Conclusion- Long Roads and Bigger Pictures
Wayne Wilkerson is well respected within the Houston music scene as a seasoned guitarist, who has a long list of associations dating back to the early 70s. Some notables he has sided for include: Kimberly M'Carver, Danny Everitt, Selia Qynn, and Ron Crick and Lonnie Petitt, his current cohorts in The Swing Kings. He jokes about his claim to "fame" as being his reluctance to join up with Lyle Lovett, when Lyle was getting started in the local scene. He began working with Ken during the Mystery Manor days. Ever since, he has increasingly become more integral to his music. Wayne has also become a staple of the Thursday night circles, showering his talents across the eclectic style offerings. When asked why he chose to collaborate with Ken, he answered, "The music is not typical three chord stuff. I like the chord progressions. They're challenging. Plus, I like him."
They since have become good friends. Wayne, who has his own cabinet building business, hired Ken to become his only employee. "He's gotten good enough to open his own business," boasts Wayne of his apprentice. In fact, Ken has taken those skills, combined them with his interests in the visual arts, and started a hobby/side business building jewelry boxes and other small wooden items. He recently showed me some exquisite personal "alters" and small cabinets he had recently made. Ken has a booth at The Kerrville Folk Fest, where he exhibits and sells his work.
For several years, Ken has been planning to record a studio album, but as he philosophically states, "life gets in the way." He then jokingly qualified that now was the time because "Wayne finally learned all the songs." Ken and Wayne began recording tracks in '01, which would eventually become the long awaited release. Ken chose friend and songwriter colleague, Bill Ward (Songdog Studios), to record the album. Bill has also added his piano and harmony vocals on several tracks.
If there is one signature Ken Gaines song, it would have to be the bittersweet ballad, "Real Men," the album's title song. "Real men don't like lawyers, real men don't like rules, real men rather kick your ass than sue." These opening lines always bring a chuckle, but quickly the lyrics become biting and poignant, until the final chorus brings it home: "Real men cry when their daughters up and marry, and their sons are old enough to be men too, but mostly all alone at night, with the burdens that they carry, cause this world it just won't let them do, what a real man's...gotta do."
Knowing that Ken has enough material to record several albums, I asked how he went about choosing songs for this project. He said he wanted to "maintain some sense of live performance," so the album should represent a "mini concert." Although lyrical content is the focus, Ken does not discount the importance of the music. He alluded to two literary quotes in reinforcing his perception: "How you say it is more important than what you say," and "the medium is the message." He also categorizes songs, and has covered each twice. For those familiar with the body of his work, the choices made read like a "best of."
I asked Wayne what he would like the album to accomplish. He replied simply, "I'd like it to be heard by many people, so Ken could get the recognition he is due." Ken took the question to the next level, "First, aiplay, which is the only reason there's more on the CD than just Wayne, myself and two acoustic guitars. I want it to represent what someone would hear if they hired me, which is why I've kept things pretty simple. And lastly, I'd like it to be a slice of me for people to take home and hear what they just heard live."
Ken's future plan's include re-releasing No One Else on CD, touring again as he says, "if it suits me," and, of course, continuing his Thursday nights at Anderson Fair. He has also expressed an interest in helping to organize a Houston chapter of Just Plain Folks, an organization of independent and grassroot musicians. He is currently performing both solo, and as a duet with Wayne, at local and regional venues, while he puts the finishing touches on and prepares for the release of Real Men.
In the past Houston has been often overlooked as a hot bed of musical talent. Time and again someone rises from the ranks to make the world take notice. Although Ken Gaines has no aspirations in becoming a "pop" entity, a renewed energy drawn from disillusionment of the listening public toward homogenized musical offerings could put him centerstage in a revival- a revival of heart and soul. Anyone who has heard Ken's music will know what I'm talking about, those who haven't need to spend a Thursday evening at Anderson Fair.
Ken Gaines, Real Men, CD release celebration, Dec. 21 at Anderson Fair, 2007 Grant, Houston, TX 713/528-8576. Visit: www.mytexasmusic.com/kengaines