By Fred Love
Wayne Hancock, known throughout the independent music world as the king of juke-joint swing, thinks of his music as a soundtrack to a great time. Not a spectacle, not a lecture, and certainly not a nostalgia act, but a living, breathing soundtrack for people who want to let go of the week and move their feet for a while.
His discography mixes country and western with rockabilly and blues, all tied together by his inimitable vocal delivery, which somehow sounds simultaneously like truck tires on gravel and a far-off train whistle. The result is a sweaty, rhythmic force that has gotten audiences stomping and dancing the world over, whether in packed clubs, roadhouses, or festival tents and even the stage of Austin City Limits. Hancock’s music doesn’t ask politely for attention; it grabs you by the collar and pulls you onto the dance floor.
“People are coming to the show to forget about things, and we’re doing the same,” Hancock said during an interview. “And the idea is not to bring the audience down but gauge what they want and give ‘em a leg up on things, so to speak. Make ‘em feel good. You can do a little drinking if you wanna and we’ll get you out of there on time so you can get to work in the morning.”
Wayne Hancock and his band will play xBk Live on Tuesday, Feb. 3. Tickets are on sale now at https://wl.eventim.us/event/wayne-the-train-hancock-w-nicky-diamonds/668784?afflky=xBkLive
Hancock is hitting the road with two other musicians — an upright bassist and a lead guitarist — to deliver a stripped-down approach that would have been right at home on Sun Studio’s early roster. Hancock said he wanted his current lineup to capture the raw snap and drive of early Carl Perkins recordings, which means no drummer necessary. Audiences likely won’t miss the lack of a dedicated percussionist because Hancock’s aggressive, percussive attack on his acoustic guitar is fully capable of driving the beat on its own. The trio format also gives each individual player more room to stretch out and be heard.
“Using a three piece without the extra drums, we got more room in the pan which makes everybody happier,” Hancock said.
Hancock’s most iconic songs include “Thunderstorms and Neon Signs,” “Man of the Road” and “87 Southbound,” all vintage-sounding tracks that tell the story of a hard-traveling musician who couldn’t quit touring if he wanted to. He said he hasn’t used a written setlist in decades, instead reading the room and calling songs from memory based on the crowd’s energy, a practice that keeps each performance loose, unpredictable and rooted firmly in the moment.
A native Texan, Hancock has been releasing albums since the mid-1990s, many of them on Chicago indie label Bloodshot Records, which helped popularize what it dubbed “insurgent country music.” While his influence can be heard in countless younger artists, Hancock said he’s content with the body of work he’s already built and doesn’t feel any particular urgency to record new material. Instead, he remains committed to the road, playing night after night for audiences who come looking for joy, movement and release.
“I just wanna keep playing, brother, that’s all I wanna do,” he said. “I don’t wanna be a superstar or none of that business. All I wanna do is I wanna finish out my life playing my songs.”
Wayne “The Train” Hancock w/ Nicky Diamonds
Tuesday, Feb. 3
Doors at 6 p.m., Show at 7 p.m.