I've been a fan of
Squidbillies on Adult Swim for a couple of years now. For me to try to explain the premise here would be fruitless, suffice it to say it's about hillbilly squids from Georgia.
As I am want to do from time to time, I read through the credits to see who does the voices. The lead character, Early Cuyler, is played by someone with the enigmatic title,
Unknown Hinson.
I've known about Unknown Hinson for a while now but never really made that connection. He's a psychobilly country and western troubadour who plays small venues primarily in the south but his website has him gigging as far away as California. He looks like a cross between Dracula's inbred cousin and Porter Waggoner, sings like one of the Louvin Brothers, and plays the guitar like Jimi Hendrix. If I had to compare his overall sound, I would say it's
Southern Culture on the Skids minus the surf guitar with an extra spoonful of country and western. At least that's what it was on stage...

When I found out Unknown Hinson was coming to town, I made sure to be there. I needed to witness his glorious mutton-chops in person. I was able to sucker a friend into going with me on the promise of food and a show. I couldn't guarantee that the show would be any good and I hated for him to gamble his money on a risky musical venture. Being my idea, I took all the risk.
It began with good omens all around. We walked into the room just moments before Unknown Hinson took the stage. The next thing I knew, I was involuntarily nodding my head to the "chunk chunk" of his Reverend guitar and picking out his voice from the noise. It was dulcet tones of Early Cuyler. There was no doubt about it. I smiled. In fact I smiled so much it made my face hurt.
His band was a simple trio, honed and perfected through years of touring backwater, country bergs. It was Unknown Hinson on lead, Roger "Tiny" Kohrs on bass, and Frank "The Tank" Sorrell on drums. Tiny resembled a mustachioed polar bear stuffed in a black suit while Tank's horseshoe-bald head glistened as he pounded the skins. It was a sight to behold for sure.
The band plowed through their many "chart toppers" like
I Ain't Afraid of Your Husband,
Peace Love and Hard Liquor,
Pregnant Again, and
Your Man is Gay. Sadly though, the show had to come to an end, but not before an encore of Jimi Hendrix that set the amps on fire.
On my way out, I laid out some bread for his latest CD,
Target Practice. Although my first impression was a little suspect with the ringing ears and all, I could already hear something different. The next day, I took to the task of absorbing the entire album. Turns out it wasn't my ears! It was like listening to a completely different show. There was no mistaking Unknown Hinson's familiar twang, but the chunk of his Reverend was gone, to be replaced by synthesized strings and a slide guitar. The drums were relegated to the mix while the bass was almost non-existent. I was saddened and disheartened. Yet, the more I listen, the more it grows on me.
The saddest thing is that if I had heard the CD prior to going to the show, I would have skipped it... not really my cup of tea. But I went, and now I'm a fan. I just wish there was a way to capture the energy we saw on stage that night. (Live CD anyone? Bootlegs? Hook a brutha up!)
I still can't help but wonder how the live show can be so totally different from the studio in every way. I suppose along with everything else about Unknown Hinson, it will have to remain a mystery.