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Kevin Bilchik's rustic voice delivers simple, powerful
vocal melodies, while his percussive approach to the guitar provides the backdrop for his original material,
steeped in the traditions of blues, folk, country, and rock.
Equally at ease playing to a full house on a Saturday night, or an intimate listening room, Bilchik's live shows bring out the best in his music, and the stories behind the songs.
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| *lo-res images are at
72dpi for web use, hi-res are at 300dpi (5x7) print quality / photos by K. Alan Copeland |
Reviews:
Kevin Bilchik has a great voice and a very strong "singer/songwriter"
tone about him. With an undeniable modern country feel. You
can tell he loves these words and means every syllable leaving
his lips. He was able to create a commendably non-cliché love
album, by his use of ever-changing technique and sounds to
distract the listener from the fact that the entire album
is a love song. He has the ability throughout the album to
change not only his style and tone, but feelings and mood,
while performing all of them well. Jumping from the country
farm boy in track one, to the mysterious cowboy in track three,
and back to a folk country swing by track five. Overall, a
pretty relaxed album with a proud Midwestern feel. I would
definitely recommend track 6, "When The Rain Comes!" -Elizabeth O'Brien, Static Magazine
The fact that Kevin Bilchik was a writer far before he was a singer and performer is more than evident on his debut release, Paper Money. His lyrics, as well as a smooth, stark delivery and composition are reminiscent of artists such as Bob Dylan and Tom Waits at his most folky. Relying on the strength of storytelling, Bilchik’s music is only the delivery system for stories that immerse the listener in vivid imagery and powerful states of mind. Sung in a plain, no frills sandy baritone, there is little to distract you from Bilchik’s tales of the extraordinary in everyday life. - “Under My Wheels” tackles how your own worst enemy is very often yourself. The track illustrates how steadily losing respect for oneself can bring a life spiraling down to rock bottom. Lyrics such as “Once upon a time, in the last few years / I started to disappear / I could see myself in the rear view mirror / The wheels were rolling me over / I'm under my wheels” sculpt a poetic yet very genuine visage of the dangers of self-loathing. Paper Money’s title track moves along with a country-folk sound that will make the listener sit up and take notice. The instrumentation on this track is simple and subtle which is the perfect compliment to Bilchik’s vocals. -Paper Money is a very intimate record, radiating an aura of accessibility, it becomes truly easy to identify with and relate to. By the end of this six-track CD you will be left wanting more, sad that it has to end. The album definitely falls into the singer/songwriter category, and those who have an aversion to the genre will likely not even give it a chance. However, not giving this record a chance is a travesty. Heartfelt and unassuming yet powerful, Paper Money is what songwriting should be all about. -James Dufendach, 30music.com
Listen to the very first track “Long Ride” on Kevin Bilchik’s CD Paper Money and you’re hooked for the rest. Kevin’s songs and vocal style are a simple pleasure that you want to indulge in again and again. Good songs. Good writing. Good style. I really enjoyed listening to this CD and will certainly add it my collection of to enjoy on a regular basis. -Angie Chaney, Vision Music Group Nashville
, Roots Music Report
Kevin Bilchik proves the old adage “less is more.” With
six well-crafted tunes on his new album, there’s no room for
filler. Instead, listeners are left with 23 minutes of top-notch
music. Sure, other bands in the pop-meets-folk-meets-rock
genre also have catchy, memorable songs, but Paper Money doesn’t
sandwich its killer tracks in between a sea of forgettable
noise. All are equally well done, with “Under My Wheels” leading
the pack in perfection. With a remarkable similarity to The
Wallflowers, Kevin’s mellow, adult contemporary sound will
please almost anyone, If you’re looking for a quality soft
rock album superior to most radio junk, this is it. -Jason
Janik, Harder Beat Magazine, Sept. 2006
St. Louis native Kevin Bilchik started out as a writer before
he started putting his words to music. That commitment to
the craft of choosing the right words -- in the right combination
– comes through loud and clear on Bilchik’s debut EP recording,
Paper Money. It’s obvious that Bilchik took the time to hone
his lyrics well… every one of the six originals on Paper Money
possesses an organic, emotional core that’s built on the power
of the lyrics. Images of cars, wheels and road trips reverberate
from song to song as well, adding to the coherent feel of
the tunes. Producer/engineer Jacob Detering – who also contributes
fine guitar, bass and mandolin playing to the recording –
creates textures for each song that provide just the right
mood for each one. R. Scott Bryan, David Aholt and Christopher
Hughes add solid musicianship throughout. Every cut works,
but special mention has to go to “Lost Art” and “When the
Rain Comes.” You’ll be hearing more from Kevin Bilchik.
-Terry Perkins, music journalist
In a society where culture is reflected by the currency,
we can all pretty much agree that this is the 'age of plastic'.
/ And modern rock is no different with its Visa-esque sounds
and MasterCard pretenses. However, there are always exceptions
to the norm, and thus we must pay respect to "Paper Money,"
the debut EP by local musician Kevin Bilchik. / Bilchik is
a mollusk floating in the raw sewage that is the St. Louis
music scene. However, when the right venue presents harbor
in the toxic mess, Bilchik is plucked from the murky waters
and yields songs that are absolute pearls. / He is what many
would deem a "B-2," devastatingly good but remaining under
the radar. / This anonymity has played in favor of audiences,
since it has created such intimate settings for such personal
expression. It has also created a small yet passionate fan
base, which has allowed Bilchik to put forth a minuscule amount
of his work in an attempt to reach a broader audience on Red
Pill Records./ If time is money, then "Paper Money" comes
up short on cash, lasting a mere 23 minutes. Nonetheless,
it is most certainly time well spent. / He relies on his years
stacked upon years of writing, which is evident in certain
songs like "Lost Art" and "When the Rain Comes." But that
experience comes toppling down in songs such as "Arizona."
/ Lyrically, his songs are Simple Simons trying to find their
pieman and on occasion their voice of expression. But this
does not mean they are plain by any means. When you look beneath
the surface, there are Krakken complexities and Leviathans
of emotion in conflict. Take the song "Paper Money," for instance.
Bilchik speaks of grade-school love and the irony of sadness
that is brought about when reminiscing about happier days
that have long since passed. / What brings about the full
robustness to this seething stew of an EP is the combination
of acoustic instrumentation and voice. His voice carries a
song like that of a threatened mother with her child, impassioned
with energy but still remaining soft to her newborn. Let me
say that the emotion is raw, as raw as Tokyo sushi. / The
raw nature of his music is what makes Bilchik something different,
as opposed to your standard Counting Crows fare. His voice
far surpasses his writing, which is saying something. Throw
in the basil of the backup band into this stew and you can
serve your ears as many helpings as they can possibly consume.
After being served this record, I can say that my ears, much
like the American culture, are now morbidly obese. / "Paper
Money" is (you saw this coming) money well spent. -Graham
Tucker, The Current, UMSL, Sept. 2006
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