Recently a song came on the radio that stopped me in my tracks. The singer’s arresting voice was at once soothing and eerie, not unlike Grace Slick’s part in “White Rabbit.” The vocals rested upon complex country blues guitar picking with a British sensibility reminiscent of Fairport Convention. All combined it gave me goosebumps. The tune was “Strange Country” by Kacy & Clayton.
Second cousins from Saskatoon, Canada, Kacy & Clayton are still in their early 20’s but have already recorded five albums. Together they perform with a depth that belies their youth. Their tremendous talent won them the respect of Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy, who has produced their last two records Siren’s Song and most recently Carrying On.
On October 10th, Kacy & Clayton performed at Union Pool in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, which has become one of the hipper spots to see live music in NY. After showing your ID at the door, you’ll enter a large and lively bar where sometimes WFMU DJs spin obscure 45’s by bands like the NY Dolls. There’s a lovely back garden with a tasty taco truck adjoined by a mid-sized music hall that holds about 150 people.
A small stage has hosted other cool Canadians like the Sadies who rocked a packed house last April with their massive psychedelic country sound. The long wooden bar is well stocked with craft beer and dimly lit chandeliers create an intimate vibe.
Kacy & Clayton charmed the crowd with witty, self-deprecating stage banter, and completely seduced the audience with their music. It was impressive to see how they maximized their sound as an acoustic duo. They do a lot with a little.
I spoke to Kacy & Clayton before their show in the lobby of the nearby Hotel Indigo. At times, the pair seem almost bemused by their success, but there’s no doubt they rival the best 1960’s folkies, and though rooted in tradition, their work is current and fresh.
Interview
RHSR: How did you meet Jeff Tweedy?
Clayton: We opened for Wilco a few years ago, who were doing five nights at the Fillmore in San Francisco. We were lucky to be picked as one of the opening bands. Jeff was very friendly with us right off the bat and invited us to come by the Loft (Tweedy’s studio in Chicago). We went for a visit, and it seemed like an obvious choice.
RHSR: He produced your latest album Carrying On and your previous one Siren’s Song. Tell me about that. How was the experience different the second time around?
Clayton: We did a tour of western Canada with our band that included Andy Bisle on bass and Mike Silverman on drums. After playing every night, the material was tight, and we decided to go back to the Loft. Having recorded there before, we knew the people there better and were more comfortable. Maybe we were more adventurous than the first time around when we were more reserved.
RHSR: What does Jeff Tweedy bring to the table as a producer?
Kacy: He’s a phenomenal producer. He’s very encouraging and builds your spirits up so you feel confident. He wants to give something to the younger generation, and I feel like we fit into that category. It’s just lucky that it’s us.
RHSR: Who are some of your major influences?
Kacy: Growing up we just followed our own instincts without outside influence. We had a lot of time to listen to music while driving; the distances are big up there. I’m Gen Z, so I know how to find a lot of great music on the internet.
Clayton: As a teenager my family and I went to Tennessee. I remember we bought CDs by Doc Watson, Mississippi John Hurt, and Bukka White from Ernest Tubb’s record shop. That was around the time we started our band, and those influences have really stuck with me.
RHSR: Does being cousins help?
Clayton: Yeah, and coming from the same place. I don’t have to explain anything to Clayton. We played together from time to time when we were really young kids. Kacy’s grandfather plays a lot of music and is real good music teacher and likes to make people feel like they’re good. He’s very encouraging.
Kacy: Our parents made music a priority, gave us lessons, and encouraged us to play shows. That’s a big part of it. Having the people around to encourage you. ‘Cuz we definitely weren’t setting our sights on showbiz. Laughs.
RHSR: What’s psychedelic about your music?
Clayton: I think maybe because it’s modal music and has a lack of chord changes without strictly major or minor chords, but rather something in between. When you play it with a band, it sounds psychedelic.
RHSR: What’s the Canadian music scene like these days?
Clayton: There’s lots of great bands. Our friend Evan Cheedle from British Columbia is great. Ellen Frays from Saskatoon is about to put out an album that Kacy produced.
Kacy: Yeah, I wanted to be a part of it. It was interesting. I have good leadership skills because I was the volleyball captain, but I have a lot to learn as a producer.
Clayton: Saskatchewan is small but very creative. A lot of people don’t tour, like this band Ride Till Dawn, who are from Saskatoon. Chris Slateholm from Regina. I think they both make great music. But there are lots of great bands who don’t travel as much because the provinces are so big; it’s quite spread out.
RHSR: When do you write songs, and what’s your process like?
Clayton: This is our job, so when we’re at home, we have lots of time to work on songs. It’s just kind of a cycle of touring and writing.
Kacy: It can be dangerous. Laughs.
Clayton: Yes, very dangerous.
RHSR: Well, it seems like you have a good head on your shoulders.
Kacy: I have a large head that’s misshapen. I have to wear extra-large hats. Laughs. But we don’t write songs together. It’s practical. If I’m sitting with Clayton, I’ll try to please him.
Clayton: We share pretty well-formed song ideas with each other and get the other person’s editing or approval.
Kacy: We both love approval, which is probably why we’re doing this.
RHSR: Well, you’re doing a good job!
Kacy & Clayton: Thanks!
RHSR: How do you think you’ve evolved as musicians?
Clayton: I think because we play as a duo, and have only just started playing as a band, we’ve never had any rigid rules, which has allowed us to gradually and subtly change. We’ve kept pretty busy but have allowed different influences and band set ups, it’s allowed us to be flexible with our directions.
Kacy: And I get bored pretty easy. We try to keep it fresh for our own sakes.
RHSR: How do you pass the time when you’re not performing? What do you do to not be bored?
Kacy: I like to have parties in my own brain in my house and then go on tour and have real parties, and then go home and have parties alone again. Clayton golfs and has a radio show. I play in a different band around where we live called the Waverly Pickers. It’s all girls from my grade school. We play country music at old folk’s homes. We’re pretty bad, but we don’t care.
RHSR: Future aspirations?
Kacy: I just want to do whatever I want all the time. That’s my goal. Laughs. It works out sometimes.
Clayton: Yeah, just try to keep it going.
Kacy & Clayton are on tour worldwide with Ray LaMontagne. For more information see
their website: www.kacyandclayton.com
To hear the complete interview with Kacy & Clayton & other artists, check out
Mike Cobb’s podcast:
https://www.mixcloud.com/MikeCobb/episode-37-kacy-clayton/
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