Bill Abernathy

How would you classify your music?

Ahh, the ultimate question. Some call it country, some rock, some folk, some old hairy music, some belly rubbing music, some blues. I have no idea. It really depends on the song. I just classify it as music that tells the story of my life. Based on the story, the genre is picked to accentuate the message of the song.

Who are some of your top 5 musical influences?

Another tough question. I have always been influenced by singer songwriters. I really appreciate the simplicity of the music, the stories, and the life lessons involved. A list is hard, but I’ll take a stab at it. Dan Fogelberg, Steven Stills, Jackson Browne, Dave Grohl, James Taylor, John Mayer, Jim Croce, you get the idea

What do you want fans to take from your music?

My goal is and has always been that fans take something away that stays with them. It could be a smile, a tear, a laugh, or a life lesson. That is really what it’s about, and the reason I continue to do what I do.

How’s the music scene in your locale?

Kansas City is a great music town. Pick a genre and you can find quality music most any time. What’s perfect is the musicians are really good, the venues are appreciative, and the audiences are generally pretty well behaved. Good times can and will be had in Kansas City

What is the best concert you have been to? What do you like most about playing live?

I mentioned I really enjoy singer songwriters and have seen many solo acoustic concerts. The one that really stands out is seeing Dan Fogelberg solo with a piano and his guitars. The personal touch, the interaction with the audience, and hearing the songs the way they were written is very special to me.

Is there a song on your latest CD release here that stands out as your personal favorite, and why?  

Man, that’s like asking who your favorite child is. I think it depends of what mood I am in. I have been really enjoying my tune Changes in the last shows I’ve done. I think the thoughts in that tune are very relatable to today’s environment. “Change always teaches us to be everything we’re destined to be.”

How have you evolved as an artist over the last year?

I have always been a studio rat. I played live, but really did not enjoy it as much as the studio. My tours and shows this year have been much more fun for me in the past. Why? No idea, but seeing the fans respond to the music, ask questions, and have some take a way’s is a big part of it.

If you could meet, play a gig, co-write a song, have dinner, have a drink with any band or artist (dead or alive) who would it be?

Dan Fogelberg. I have always loved his music and would love to talk about music and life with him. Dan passed a few years ago, so if I had to pick another artist, it would probably be Steven Stills or Jackson Browne. I would love to hear a few of his stories, if I could keep up.

What’s next for you?

Quarantine has given us all some additional time to work on a few things. I have some new tunes that I will record once we can get out again. I am doing quite a few live streams to help support local business, which is fun. The whole taking requests thing is challenging and a fun thing to do and letting new explore new things. Making lemonade out of lemons, which is what we have to do in these times.

End of Interview