Kevin Kidd, anchoring the spirit.

There are bassists who pound out the bass notes with ferocity and verve, Chris Allen comes to mind here, then there are bassists who manuever the bottom of the melody and help to bring about the fullness of an overall sound, Ted Harrison is your man for that, but when it comes to bass freedom along the lines of the legendary Charles Mingus, the only person that I know who has that entire field covered is Kevin Kidd.

If you haven't seen this dynamic and absolutely hilarious bassman, then you have missed out on some of Charleston's best music and fun.
Kevin is the bassist in the Spurgie Hankins band, and if you have ever been to any of their shows, you know first hand that it's just like a religious experience in a holy jumper church.The music is seriously intense,and light as a feather with Spurgie singing and playing that beautiful guitar and Kevin laying down foundations that can only be described as lighter than air, and heavy as a cloud when it's forming thunder.
I have the privilege to call Kev one of my best friends, as we not only have played music together, but also worked together for the last 12 years at the Kanawha County Public Library.We were in the Audio-Visual Dept. for a good portion of that time, until I left to move to the St.Albans Branch.
In my opinion, Kevin is one of the brightest people that I've ever encountered, his knowledge of music reaches far and very wide. When patrons would ask a question that I couldn't answer Kevin was my front line of defense, and I learned volumes from him.
Kev was a veteran of the jam band scene ( folks getting together in earnest to make music their way, with no convention), and I just liked his style of play, and recommended him to Spurgie because I felt as though Spurge really needed an anchor for his wonderfully spiritual music. Who knew this meeting would bear fruit in the form of the re-tooled Spurgie Hankins band, and brother, they came out smokin'.
I mentioned earlier that Kev is hilarious, truly that is an understatement, he could easily be one of the funniest men on the planet, and I'm not certain how his beautiful wife Jennifer has ever survived because if he's busting out my sides, I can only imagine what it must be like to have that humor lying next to you every night.
Kevin is so funny in fact that when we worked together in the AV Dept., at our staff meetings we would have to devote the first portion of it to let Kevin get his jokes and comments out of his system before we could get started...it was crazy, and I loved it, and on stage he's just as crazy, but when he starts to play, believe me, it ain't no joke.
One of my favorite pieces of music is Charles Mingus' "Me Myself An Eye,"and if you ever come across a copy of it on CD or any other way, grab it up, give it a listen, then head for wherever Kevin Kidd is playing and you'll witness him anchoring the spirit in the way of Mingus, and I guarantee you that it will enrich your life...it has mine.

You can catch Kevin Kidd with the Spurgie Hankins Band at the following locations.
The Empty Glass most every Tuesday, starting around 9pm.
Also atThe Blue Parrot
14 Capitol St
Charleston WV, 25301
(304) 342-2583
most Wednesdays, call for times.
You can also check Kevin out with the Blind Terrance Band featuring Terry Lowry.

Support Live music today tomorrow and always.