The Pine Hill Haints

Tour Dates

07/14/09 Exit Inn Nashville, TN
07/20/09 Coldwater Books Tuscumbia, AL
07/21/09 Heritage Florence, AL
07/22/09 St Florian Park St Florian, AL
07/23/09 Ricatoni’s Florence, AL
07/23/09 Rivertown Coffee Florence, AL
07/24/09 Rosies Florence, AL
07/24/09 Crossroads Huntsville, AL
07/25/09 Bottletree Birmingham, AL
07/30/09 Alabama Music Box Mobile, AL
07/31/09 Chelsea Baton Rouge, LA
08/01/09 Beerland Austin, TX
08/03/09 Altitude Flagstaff, AZ
08/03/09 Mia’s Flagstaff, AZ
08/06/09 Redwood Bar and Grill LA, CA
08/07/09 Ireland 32 San Francisco, CA
08/08/09 Jambalaya Arcata, CA
08/09/09 Brotherhood Olympia, WA
08/10/09 Comet Tavern Seattle, WA
08/11/09 house show Portland, OR
08/12/09 Tiger Tale Seattle, WA
08/13/09 Boundary Bay Bellingham, WA
08/13/09 Wild Buffalo Bellingham, WA
08/14/09 Graham’s Glacier, WA
08/15/09 the Morgue Seattle, WA
08/15/09 Slim’s Last Chance Seattle, WA
08/16/09 the Kenton Club Portland, OR
08/17/09 Green Frog Cafe Bellingham, WA
08/19/09 Northern Olympia, WA
08/21/09 Buckhorn Laramie, WA
08/22/09 Badlander Missoula, MT
08/25/09 Dime Horseshoe Sundance, WY
08/26/09 JJ’s Laramie, WY
08/27/09 Box Awesome Lincoln, NE

Discography

[2000] God, the Devil and the Two by the Gate	[2002] The Cold, Cold Hand (CD Split album with The Natchez Shakers)	[2003] Trains Have No Names
[2004] Those Who Wander	[2004] You Bury Your Hate In A Shallow Grave	[2005] Pine Hill Haints Meet Clampitt, Gaddis & Buck
[2007] Ghost Dance	[2009] To Win or to Lose

The Pine Hill Haints is a bluegrass/folk band, the latest release from K Records. Like many of K’s artists, they are probably best experience live with their large cast of music players and their hardcore fans, as evident by many of the Haints’ live photos on their ‘space.

The band’s been around at least ten years, debuting with God, the Devil and the Two by the Gate in 2000, which now have long been out of print. They probably didn’t press too many either, seeing as their records was largely sold via the back of the tour van. Just quickly looking over amazon, God, the Devil and the Two by the Gate is currently selling for an unbelievable $82.

Since then, the band’s been putting out quite a few split albums – a common practice with indie/underground artists. It wasn’t until 2007 that Mister K himself, Calvin Johnson, decided to produce and release their Ghost Dance album under his label. Now in 2009 we have To Win or to Lose, released yesterday, July 7^th, on various formats (CD/LP/MP3). Incidentally, the record is actually cheaper than the CD, selling for $10 vs $12!

What I can tell you about To Win or to Lose is that it’s not strictly bluegrass or folk, although there’s plenty of those banjo, mandolins, and jangly acoustics to go around.

I know it’s probably not true, but I feel like there’s some Dylan in some of their songs. Like “How Much Poison Does It Take”, as the lyrics and singing style reminds me of “Blowin’ in the Wind”.

The song, “Je Passe Devant Ta Porte” (“I pass your front door”) stood out because it’s half in French. The first part is in English, and I am assuming the later part is a translation in French. It’s more like bayou French, not like French-French… not as pretty but it’s blunt, like the song.

I was pleasantly surprise to find a couple of reggae-influenced songs (“Screaming Jenny”, “Scar”), which is kind of a relief to see that they are open to other music out there.

My two favorite songs are the “Never” songs: “Never Cry” and “Never Gonna Die”. The first comment on the hardship of being a musician (“I never got famous, I just got dead broke/But I play to win or to lose, it’s all the same to a failed revolutionary.“) and the second is about “being dead is a drag“. Both have really great, fun lyrics.

To Win or to Lose is out now, see Jamie Barrier and Kat Barrier and their merry band as they tour through Alabama and then the West Coast.

07/08/2009 02:42:22 ♥ vu () ♥ myspace.com/pinehillhaints ♥ krecs.com