Ballad of the Brothers: A Conversation with The Bacon Brothers

Contributed

Before the Bacon Brothers take the MIAC stage at the Mary D'Angelo Performing Arts Center, they were able to correspond with Ally Kutz to chat about their music, their inspiration, and their experiences on the road.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 4

For the better part of the last three decades, The Bacon Brothers have been creating music in a genre all their own. With a unique sound they call Forosoco (folk, rock, soul, country), it is no surprise that they've seen major success and have just released their 12th record, Ballad Of The Brothers.

This diverse sound has also taken them around the world, from headlining in Japan to performances at iconic American venues including the Grand Ole Opry and Carnegie Hall. Now, they're bringing that sound to Mercyhurst University's Mary D'Angelo Performing Arts Center stage, performing songs from their newest album as well as their catalogue.

Ahead of their upcoming performance at Mercyhurst, I was able to correspond with the brothers about their long career as a band, their songwriting process, and what it's like to tour together as brothers.

Ally Kutz (AK): Here in Erie, we have a very eclectic and strong music scene that has really evolved over the years, and I think will be inspired by your musical journey. How do you feel your own sound has evolved over the years, especially from your first album to your latest?

Michael Bacon (MB): Our approach really hasn't changed, but our skill level has improved – the first album (Forosoco) was recorded with what would today be considered Stone Age technology, so now we mostly pass the tracks around to our band members. However, on our last album we did four or five tracks with all of us in one room, and actually recorded a track 100 percent live with no clicks, two takes!

Kevin Bacon (KB): A lot of our sound is similar in that we don't have a sound. We basically let the songs dictate what the sound is going to be. Some of our stuff rocks, some of it is softer, more melodic … we have two songwriters in the band so you're going to have two very different approaches while there are some similarities. I think we're better, that would be my take on the evolution. I think the songs are stronger, we sing better – I definitely play better.

AK: What is the songwriting process like – do you write together or separately? Do you feel more inspired when working together, and that songs come to you more easily that way?

MB: We used to always write together as Kevin needed help with arranging and recording his songs. Later, we wrote "Tin Pan Alley" style, songs written for others to sing or songs for Kevin's movies. When we started the band, we stuck with more personal, confessional writing because that's what we do best.

KB: We generally write separately. We both come up with an idea and then will demo it and bounce it off each other for input before eventually bringing it into the band to see how to make it a reality. Sometimes the reality of the way things are recorded is very close to our original ideas, and sometimes it's very different – sometimes Michael or I will have some really interesting production or song structure ideas that we'll use.

AK: I know you have a large catalogue of songs from over the years, but is there one that means the most to each of you personally? If so, which song and for what reason(s)?

MB: For me, it's "The Way We Love" – it summarizes my 50+ years of marriage.

KB: I think the songs that I'm really connected to are the ones that are connected to family – my wife or kids, but there are a lot of those. As I tell my wife, every song is about her.

AK: Is there a process you follow to decide who sings lead vocals on a track, or does it come more from a "feeling" that one would be better than the other for the song?

MB: Whoever owns it intones it (sorry). When we write with other people, the songs turn out better suited to my brother.

KB: I've written a couple of songs for Michael to sing, but usually whoever wrote the song does the lead vocal.

AK: Do you feel that, being brothers, it gets difficult to separate "family" time from "band" time? Or does your bond as siblings make these times easier to differentiate (or even make them one in the same)?

MB: Families with busy siblings have to actively make time to spend together, so when we're on a tour bus we're stuck with each other, which is a bonus.

KB: I think finding time for the band is always difficult, there's so much else going on, including family. I think, in general being a person that works, and works hard, finding time for family stays incredibly important.

AK: Who would you say is the more laid-back Bacon brother on tour?

KB: I'd say Michael – he's very happy to have people tell him what to do, and I'm much more controlling. I need to know everything that is happening, all of the details.

AK: Have you had any strange or unexpected interactions over the years?

MB: We once had someone ask us to sign an artificial leg for them!

AK: What music do you listen to when not creating music of your own? Any favorite bands/artists you think people should check out?

KB: Recently, my favorite playlist is Black Puma's radio – I like neo-soul, and there's a lot of great neo-soul happening right now that I really love. I really like Cowboy Carter, that's my definition of FOROSOCO (folk, rock, soul, country). I know Michael and I are both big fans of Chappell Roan.

AK: What drives you to keep creating music after all these albums and years?

MB: I don't know how to do anything else!

KB: The thing that keeps us going is always the songs – if you write a song, you want to record it and share it with everyone.

7:30 p.m. // Mary D'Angelo Performing Arts Center, 501 E. 38th St. // $25-$50 // For tickets and info: call the box office at (814) 824-3000 or visit miac.mercyhurst.edu

Ally Kutz is a freelance writer and avid book reader who helps organize the Erie Reader Book Club. She can be reached at ally.kutz1@gmail.com.