Drivin N Cryin
Encyclopedia
Drivin' 'N' Cryin' is an American
Hard rock
/Southern rock
band from Atlanta, GA.
and was working in a sewage treatment plant by day while playing folk gigs by night. The band’s name, Drivin’ 'N’ Cryin’, was chosen from one of Kevn’s many songs that reflected the two directions of their music.
Various musicians accompanied the threesome in the early years. They signed with indie label 688 Records in 1986 after becoming one of Atlanta’s top club draws. Their first album, Scarred But Smarter, was an instant hit and landed them countless tour dates and later a contract with Island Records
. In 1987, Lenz left the band and was replaced by Jeff Sullivan, who was recruited just in time to accompany them for their first major-label release. Sullivan had been the drummer for Mr. Crowes Garden, the band that later became The Black Crowes
, prior to joining Drivin' 'N' Cryin'. That same year, the band held its first “Benefit For The Hopeful,” a concert to raise money for Atlanta homeless organizations, held annually on Dec. 8, the anniversary of John Lennon’s
death. Other native Georgian group R.E.M’s
touring rhythm guitarist Buren Fowler joined the trio at this time as well. He was officially asked to join the band in 1988, after repeated on-stage appearances with the group.
The band released its first album for Island, Whisper Tames The Lion, produced by Anton Fier, in early 1988. The album peaked at #130 on the Billboard 200
. College radio success (and some commercial) accumulated with airplay of the songs "Can't Promise You The World" (for which the band filmed its first video) and "Powerhouse".
1989 marked the release of some of the band's most memorable songs on the Mystery Road album, such as “Honeysuckle Blue” and “Straight To Hell.” In 1991, the more hard-rocking Fly Me Courageous
ended up being the band's most commercially successful album, with the album being certified gold. The next few years the band toured with artists such as Neil Young
and Soul Asylum
. In 1993, the band released another album produced by Geoff Workman, entitled Smoke, which peaked at #95 on the Billboard’s Top 200 album chart. This album was another all-out rocker, marked with guitar assaults, but it failed to catch on with the public as had its predecessor.
In 1994, the band decided to move away from the heavy guitar sounds of the previous two records and brought in keyboardist Joey Huffman to replace Buren Fowler. That same year the band left Island Records and found a new home at Geffen Records
. The band's first and only Geffen album, 1995's Wrapped In Sky, featured newly added keyboard sounds and a return to the band's original sound.
1997 brought along a self-titled album, followed two years later by a live album, The Essential Live Drivin’ 'N’ Cryin. In 2000, the band released The Ultimate Collection, a best-of collection. In 2003, the band released a four-song EP, Detroit City Rock, which featured a cover of the Beatles "Let It Be," recorded in New York City on Sept. 13, 2001. The band released its first full studio album in 12 years, The Great American Bubble Factory on September 29, 2009. In 2011, the Georgia General Assembly
commended Drivin' N' Cryin' in a house resolution for the band's achievements.
Kevn Kinney has also maintained a solo career over the years. He released his first solo album, the acoustic MacDougal Blues in 1990. This was followed by Down Out Law in 1994, and The Flower And The Knife in 2000. The latter featured guests such as Blues Traveler
's John Popper
, Edwin McCain
, and members of Gov't Mule
and the Allman Brothers Band. He has released three more solo albums since. In addition to his solo recordings, he has frequently performed solo live concerts, including live collaborations with Peter Buck
of R.E.M.
Whisper Tames The Lion (1988) U.S. #130
Mystery Road (1989)
Fly Me Courageous
(1991) U.S. #90 Live on Fire (EP) (1991)
Smoke (1993) U.S. #95
Wrapped In Sky (1995)
Drivin' 'N' Cryin (1997)
Essential Live (1999)
Ultimate Collection (2000)
Detroit City Rock (EP) (2003)
The Great American Bubble Factory
(2009)
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
/Southern rock
Southern rock
Southern rock is a subgenre of rock music, and genre of Americana. It developed in the Southern United States from rock and roll, country music, and blues, and is focused generally on electric guitar and vocals...
band from Atlanta, GA.
History
The band was formed in 1985 in Atlanta. Kevn Kinney hooked up with Tim Nielsen, who was in a popular band called the Nightporters with drummer Paul Lenz at the time. Kinney had just moved to Georgia from MilwaukeeMilwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
and was working in a sewage treatment plant by day while playing folk gigs by night. The band’s name, Drivin’ 'N’ Cryin’, was chosen from one of Kevn’s many songs that reflected the two directions of their music.
Various musicians accompanied the threesome in the early years. They signed with indie label 688 Records in 1986 after becoming one of Atlanta’s top club draws. Their first album, Scarred But Smarter, was an instant hit and landed them countless tour dates and later a contract with Island Records
Island Records
Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...
. In 1987, Lenz left the band and was replaced by Jeff Sullivan, who was recruited just in time to accompany them for their first major-label release. Sullivan had been the drummer for Mr. Crowes Garden, the band that later became The Black Crowes
The Black Crowes
The Black Crowes are an American rock band formed in 1989. Their discography includes nine studio albums, four live albums and several charting singles. The band was signed to Def American Recordings in 1989 by producer George Drakoulias and released their debut album, Shake Your Money Maker, the...
, prior to joining Drivin' 'N' Cryin'. That same year, the band held its first “Benefit For The Hopeful,” a concert to raise money for Atlanta homeless organizations, held annually on Dec. 8, the anniversary of John Lennon’s
John Lennon
John Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
death. Other native Georgian group R.E.M’s
R.E.M.
R.E.M. was an American rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 by singer Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills and drummer Bill Berry. One of the first popular alternative rock bands, R.E.M. gained early attention due to Buck's ringing, arpeggiated guitar style and Stipe's...
touring rhythm guitarist Buren Fowler joined the trio at this time as well. He was officially asked to join the band in 1988, after repeated on-stage appearances with the group.
