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Music is a cruel business. Sometimes people who can barely play their instruments have big hits while others with more talent labour away in obscurity. A lot people take a stab at a music career but few last out a decade. But then there’s the crew that’s in it for the long haul. That’s our focus here, the ones who just keep going and damn the indifference.
San Francisco’s Bob Hillman has been kicking around the music scene since the 1990s, barring a ten year break in the new millennium to try out some ‘real jobs.’ Over that time he’s put out 5 LPs, 4 EPs and the occasional stand-alone single. His catalogue reveals a definite foot in the folk camp, though adjacent genres routinely crowd in. Performance-wise, the styles range from straight-up 1960s folk singer to the slight Americana of a Robbie Fulks or the rootsy rock or country of John Hiatt or Lyle Lovett. The songs themselves are often sardonic, sometimes political, and apparently widely misunderstood – if the entertaining self-penned bio on his website is anything to go by. Personally, I can’t see how people don’t see what is going on here. “List of Enemies” (Playing God 1999), “Movie Star” (Welcome To My Century 2001), and “My Satanic Friends” (If You Lived Here, You’d Be Home 2006) are firmly tongue-in-cheek while “I’ll Replace You With Machines” (Lost Soul 2016), “Cocaine Ruins Everything” (Some of Us Are Fee, Some of Us Are Lost 2019), and the COVID-inspired “Now I’m In Favor of a Wall” (Inside and Terrified 2020) are obviously political. Perhaps it boils down this: if you write smart, sophisticated material not everyone is going to get it.
Now with that career-spanning introduction out of the way, let’s get to his brand new EP King of the Bees. This outing leans into Hillman’s more glossy poprock side, which can be heard on early tracks like “Movie Star” and “Bolted Down” from Welcome to my Century. Opening cut “Invisible World” sets the scene with striking keyboards and pop hooks that jump out via the polished, smooth vocal style. You can definitely hear here why Suzanne Vega took him on tour. “Interesting Friends” has a bit more heft amid subtle melodic turns while “American Smoke” bristles with a tense, combustible, but enjoyable energy. “When He’s Cain” slows things down, the pacing is lush, hypnotic. Note the alluring bass playing on “All I Do Is Dream” as it draws you into a track that gives off some strong Tom Petty vibes. Last up is “Pierre, You Married Wrong.” This one is a real treat and a bit of departure from the rest of songs. I love how the darker shading in the verses then allows the run up to the chorus to really break out. Some great rocking guitar solos here too. Not surprising perhaps given appearances on the record from Nada Surf’s Matthew Caws and the Attractions’ Pete Thomas. Though just 22 minutes long, King of the Bees makes every moment count.
We’ve given out Dave Kuchler’s back story before with coverage of his former band Soul Engines and his solo LPs It’s Pronounced (2020) and Love and Glory (2023). To sum, he came so close to breaking big with Soul Engines in the early 2000s with their amazing album Closer Still but the brass ring seemed just out of reach. His two more recent solo albums have worked to mine and expand on that Soul Engines sound. Now he’s back with a new EP that proves he still got it when it comes to rock and roll chops. “Brand New” eases us into his new EP as the soulful, poppy title track. The simple piano adornments and tasty lead guitar lines really elevate an already pretty strong number. Follow up “Lyra Ann” is a gorgeous, heartful welcome to the world for Kuchler’s new granddaughter. I love the creative organ work that threads its way throughout this tune, adding real warmth to a touching song. For “You Won’t Break My Heart” Kuchler breaks out a horn section to add to a stomping, rocking dance number. “Memorial Hall” closes out the EP and for me this track has a solid Soul Engines throwback feel to it. The combination of organ, solid guitar riffing, and Kuchler’s towering vocal attack creates some palpable excitement here. And then we’re done – how can this be over so soon? Brand New may be short but that doesn’t take away from the sweetness of its contents.
Some people keep plugging away at music, despite a distinct lack of fan adulation, limousine rides, and fat royalty cheques. With these two performers, we are all better for it.
Photo courtesy Thomas Hawk Flikr collection.
Poprock Record 