That’s what we’re trying to do — it’s entertaining for us too.”

The new album marks a definite movement from the band’s earlier, more aggressive work, drowned in acoustic guitars and spinning melodies, but McKinney says “The new album is not a real rock album. We tend to rock the show up a bit, we jump around a bit, and we’ll play 'Bonecrusher' if people want to hear it.

“We’re not going to play Wang-Chung, though,” McKinney says, laughing. “We don’t want to be a pop band. We don’t want to be on the 94 Mix station anytime soon.”

In the current pop setting, where the only popular rockers around are heavily tattooed, multiply pierced, and who incite riots, Soulhat is a refreshing antidote, a smart and joyful break from the rap-rock and the pop-core.

McKinney says he doesn’t pay attention to current popular music, “But if we end up on the radio, that would be cool too.”

Asked about musical influences, McKinney says, without hesitation, “The Jackson 5!” and then laughs like a maniac. “I don’t know,” he continues. “You know, yesterday we’re listening to Miles Davis and getting all into it, tomorrow we may think Iron Maiden is the best thing in the world. “You never know what the evening is going to call for.”