The band released its first album for Island, Whisper Tames The Lion, produced by Anton Fier, in early 1988. The album peaked at #130 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
. College radio success (and some commercial) accumulated with airplay of the songs "Can't Promise You The World" (for which the band filmed its first video) and "Powerhouse".
1989 marked the release of some of the band's most memorable songs on the Mystery Road album, such as “Honeysuckle Blue” and “Straight To Hell.” In 1991, the more hard-rocking Fly Me Courageous
Fly Me Courageous
Fly Me Courageous is the fourth studio album by the Hard Rock/Southern Rock band Drivin' N' Cryin', released on January 8, 1991 by Island Records. The album is the band's most commercially successful release, in part due to the title track striking a patriotic chord with the United States during...
ended up being the band's most commercially successful album, with the album being certified gold. The next few years the band toured with artists such as Neil Young
Neil Young
Neil Percival Young, OC, OM is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation...
and Soul Asylum
Soul Asylum
Soul Asylum is an American alternative rock band that formed in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1983.The band originally formed in 1981 under the name Loud Fast Rules, with the original line-up consisting of Dan Murphy, Dave Pirner, Karl Mueller and Pat Morley. The latter was replaced by Grant Young in...
. In 1993, the band released another album produced by Geoff Workman, entitled Smoke, which peaked at #95 on the Billboard’s Top 200 album chart. This album was another all-out rocker, marked with guitar assaults, but it failed to catch on with the public as had its predecessor.
In 1994, the band decided to move away from the heavy guitar sounds of the previous two records and brought in keyboardist Joey Huffman to replace Buren Fowler. That same year the band left Island Records and found a new home at Geffen Records
Geffen Records
Geffen Records is an American record label, owned by Universal Music Group, and operated as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-Beginnings:...
. The band's first and only Geffen album, 1995's Wrapped In Sky, featured newly added keyboard sounds and a return to the band's original sound.
1997 brought along a self-titled album, followed two years later by a live album, The Essential Live Drivin’ 'N’ Cryin. In 2000, the band released The Ultimate Collection, a best-of collection. In 2003, the band released a four-song EP, Detroit City Rock, which featured a cover of the Beatles "Let It Be," recorded in New York City on Sept. 13, 2001. The band released its first full studio album in 12 years, The Great American Bubble Factory on September 29, 2009. In 2011, the Georgia General Assembly
Georgia General Assembly
The Georgia General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is bicameral, being composed of the Georgia House of Representatives and the Georgia Senate....
commended Drivin' N' Cryin' in a house resolution for the band's achievements.
Kevn Kinney has also maintained a solo career over the years. He released his first solo album, the acoustic MacDougal Blues in 1990. This was followed by Down Out Law in 1994, and The Flower And The Knife in 2000. The latter featured guests such as Blues Traveler
Blues Traveler
Blues Traveler is a rock band, formed in Princeton, New Jersey in 1987. The band has been influenced by a variety of genres, including blues-rock, psychedelic rock, folk rock, soul, and Southern rock...
's John Popper
John Popper
John Popper is an American musician and songwriter.He is most famous for his role as frontman of rock band Blues Traveler performing harmonica, guitar and vocals...
, Edwin McCain
Edwin McCain
Edwin McCain is an American singer-songwriter and musician.-Career:While his albums are released under his name, he does have a permanent band, referred to as the Edwin McCain Band...
, and members of Gov't Mule
Gov't Mule
Gov't Mule is a Southern rock jam band formed in 1994 as an Allman Brothers Band side project by Warren Haynes and Allen Woody.The band released their debut album Gov't Mule in 1995...
and the Allman Brothers Band. He has released three more solo albums since. In addition to his solo recordings, he has frequently performed solo live concerts, including live collaborations with Peter Buck
Peter Buck
Peter Lawrence Buck , is an American rock guitarist who is best known for playing in and co-founding alternative rock band R.E.M....
of R.E.M.
R.E.M.
R.E.M. was an American rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 by singer Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills and drummer Bill Berry. One of the first popular alternative rock bands, R.E.M. gained early attention due to Buck's ringing, arpeggiated guitar style and Stipe's...
Discography
Fly Me Courageous
Fly Me Courageous is the fourth studio album by the Hard Rock/Southern Rock band Drivin' N' Cryin', released on January 8, 1991 by Island Records. The album is the band's most commercially successful release, in part due to the title track striking a patriotic chord with the United States during...
(1991) U.S. #90
The Great American Bubble Factory
The Great American Bubble Factory is the twelfth album from Southern rock group Drivin N Cryin. Released in September 2009 on Vintage Earth records, it is the band's first full studio album in twelve years.-Tracklist:...
(2009)
Singles
| Year | Title | Chart positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Modern Rock |
US Mainstream Rock |
|||
| 1988 | "Can't Promise You the World" | - | - | The Whisper Tames the Lion |
| 1989 | "Honeysuckle Blue" | - | - | Mystery Road |
| 1991 | "Fly Me Courageous" | 15 | 19 | Fly Me Courageous |
| "Build a Fire" | - | 15 | ||
| "The Innocent" | - | 31 | ||
| 1993 | "Smoke" | - | 23 | Smoke |
| "Turn it Up or Turn It Off" | - | 11 |
External links
- Official web page
- Kevn Kinney's Official web site
- Kevn Kinney Interview CountryMusicPride.com
- Drivin N Cryin collection at the Internet ArchiveInternet ArchiveThe Internet Archive is a non-profit digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It offers permanent storage and access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, music, moving images, and nearly 3 million public domain books. The Internet Archive...
's live music archive