SASSPARILLA – A COOL CONVERSATION WITH KEVIN BLACKWELL
By Ralph Beauchamp
After a long pause, Portland-and-Colorado-based Americana grit, punk energy, and back-porch soul band Sassparilla returns with Honey, I’m Using Again – a haunting, home-recorded collection that explores addiction, loss, and survival with striking honesty. Main songwriter, Kevin Blackwell has crafted a fifteen song triumph that captures the profound spirit of today’s modern indie folk. Every song is a brilliant star of aural beauty.
Sassparilla has invoked the very soul of the resolute Americana tradition. Heavy on the banjo, fiddle and acoustic guitar, their music instills the images of late night campfires and wide open spaces. Yet the band has reimaged the very essence of the folk ethic. Sassparilla‘s music feels uniquely current. Blackwell is a bold songwriter. Their songs paint vivid stories. They are universal in feel and often describe the underbelly of today’s human condition. Themes everyman can relate to.
Honey, I’m Using Again is an edgy masterpiece. Songs like “When I Get Off This Mountain”, “Walk In My Shoes” and title track, “Honey, I’m Using Again” showcase the dramatic intensity of the full length. Blackwell’s gritty vocals are cinematic and full of character. The minimal orchestration highlights the songs’ true strength. The music is allowed to breath. Nothing is rushed. The notes all fit perfectly. Now that Sassparilla has returned, we can rejoice in the wonderful sonic textures they are letting loose.
Kevin Blackwell was kind enough to sit with AMP for this cool conversation.
AMP: What sparked the decision to bring Sassparilla back now?
KEVIN: Well, in my mind it never went away—it was just laying dormant until the right chemistry came along. I had moved to Colorado while the rest of the band remained in Oregon. Reuniting with my longtime friends Doug Ebert and Dan Power was really inspiring. Dan has great energy, and Doug is a ridiculous bass player. I wanted to ride that wave. Also, moving from guitar to banjo opened up a whole new world of songwriting. With guitar, I found myself going back to the same progressions, but the banjo turned that upside down. That was inspiring too.
AMP: What has changed the most about your perspective since the band last played together?
KEVIN: Most importantly, I want to focus more on the songs rather than the live performance. We’ve always been known for our live sets—kind of unhinged—but now I want to lean into the songwriting more and be more introspective.
AMP: How would you describe Sassparilla’s sound today compared to your earlier work?
KEVIN: We used to describe ourselves as the sound of instruments falling down the stairs, and that was pretty accurate. Now I think we’re more musical and the songs are more melodic. That comes with experience.
AMP: Are there new genres or styles that have found their way into the band’s music?
KEVIN: Definitely. There’s more old-time and country influence now, rather than blues. On earlier records, my biggest influence was Tom Waits. Now I’d say it’s more early Bob Dylan and Tommy Jarrell.
AMP: Has your songwriting process changed since the band’s earlier days?
KEVIN: Yes, it has. I’m much more particular about melody, cadence, and lyrics now than I used to be. Before, I always had the live show in mind. Now we’re recording more for the sake of the songs themselves, especially since it’s been so long since we’ve played out regularly.
AMP: Your new album is Honey, I’m Using Again. Can you give us some insight into the release?
KEVIN: I made this record pretty quickly after reuniting with Doug and Dan. Some longtime members are on it as well, but changing the lineup a bit gave me a new perspective and appreciation. The songs came quickly and are mostly autobiographical or based on the experiences of close friends over the past several years.
AMP: Is Sassparilla ready to go on the road and play live?
KEVIN: We sure are!
AMP: Is there a particular track that best captures this new era of the band?
KEVIN: I’d say “Sad Days and Lonely Nights.” It was the first song I wrote for this record, and it really informed the sound of the rest.
AMP: How have the fans reacted to the band’s return?
KEVIN: So far, so good! We’ll see once we get back out there.
AMP: If Sassparilla’s current sound were a place or landscape, what would it be?
KEVIN: High desert, Front Range mountains.
Views: 0
