Hot Chicken Wisdom CD vinyl LP available now.

First off, what IS Hot Chicken Wisdom, besides the new album from guitarist/singer-songwriter Rich Mahan, his first full-length release since 2012’s Blame Bobby Bare? Well, there’s a story behind that, a tasty, poignant one reflected in its diversity of genres, tones, and grooves.

To hear Rich tell it, we begin in Nashville, Tennessee, where the California native now lives, and where he and a crack band waxed his debut, Blame Bobby Bare, at the Rendering Plant, a studio owned by engineer/producer Brian “Brain” Harrison (Shelby Lynne). Brain quickly became a confidante and trusted guide to Music City, particularly its epicurean pleasures, as he directed the newcomer to the fiery flavors of Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack, a Nashville institution since 1945. Brain was also renown for his way with language and the wild-life tales he spun with it. Thus, he was blessed with “Hot Chicken Wisdom.”

In 2014, Brain died suddenly of a heart attack at age 54, just as he and Rich were prepping a new album. Rich put the new album on hold and focused on performing live “until the desire to complete these recordings had healed.” By that time, he had completed his home studio, which Brain had helped him design, and Hot Chicken Wisdom was born.

Hot Chicken Wisdom is the outcome of that process, an often-raucous, tongue-in- cheek celebration of life and gratitude steeped in country, barrelhouse rock, juke-joint infernos, sanctified redemption, and gleeful flights into jam-band divinity, all from an artist schooled by everyone from Bobby Bare and ZZ Top to the Grateful Dead, Commander Cody, Frank Zappa, and Little Feat. The Alternate Root has deftly called him a "roots-music Buddha whose songs always make sure the faithful leave with a grin" — and maybe a legend or two of their own to spin. 

TRACKS

Number Title Time

1 Boots Off 3:21

2 Daydrinking 3:07

3 Tick On My Taint 2:23

4 I Smoke Pot 1:51

5 Hot Chicken & An Ice Cold 40 3:53

6 Stoned As A Roman Slave 1:24

7 Hippie In The City 2:43

8 Loose Lucy 5:20

9 To Love Somebody 3:05

10 Coffee In The Morning 3:16

11 Open Up Your Heart 3:09