Artist: Tyler Childers and The Food Stamps
Hometown: Lawrence County, Kentucky
Song: “Angel Band (Jubilee Version)”
Album: Can I Take My Hounds to Heaven?
Release Date: September 30, 2022
Label: Hickman Holler/RCA Records
In Their Words: “I grew up Baptist and I was scared to death to go to hell. And a lot of that stuck with me. Filtering through that and trying to find the truth, and the beauty, and the things you should think about and expelling all that nonsense has been something I’ve spent a lot of time on. This is a collection that came together through those reflections. In a lot of ways, this is processing life experiences in the different philosophies and religions that have formed me, trying to make a comprehensive sonic example of that.
“Working with the same song three different ways is a nod to my raising, growing up in a church that believes in the Holy Trinity: The Father, Son and Holy Ghost, and what that means. The Father being the root, the place from which everything comes from, and The Son coming to free up some of those things, allowing it to be more open and welcoming. And then you have the Holy Ghost once The Son is gone — that feeling that’s supposed to keep us sustained until we are reunited, in whatever way that looks.
“Message wise, I hope that people take that it doesn’t matter race, creed, religion and all of that like — the most important part is to protect your heart, cultivate that and make that something useful for the world.” — Tyler Childers
Editor’s Note: Conceptualized as a three-part project, the eight songs on Can I Take My Hounds to Heaven? are presented in a trio of distinct sonic perspectives — Hallelujah, Jubilee and Joyful Noise. Produced by Childers and The Food Stamps, the collection features a mix of new and traditional songs and was primarily recorded in guitarist James Barker’s home studio. The Hallelujah version captures Childers and the core band playing live in a single room over the course of two days, while the Jubilee version builds on it with the addition of strings, horns, background vocals and an array of worldly instruments such as dulcimer, mbira and sitar. The Food Stamps are: Barker (pedal steel), Craig Burletic (bass), CJ Cain (guitar), Rodney Elkins (drums), Chase Lewis (keyboards) and Jesse Wells (guitar, fiddle).
Photo Credit: Emma Delevante. Pictured (L-R): Tyler Childers and The Food Stamps (Jesse Wells, James Barker, Tyler Childers, Chase Lewis, Craig Burletic, Rod Elkins)
