Childhood best friends Eric Carter and Danny Hutchens formed Bloodkin in 1986. The band released eight studio albums and wrote hundreds of songs before Carter passed away in 2021. After struggling with the loss of his creative collabrator and longtime comrade, Hutchens has assembled a new version of the group and released an album.
Flowers & Ash, which will be released on September 11, was produced by Hutchens and longtime associate David Barbe. The record features the group’s current lineup of Carter (vocals, guitar), Betsy Franck (vocals, guitar), Tori Pater (vocals, guitar), John Neff (guitar, pedal steel), Jon Mills (bass), and Aaron Phillips (drums).
Today we are premiering “Drinkin’ Blue” from the forthcoming record. The song features the poetic, engaging songcraft that long endeared Bloodkin to bands such as Widespread Panic, which still performs Bloodkin originals such as "Can't Get High," "Henry Parsons Died" and "Makes Sense To Me."
Hutchens says of the tune, “"This is definitely the oldest song on this record. In 2008 , I finally decided to get some help and try to finally put an end to my illustrious drinking career. Danny is the one who drove me to a rehab in Statesboro , and seven weeks later, he’s the one that came and picked me up.
“With this collection of songs , this one seemed to fit in perfectly, and when Betsy Franck sings with me , she just GETS IT. We’ve known each other before in some other parallel life or a different time … I love what she did with her voice ..And then of course John Neff with his pedal steel magic … he just knows exactly what to play , and very well versed in great old country music."
