Laying Down Roots

Michael Patrick and the Suburban Hillbillies are bringing country sounds to Princeton.

By: Susan Van Dongen
   Michael Patrick and the Suburban Hillbillies are on a mission to give New Jersey a country music presence. True, we have everything from classical to klezmer music in the Garden State; but, he feels, the essence of "the wife left me, my bass boat sank and I lost my job" is somewhat missing here.
   "There’s really no country radio station in the Princeton area, unless you get the Philly station," he says. "I’m in Marlboro and we don’t get country music radio stations at all here."
   Princeton will get a taste of Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Buck Owens and more when the Suburban Hillbillies play at the Princeton Church of Christ March 25. Featuring music from country greats as well as a number of originals, the Suburban Hillbillies have a steady gig at Bally’s Wild West Casino in Atlantic City. They’ve also opened for notable bands such as the Marshall Tucker Band, Hot Tuna and the Spin Doctors. This is their first time in Princeton.
   "Believe it or not, after we booked the March 25 show we got two more dates in Princeton," Mr. Patrick says. "Country music seems to be in demand there."
   The 2005 film Walk the Line — which profiled the lives of Johnny Cash and June Carter — seems to have sparked an interest in classic country music, especially songs from "The Man in Black." Mr. Patrick observed this and last year launched a Johnny Cash tribute group, the Ring of Fire Band.
   "We have two different groups, Michael Patrick and the Suburban Hillbillies and the Ring of Fire Band, and both do great," he says. "We did a number of concerts in the park and had a great summer. It’s funny now because the younger kids are asking about ‘Ring of Fire.’ There’s a video game and they play the song ‘Ring of Fire,’ so now we have young fans as well."
   A multi-talented musician from an early age, Mr. Patrick says he was not fond of country music originally, preferring to listen to hard rock.
   "But then I played in a Grateful Dead tribute band for about 12 years (World Within) and it was from their music that I got into country," he says. "Aside from the psychedelic influences, Jerry Garcia incorporated a lot of bluegrass (into the Dead’s music) and that steered me in a country direction."
   Mr. Patrick gets his musical talent and love for performing from his father, who had a cover band that played tunes by the Eagles, Crosby, Still, Nash & Young, the Doobies — all kinds of things from the ’70s — around Monmouth County and the Jersey Shore.
   "They used to rehearse in the basement and I sat in playing drums," he says. "Then I picked up the bass and guitar as well, but didn’t really get into performing acoustic music until I started to play guitar at coffee houses about four years ago. We put the band together about three years ago."
   Self-released in the fall of 2004, the Suburban Hillbillies’ debut CD Roots and Branches received glowing reviews, especially among fans of roots revival music.
   "In concert, we play a mix of our own songs from the CD as well as more traditional country — Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Dwight Yoakam," Mr. Patrick says. "We don’t get into the newer country, which sounds more like pop to me. Sure, a lot of new artists are good but I love the rootsy feeling of the traditional country."
   The group has been welcomed with open arms at "New Jersey’s Grand Ole Opry," the Albert Hall in Ocean County.
   "We’ve been playing there for about two years and will be back by popular demand in May," Mr. Patrick says. "We did our Johnny Cash show there and got a standing ovation. It’s great that people still appreciate this kind of music.
   "We’ve also been getting some bigger dates," he continues. "We’ll play at a 1,000-seat theater in Pitman, the newly renovated Broadway Pitman Theatre. Back in its heyday, it was a stop for Johnny Cash and Loretta Lynn so it’ll be interesting to be playing the same stage. There’s also a big show coming up in Jackson June 2, on the grounds surrounding Just Plain Jane’s."
   With a voice described as a cross between Johnny Cash, John Prine, Jimmy Buffett, Arlo Guthrie and Garth Brooks, a "Michael Patrick tune" carries his signature twang yet maintains its own special identity. His guitar style incorporates elements of flatpicking, folk strummings and driving percussive rhythms. In addition to Johnny Cash, Mr. Patrick names such artists as Elvis Presley, Willie Nelson, Lyle Lovett, Bruce Springsteen and Doc Watson as influences, admiring their storytelling lyrics, catchy hooks and memorable melodies.
   The music keeps him plenty busy and in his dreams he’d like to do it full time, but the main bills get paid with his computer business.
   "As much I would love to be doing the music full time it’s a part-time endeavor right now," Mr. Patrick says. "Mostly I just want to introduce people to my brand of country-fried, folk flavored roots rock and roll."
Michael Patrick and the Suburban Hillbillies will perform at the Princeton Church of Christ, 33 River Road, Princeton, March 25, 3 p.m. Tickets cost $10. For information, call (609) 924-2555. On the Web: www.princetonchurchofchrist.org. Michael Patrick and the Suburban Hillbillies on the Web: www.michael-patrick.net