With bluesy swagger and plenty of twang, Heart of Pine’s distinct “Southedelic” roots rock sound bridges the comforting familiarity and inherent strangeness of the region. The band’s style is an amalgamation of wide-ranging influences—the classic rock, blues, country, jam, Americana and funk genres—all battered and deep-fried in psychedelia. Southern Soul Revival, Heart of Pine’s sophomore full-length album slated for release on Friday, Aug. 2, represents the culmination of three years of work and a point at which the band has truly grown into its own sound with confidence.
Heart of Pine was formed in 2015 by Steven Bagwell and Travis Richardson, who grew up in the same small hometown of Thomaston, just west of Macon, before both eventually made their way to Athens. Following their debut Highly Flammable in 2019, the band released its 2020 EP Southedelic, coining the term for its signature blend of Southern and psychedelic rock. The band’s current lineup is Bagwell (electric guitar, vocals) and Richardson (acoustic guitar) alongside Jesse Fountain (piano, organ), Boone Hood (bass) and Todd Headley (drums, percussion).
“As a rowdy kid growing up in the South, I spent my late teen summers rummaging through the cow pastures of my neighbors in search of strange times,” says Bagwell. “This led to a love of all things the counterculture of the ‘60s and ‘70s had to offer. As you can imagine, my music tastes were significantly impacted by this period of my life.”
Heavyweights from that era, such as Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd, Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin and the Allman Brothers Band, all left lasting impressions on Bagwell’s own musical style. As the band began gradually leaning into heavier, more rock-oriented territory, he knew he wanted to incorporate elements of psychedelia.
“At rehearsals, one minute Todd will be laying down the beat to ‘Black Ice,’ an old Goodie Mob tune, while I do my best to rap the verses, and the next we’ll all be in an impromptu jam with a funk backbone while Jesse lays down a Brent Mydland-ish keys layer. We’re truly influenced by any and everything around us, but I believe the biggest influence is definitely mine and Travis’ hometown of Thomaston, GA and our experiences growing up there, as well as our family and friends.”
Bagwell and Richardson share songwriting responsibilities, typically bringing riffs, chord progressions or melodies to each other to sketch out first. “It starts off with whiskey and usually ends there, too,” jokes Bagwell.
The pair typically write material using two acoustic guitars, keeping ideas in mind for how the rest of the band can layer their own dynamic flourishes into the songs.
“Todd and Boone kinda go together like peas and carrots, which is so important for your rhythm section, and Jesse’s playing is different than most other keys players,” says Bagwell. “He’s completely self-taught, which lends itself to his own unique sound.”
The majority of Southern Soul Revival was recorded over two long days at Japanski Studios with engineer Matt Tamisin. After laying down the core members’ tracks, Atlanta-based saxophonist Jordan Shalhoup (Rumours, Yacht Rock Schooner) contributed horn parts that add bursts of brightness throughout the album.
The band additionally invited Betsy Franck and Ansley Stewart to lend background vocals. Bagwell notes that on a personal favorite, “Movin’ On,” Franck and Stewart were given the freedom to do their own thing after recording their standard harmonies. These pieces were later blended together during the mixing stage to create rich, interweaving vocal harmonies that enliven the track with an emotional, soulful depth.
This openness to going with the flow has led to serendipitous outcomes that add interesting details to the album. Before the opening track “Gone” gets moving, the album plants itself firmly in Southern terrain with an all-too-familiar evening chorus of chirping crickets and croaking frogs. It’s the cherry on top for a tune that contemplates a sense of home through riverside imagery.
“Jesse and I went down to my pond down in Wilkes County to record the opening of the album the night before heading into the studio,” says Bagwell. “The bullfrog that leads into the music was in the way. We originally had a different BPM in mind for the song, but after hearing the bullfrog, we knew we needed to use the bullfrog to count us in. This is probably one of my favorite parts of the whole thing. I love the thought of having one idea and the music creating its own path.”
Southern Soul Revival’s psych-tinged spin on Southern rock continues a long tradition of regional music, with deep roots that trace back to blues, country, and rock and roll. “Phetamine & Pearls” is a grooving, lightly funky standout track that’s as much fun as the character who inspired it. “Voodoo Leg Bone,” which is accompanied by a hallucinatory claymation music video by Adrian Venti, recalls eerie folklore and cautionary campfire tales. “Hello Heartache” and “Fool’s Game” take on similar subject matter with reflections on love lost but not forgotten.
Heart of Pine will celebrate Southern Soul Revival with an album release party at Nowhere Bar on Aug. 9. After a couple of out-of-town dates—Aug. 24 at MoonShadow Tavern in Tucker and Sept. 13 at Grant’s Lounge in Macon—the band will be back to play at The Foundry with The Jesse Williams Band on Sept. 20.
WHO: Heart of Pine
WHEN: Friday, Aug. 9, 9 p.m.
WHERE: Nowhere Bar
HOW MUCH: $10 (adv.), $15
Like what you just read? Support Flagpole by making a donation today. Every dollar you give helps fund our ongoing mission to provide Athens with quality, independent journalism.
