#the kernal

[aaronhardinphoto]

kernal time

jackson, tn

www.aaronhardinphoto.com

[golddustdyke]

NOW I MAY NOT BE GAY BUT I AM IN LOVE WITH A MAN...2 WORDS THE KERNEL GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR ORIGINAL RECIPE

[outlawblues76]

The Kernal - Lubbock County (2017)

[americansongwriter]

The Kernal Debuts New Video For “Knock Kneed Ballerina,” Announces Debut Album

West Tennesseean musician The Kernal made his rounds as a bass player for the likes of Andrew Combs and Jonny Fritz, but it was only after he discovered his father’s red Opry suit in the attic of his childhood home that he decided to make a record of his own. His debut solo album Light Country comes out March 3 via John Paul White’s label Single Lock Records, and you can get a taste of it with The Kernal’s new video for single “Knock Kneed Ballerina,” which features the young gun eating an ice cream cone on a patch of Astro Turf as the song’s lyrics play in the background.

“‘Knock Kneed Ballerina’ is about not having everything you need to do something but doing it anyway,” says The Kernal. “Once I knew this old one-armed pedal-steel guitar player. It’s about people like him. He was actually not too bad a player.”

[musiconspotify]

The Kernal

Listen To The Blood (2022) … truly enjoyable …

#TheKernal

[musicoccurred]

Matt Green & Joe Garner

Who: Matt Green and Joe Garner (Belle Adair & The Kernal) Where: Freedom House When: March 1, 2019

When the promoter reached out to see if I'd be interested in covering this show, the only question I had was do I have anything else scheduled that night. Otherwise the answer was a solid yes. I love artist-in-the-round acoustic shows, they are so intimate and fun. Add in that I love Belle Adair and pretty much anything Single Lock Records puts out and this looks to be a great night.

Freedom House, formerly The Jaybird is a house that has been converted into an artsy, intimate music venue. Seating for approximately 50, with low lights, art and book covered walls and an incredibly friendly host. In other words, the perfect setting for an evening of songwriter music.

As mentioned earlier you may already be familiar with Belle Adair, we interviewed lead singer Matt here a couple years ago. Their latest release, Tuscumbia was released in 2018 to critical acclaim. In fact, open up a new browser tab and go buy a copy, preferably vinyl, it sounds fantastic on the hi-fi. Labelmate Joe aka The Kernal, is wrapping up his 2nd record for Single Lock Records of Florence, AL which also happens to be my hometown.

Matt and Joe are the perfect duo for these types of shows. Joe is quirky, quick witted and spontaneous while Matt carries himself very deliberate and quiet.

Joe's songs ranged from clever rhyming country tracks to earnest-to-the-point-of-sad songs, to Jerry Lee Lewis style rockers. Often providing hilarious or thought-provoking stories about his songs, such as living in empty taco bells, or "y'all went to church, right? It's the little things that are sexy" to the sad but heartwarming story about his old blind neighbor Mr. Longmeyer. His lyrics matched his stories, having you chuckling one song and sad the next.

Matt let us know that both of them were workshopping some new, unfinished songs which makes the night even more special, I love seeing how the mind of a songwriter works. One of the best stories to me was the song "Little City". Matt said he found the lyrics wadded up in a box and couldn't remember it at all. It ended up being a great song once he came up with the music for it.

Highlights of the night: From Joe, "Long Cool Fingers" with the introspective and emotional story to intro it and the hilarious lyrics wrapped up in that Jerry Lee Lewis vibe and from Matt, "Watch It Rain" that sounded like George Harrison incarnate, only fitting since his birthday was just a couple days prior.

It's easy to get caught up in huge arena bands, I mean I'm the biggest Pearl Jam fan there is. I go see Bruce Springsteen whenever he comes within a state of me. But really music is all about nights like these, songwriters chasing their dreams and taking chances on playing tiny rooms and working out new music. Be sure to see them whenever you can and drop something in the tip jar on your way out. We need all the art we can get.

Setlist:

*Note, setlist is approximate*

Joe - Cold Shoulder Matt - Sheffield Girls Joe - Taco Bell Matt - The Middle Joe - She's Seeing Somebody Matt - Watch It Rain Joe - Long Cool Fingers Matt - Easy Way Out Joe - Carrie Took the 409 Matt - Little City Joe - Pistol In The Pillow Matt - Mendoza Line

-JS

[sxsweveryband]

The Kernal – “Tennessee Sun”

SXSW 2019 - OEB Score: 8; Popularity Index: 3

Pairs Well With… Johnny Fritz, Bob Dylan, John Prine

Imagine if Bob Dylan got sucked into a Nashville vortex but stopped in Memphis to raid Elvis’ closet to borrow a red suit.  That’s a close approximation of The Kernal who plays excellent honkytonk country with a nasal draw, gospel influences, tongue-in-cheek humor, and yes, while wearing a signature red suit.  Although he has played bass in bands for many years, his first album, Light Country, was released in 2017.  Some highlights include “Tennessee Sun,” featuring shimmering guitars and heartbreak harmonies which showcase his country roots. “Knock Kneed Ballerina” is fun for its winking lyrics and Dylanesque vocals.  “Where We Are Standing” is particularly interesting.  It starts as a basic country ballad but two thirds through it veers off into an alt country almost discordant dirge.  Lastly, for the curious, his signature red suit wasn’t pilfered from Graceland, but it still has a distinguished pedigree. His late father, Charlie Garner, wore it every time he played bass alongside the legendary Del Reeves at their many Grand Ole Opry gigs.  The Kernal rescued the suit from family attic as he embarked on his solo career.  Not only does it fit but he claims its imbued with “magic.”  He may be right because Rolling Stone proclaimed The Kernal one of ten new country acts to follow in 2017.  We look forward to a fun set with the Kernal, but OEB will be checking to see if he is wearing blue shoes and has a harmonica tucked into his back pocket. (DZ)

[thegreatballyhoo]

The Kernal Album: Light Country (Boy) Label: Single Lock Records The Kernal - Tennesse Sun

Song of the Day - The Kernal “Tennessee Sun”