SPILL FEATURE: BIRDS AND MUSICIANS HAVE A LOT IN COMMON – A CONVERSATION WITH COLEMAN WILLIAMS

BIRDS AND MUSICIANS HAVE A LOT IN COMMON

A CONVERSATION WITH COLEMAN WILLIAMS

Let us get this out of the way, immediately. Coleman Williams is part of one of the most important musical families of all time. Hank Williams is his great grandfather, Hank Williams Jr. is his grandfather, and Hank III is his dad. I had to tell him, during our recent telephone conversation, that I am a fan of his family’s work, and apologized for bringing up his family when he was there to talk about his new album, The Magnolia Sessions. And thankfully he is cool with the comments.

“So, you know, that’s okay. There’s no apology needed there.  I just do it differently. If you follow. I don’t play a cover game, not because I don’t know those songs. I just believe it’s really important to tell your own story. Some people believe that being the firstborn of a generation, it’s my job to do that, or I’ve shot myself in the foot because I won’t. But in six beautiful years of really hard work, I’ve been able to play all over the world. I’ve played thousands of shows, met wonderful people, and I did all of it without having to be a cover artist, doing my family’s songs. I always casually had music, but I have put in six years of hard work. It’s just, I like being Coleman Williams, and I like doing it my way and finding other great people in this. I am not doing this because I’m related to someone, but doing it because I know why is the basis.”

Coleman Williams, either solo or as a part of IV and The Strange Band, also his own distinct style. Call it country, Americana, alt-country, or even punk. He has his own style, and his new album is just one more example of that. The Magnolia Sessions, recently released on Anti-Corp records, is his first solo album. He has released singles and two albums with his band IV and The Strange Band, but the opportunity came up for him to participate in a series of albums, being curated by Dan Emery.

THE MAGNOLIA SESSIONS ALBUM REVIEW

“Dan asked me during COVID, when he did the original one. Dan is wonderfully talented, hardworking for like, 30 years in the state of Nashville, far before things these days, like recording bands and helping bands. Where Anti-Corp records and does his stuff is less than three blocks from where my dad lived for 20 years. It is just a little pocket of East Nashville, a cool place. He’s a talented studio guy, but he runs the mics outside under this tree in his backyard. So, it is a live session, straight up.”

Although the sessions were recorded in one go, with no overdubs or fixes in the studio, he did have help on a couple of songs from his friends and band mates, Ethan Salas and Hunter Mellish.

“And, you know, The Magnolia Sessions, specifically that, was special because it’s the first thing I’ve kind of done something that’s just me. I was really lucky, of course, to have my lead guitar and my bass player play with me for the first three. That was wonderful. I’ve also been my own worst critic, and I just never thought I had the chops to do a thing like this.  You do like seven songs of a 10-song thing that’s just me, and it’s fun. I’ve done solo shows for over a couple of years, but this is the first time.  Even though it’s a session, not a studio thing, it’s the first time I’ve released recordings of just myself.”

Listening to the new album, I was surprised that birds feature so strongly at the beginning and the end. The album opens with “For The Birds” and “Whippoorwill” and closes with “Owl”.

“I love birds,” Coleman states. “Birds and musicians have a lot in common. We’ll go wherever the wind takes us. We’ll sing, even if you don’t want to hear us. I love birds. Ornithology as they call it. It’s a weird, fun hobby.”

And the whippoorwill looms large in his family and his culture.

“Well, Whippoorwill was the nickname of my great grand-daddy. And they are an omen of death if you see them during the day. They are a weird bird. They mostly lay on the ground and make weird noises. I have only seen two in my whole life and both of them at night. But I have other bird songs, too. That’s the thing. I want to release a solo record in the studio one day called Fledgling that will be like a whole record of bird songs.”

Although most of the songs on The Magnolia Sessions are new, he did an interesting cover of a song by Stonewall Jackson, “Why I’m Walkin’.” Stonewall Jackson, along with Hank Williams and Johnny Cash, had their struggles with the Grand Ole Opry. It also shows that Williams is well aware of country heritage.

“Stonewall is just a legend, man. Early career, late career, his Opry shows. He just kind of—you have your outlaws, or you have your people that people think of with country music. Of course, Hank Williams or Johnny Cash or Waylon Jennings. But for me, people that I deeply respect, I think about Stonewall Jackson. He’s a huge one for me, man. That’s the guy that likes the way he did it. Merle Haggard, for me, is another one. I also always joke that he’s kind of my favorite ‘punk rock musician,’ not just a country musician, because he was a real outlaw. He made real mistakes. He wore prison fatigues and played shows. His band was also called The Strangers, which is part of why my band is The Strange Band, which is a homage to him. But also, I love Patsy Cline. There’s so many. Merle Haggard is one for me, but Stonewall Jackson, he did the game. He looked the look. He just had a very iconic voice, and I loved that voice. Funny people tell me the same about my family.”

The other older song on the album, is a new version of the title track from his most recent album, Hang Dog.

“I think everyone has one of those pets in their life that you not only love but teaches you to be an adult. Piper, my dog, has been in my life since graduating high school and now I am 35, it is just a blessing. She is an old girl. That song is a love song to her. Human beings are great, but sometimes critters can teach us a bunch.”

Although it seems like a long time between studio albums, it really isn’t. Williams and The Strange are in the middle of completing a new album, with a release date sometime next year. Or maybe it will be longer. Williams wants to get it perfect.

“I’m not pulling a Beach Boys, not even close. It’s only been two years. And we pretty much have a whole new record. I just want to write a couple more songs. But I want it as near to perfect as it can be. It is my third album with my band, and I really want to show people.”

The Magnolia Sessions is a brilliant album, demonstrating Williams’ raw and unique talent. And in the end, the album lives up to his goals.

“I just tell my stories and play my tunes.”

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Photo Credits: Ericka Poore