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PressRichard Bicknell: a unique voiceBy Peter Cooper Richard Bicknell had met heroes before. In the 1980s, he met Loretta Lynn in Washington, D.C. A photo taken of them shows her in country star garb, him with bleached-out white hair and smudgy black eye makeup. But no such encounter prepared him for the Atlanta night when the then-fledgling singer worked up the nerve to give Nashville song-poet Townes Van Zandt a version of Van Zandt's Waiting Around To Die that Bicknell had committed to tape. Read more.... Atlanta
Creative Loafing During that time, Bicknell has associated himself more as an acolyte of the classic Texas songwriters — Townes Van Zandt, Eric Taylor, Nanci Griffith, Denice Franke and Ray Wylie Hubbard — who've been inspirations and, more recently, friends and collaborators. Bicknell's third album, the new Baby Lightning, features songs by Van Zandt, Taylor and Hubbard, as well as another songwriting friend, David Olney, and appearances by Taylor and Franke (in addition to fellow Atlanta music vets Kelly Hogan and Anne Richmond Boston). He even dedicates the album to Emmylou Harris, whose recordings introduced Bicknell to many of these songwriters. But what stands out most on Baby Lightning are Bicknell's originals — particularly "D.P.L." and "Sebastian at the Metro," two songs that, for the first time, find him taking on gay perspectives in his songwriting. While Bicknell still doesn't want to be pigeonholed, it's this material that turns an otherwise strong album of rootsy pop into a truly unusual, original statement. "D.P.L.," Bicknell admits, "is pretty much completely autobiographical." The song tells the story of the "small-town queers" growing up, as Bicknell did, in Columbus, Ga., who found sanctuary in the city's only gay bar, the Deep Purple Lounge. "Sebastian at the Metro" draws equally from real-life memory. Its central image — a man (prostitute?) so immersed in dancing that he kicks aside a dollar laying on the floor — is Bicknell's metaphor for true passion. "I've always hesitated to write about some of these things, because the last thing I want is to be labeled a gay artist," Bicknell says. "I didn't really hold anything back on this record; I let the songs come as they would." But while the gay angle makes the songs unusual, what makes them great is the same emotional element that elevates the work of his Texas peers: the sense of tragedy mixed with humor, of injustice with grace, of poetry and desire. It could be that Bicknell's newfound willingness to let it all hang out emerged from his health battles in recent years. Around the time of his second album, 1999's Mayflower, Bicknell was diagnosed with cancer. While the disease and its treatment left him unable to promote the record, he eventually emerged with a clean bill of health. "I had sort of crawled up out of a grave," he says. "The record's called Baby Lightning after the first song we recorded [which didn't make the final cut]. When we recorded it, I was pretty much a concentration-camp looking thing, holding onto to the microphone so I could stand up." Bicknell hopes this record provides the opportunities for touring and expanding his audience that weren't possible with Mayflower. He also hopes he doesn't become the token gay guy in the pages of No Depression magazine. "I
like the way someone like Michael Stipe has handled it —
the way a lot of people are able to handle it now," he says.
"People just see them as artists. [Being gay] is part of
their makeup and enters into their songs. But I certainly don't
want to be defined by it. That would be horrible." Richard Bicknell & the Shameless Lovers play their CD release show Sat., Jan. 25, at the Variety Playhouse. Atlanta Journal-Constitution4/13/2001 Live Music guide Richard Bicknell — The warm, rich vocals and admirable songwriting abilities of this talented local make for an entertaining night of music. Check out his most recent CD, Mayflower, which includes a version of Eric Taylor's "Dean Moriarty" with the songwriter producing and joining in on vocals. Creative
Loafing Creative
Loafing Atlanta
Creative Loafing Yet less than a year after their physical hardships began, both musicians are back in action on the local scene, with shows planned in town this week. Bicknell, who earned his BFA from the Atlanta College of Art in the mid-80s, turned his creative efforts toward songwriting after seeing songwriter heroes Townes Van Zandt and Jimmie Dale Gilmore perform at Blind Willie's. He was seeking distribution for his third album, the earnest and tuneful Mayflower, when he learned of his lymphoma. After the inevitable weight and hair loss from chemotherapy, Bicknell was left weak but apparently cured. He credits "great doctors and friends," as well as music's healing power. "I thought I would be more vain and not go out [in public]," he says. "But even though I was weak, I would still go out and listen to music. Instinctively, I knew it was very healing for me." Atlanta
Journal-Constitution - Richard L. Eldredge Atlanta
Journal-Constitution
9/25/1998 "We took our time and did it right," says the singer-songwriter based in Little Five Points. But he admits that after that length of time, "it's difficult to know what you're going to end up with. Bicknell says he spent the time honing original songs, poring over choices of songs to cover, and rounding up guest artists including acclaimed folkies Eric Taylor, Katy Moffatt and David Olney. Taylor and Olney join Bicknell on Sunday at Smith's Olde Bar to celebrate the release of Mayflower. Taylor also performs at Eddies Attic on Saturday. The four years were well spent. More ambitious and tuneful that the low-fi Sometimes Blue, Mayflower juxtaposes Bicknell's evocative originals with swell versions of songs by Steve Forbert, Townes Van Zandt and others. A spiritual quest theme links many of the tunes. Bicknell describes "Jane Eyre's Coat," an early high point, as a "prayer for a long journey" and the last track, "Mercy Train," as "a prayer for little bit of rest." A lot of the music I'm attracted to is about how hard life is," Bicknell says. "But I think the songs are hopeful. Most of the, anyway." Southern Voice - Peter Newton I don't know which impresses me more, this guy's deep powerful singing voice or his insightful choice of material. With a voice that's dark and expressive, this guy is enthralling whether he's singing about lost love, empty highways, harbor towns or Drew Barrymore's granpa — but especially the latter. -Gregory
Nicoll Atlanta
Journal-Constitution Atlanta
Journal-Constitution Atlanta
Journal-Constitution Peach
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