Interview: Kier Byrnes & The Kettle Burners delve into new album, discuss ideal collaborations, next plans and much more

Written By Neil Shumate, OOTB Publications

Upbeat, country-rock, six-member Americana troupe Kier Byrnes & The Kettle Burners just released a remarkably energetic, accordion-fueled new six-song EP titled Before The Fall, with lead single “White Russian.”

The album title is personal for Byrnes (acoustic guitar, lead vocals), as he suffered a severe fall down a set of stairs during the song-writing process last summer; which led to surgery, leaving him immobile and causing a delay with completing the EP’s songs.

The Boston-based band—that won Americana Act of the Year at the 2024 New England Music Awards—took time for a detailed interview with OOTB to discuss the new album’s structural song layers and lyrical content; their collaboration wishes; post-album release plans, and more.

This interview includes: Byrnes, Dan DiBacco (lead guitar, lead vocals), Jason McGorty (accordion), Brian Lilienthal (drums).

What track stands out to you as your favorite on Before The Fall and why that song?

Kier Byrnes: I can’t pick out one song. It's like asking “who is your favorite kid?” And while my mom would always pick my younger brother, I think a good parent may try to at least not say that in front of the other siblings. That being said, I like how “When The Money’s All Gone” came out a lot.

Dan DiBacco: I’m most proud of how “Quarter-Life Crisis” turned out. I wrote it real quick, from a silly little idea starting as a catchy guitar riff, and it kind of blossomed into this triumphant alt-country ballad… so yeah, that’s probably my favorite. But I really dig each & every song quite a lot; they’re all so different from one another; and yet, all sound like Kettle Burners’ tunes to me.

Musically, with so many talented layers and breakdowns in each song (especially the instrumental “Dark Eyes”), how does the band’s song writing process usually start and build?

Jason McGorty: Most of our songs are presented by either Kier or Dan with lyrics and basic song structure complete. They then mature as each band member contributes ideas, licks, and solos and the structure evolves. Often the studio version is just a snapshot in time and the song continues to evolve and change as we play it live. “Dark Eyes,” in particular, went through the longest evolution, probably 5-plus years, to reach its form you hear on the album.

A couple of songs seem to be lamenting ballads (“When The Money’s All Gone,” Quarter-Life Crisis”), what is the general inspiration behind the lyrics? Is it personal?

Byrnes: “When The Money’s All Gone” is on the surface a song about what happens when you hit rock bottom. While I feel like there have been a couple times in my life where I felt like things couldn’t get any worse; the song, to me, is more about self-doubt; realizing you never really know where you stand in the eyes of another person.

DiBacco: The lyrics of “Quarter-Life” are very personal to me, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s about specific events or people. More so, just trying to capture the specific feeling, or tone, of treading water in the limbo that is our modern world. It’s about coming to terms with aging, and accepting mistakes you’ve made… maybe which will keep you from ever hitting your true, fullest potential…? In that sense, it’s definitely lamenting.

Who would you love to collaborate with and why that person?

McGorty: I’d like some female backup voices on future recordings. If I could pick anyone in a world of fantasy it would be Emmylous Harris, but I don’t think she’d return our calls at this point. The good news is there’s so many powerful female voices in the Boston music scene; Elisa Smith and Leesa Coyne come to mind.

Brian Lilienthal: I would love to work with Andrija Tokic, who helped produce The Deslondes’ record Roll it Out. The sound and feel of that record is unbelievable, and I think our music would mesh well with that kind of approach.

Byrnes: I’m pretty open to collaborate with anyone once. I think that's a great way to come up with new ideas. But if I had my choice, I’d love to collaborate with folks like Sturgill Simpson, Robert Earl Keen Jr., Old Crow Medicine Show, Slaid Cleaves, Hayes Carll, or Todd Snider.

DiBacco: A staple of Kettle Burners’ live shows is a hell-raising, upbeat version of Tyler Childers’ “Whitehouse Road”—so, it’d be a dream to have him sing it with us backing him up.

What are your plans for the rest of the year following this release?

Byrnes: This March, we played 10 shows, including a 10-hour show on St. Patrick's Day, and we aren’t taking our foot off the gas. Some notable shows coming up are headlining both Jack's Abby MaiFest and the New England Americana Festival. Then it's off to Europe for a string of shows there. I think one day, we are playing three shows in a day. We are gluttons for punishment. My hope is that before the end of the year to have another couple of EPs out too.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Byrnes: We started recording these songs last summer, but at the end of the summer, things took a bad turn. While helping someone move furniture, I tripped and fell headfirst down a flight of stairs. When the dust cleared, I lay there at the bottom of the stairs and couldn't move my legs. I was carted off in an ambulance and taken away. Fortunately, one of the legs came back on its own, but the other required surgery, leaving me as mobile as a paperweight for several months and with everything going on, I had to take a break from working on these songs. As these songs were all from Before The Fall (hence the EP title), I’m glad the band and I were able to eventually finish them. It means a lot to get them out there into the world finally. Thank you for helping us get them out there.

Get Album Here

https://show.co/social-unlock/

https://kierbyrnes.bandcamp.com/album/

Kier Byrnes & The Kettle Burners are:

Kier Byrnes: Acoustic guitar and lead vocals

Dan DiBacco: Lead guitar and lead vocals

Jason McGorty: Accordion

Monica Sager: Washboard

Joe Miller: Bass

Brian Lilienthal: Drums

Follow Kier Byrnes & The Kettle Burners

https://www.kierbyrnes.com