By Brent Thompson

For more than 40 years, Drivin N Cryin has been a stalwart band with an especially devoted Southeastern following. Led by the distinct vocals of frontman Kevn Kinney, the Atlanta-based trio isn’t resting on its laurels. Earlier this year, the band released Crushing Flowers, a 10-track collection of new material. On Friday, June 19, Drivin N Cryin will perform at Saturn. Recently, we spoke with Kinney via Zoom.

Southern Stages: Kevn, thanks for your time today. We are really enjoying Crushing Flowers. If you will, tell us about the new album.

Kevn Kinney: Two of the songs have been around for 30 or 40 years or so. The one called “The Death of Me Yet” – we tried to do that one back in the ’80s. “Keep the Change” was a riff I had a long, long time ago. I really wanted to make this record for Drivin N Cryin fans. I don’t want to make a record to make people like me – this is just a record to make the people who have supported us for 40 years a little dessert [laughs] – a little final course for the community in our little world here. It’s a little bit of everything – “A band that’s like a record collection” is the first thing we used to tell people. I was arguing with myself the other day because people would say, “You guys are all over the place – you don’t play one genre” and I thought, “Where did we get that from? And I then I thought, ‘Wait a minute – (The Beatles) The White Album. There’s ‘Helter Skelter’ and ‘Rocky Raccoon’ on the same album.”  I didn’t invent this – it’s just something I’m comfortable doing. My idols have always done it.

Southern Stages: How do older songs reappear and find their way onto an album?

Kinney: Songs have their own personalities and they’ve just got to wait in line until they’re relevant or they can find a platform that makes sense. If it doesn’t fit, I’ll just wait. If it doesn’t work today, it’ll work tomorrow. I’ve learned that sometimes just letting things breathe is a good idea until they’re ready.

Southern Stages: I know that you and Sadler Vaden have a long history together, but how did he end up producing Crushing Flowers?

Kinney: He made some EPs with us – they’re called our “Song” series. Those are all Sadler contributions from when he was in the band. I just loved how is guitar playing was and he was a positive influence  – and I’m getting him now while I can afford him [laughs]. He’s going to be a major producer I think someday. He writes all sorts of music – pop, hard rock and country. He’s a great songwriter. I had Aaron Lee Tasjan [produce] the last one (Live the Love Beautiful). I’m getting to that point now where these “kids” I’ve worked with are grown-ass men who are really accomplished musicians and producers. I really wanted to make a record that’s a nod to our influences. Me and (DNC bassist) Tim Nielsen – our biggest influence is The Who. Tim likes The Jam and I like The Ramones and The Who is our middle meeting point. Sadler’s first time to see Drivin N Cryin was when he saw The Who and we were opening for them in Charlotte. When I was putting this thing together I said, “I think I’m going to ask Sadler – he’d be the perfect fit for this record.” Me and Colonel Bruce Hampton had the same thing – we see something and get it before it’s gone.

Southern Stages: Todd Snider appears on the album – it may have been his last recorded performance.

Kinney: Todd came and visited and Tim made him sing. He stopped by for lunch and Tim said “Get in there and sing this last verse and Todd said, ‘Okay.”

Southern Stages: If you will, tell us about your recent shows with (R.E.M. guitarist) Peter Buck.

Kinney: Peter has been visiting Athens. We’ve been doing this residency in the basement of a hotel once every couple of months or so. It’s really great – they sell out and it’s a cool evening. We both stay at the hotel, so we just take the elevator to the gig and back again. It’s a perfect gig for a lazy musician like me [laughs]. I aspire to be a lazy musician – I just wish I could get my agent to agree.

Southern Stages: You’ve had a lengthy career, so you’ve seen the business before and after the existence of the Internet, Spotify, satellite radio and other outlets. How do you view the current state of the industry?

Kinney: People are getting music for free, basically, but if they hear it maybe they’ll come see us play live and maybe they’ll get a t-shirt or an album. A lot has changed. I love that people will hear what I’ve put out there in 50 years. Personally, it’s great for us. I’m not losing millions of dollars like Metallica would be or people who are losing money on streaming – we were never in that category anyway. So, for bands like us, I love it. I love that people are making records in their bedrooms – I think that’s really cool. I also love the fact that you can buy records at shows. People forget that, back when (1991 release) Fly Me Courageous came out, we were not really allowed to sell the record at the shows. We would play in Salt Lake City or someplace and we wouldn’t have a box of records. If you enjoyed the show, we would send you out to the local record store who might have two copies. You never bought albums at shows.

Southern Stages: With a large catalog of material under your belt now, how do you comprise your setlists these days?

Kinney: I try to do one or two songs from every record. I always play the hits – “Fly Me Courageous,” “Honeysuckle Blue” and “Straight to Hell” – because we are a working-class band and people spend $60 on two tickets. We don’t have a setlist and that’s what’s great about seeing Drivin N Cryin. The band members have to know 160 songs and they have to know how they start and when to jump in when I start it. I used to make setlists at 5:00 or 6:00, but by 10:00 I didn’t feel like playing [those songs]. I said to myself, “I’m never doing this ever again.” If I can’t sell it, you’re not buying it.

Southern Stages: How do songs stay fresh to you after you’ve performed them literally thousands of times?

Kinney: That’s a good question – I don’t think I have a choice [laughs]. The words and the stories really help. Where I put it in the set inspires how I want to do it. I used to only do “Straight to Hell” as the last song of the night and now I do it an hour into the show so people can hear it before they go home to meet the dog sitter [laughs]. I keep it fresh by keeping the arrangement fresh.

On Friday, June 19, Drivin N Cryin will perform at Saturn. Laid Back Country Picker will open the 8 p.m. show. Advance tickets can be purchased at www.saturnbirmingham.com. Show is ages 18+.