Just to get it out of the way... Hutch and Kathy are now in The Thermals, you might argue they ARE The Thermals as the only difference is the drummer and the electric guitars. It's the same brilliant biting, sarcastic, fun, political, energizing, fierce songwriting, just with acoustic guitars rather than electric ones. Okay, now for what this record is really all about...
Drawing from over sixty years of American music, from Leadbelly to Kim Deal, Hutch and Kathy strive to continue the tradition of great American music; to be a healthy mix of all their pop influences, as opposed to emulating a few of them. Armed with an eight track reel recorder and a keen sense for harmony, Hutch Harris and Kathy Foster may warm your heart and break it, possibly at the same time.
The facts are: Hutch and Kathy live in Portland, Oregon. "Hutch and Kathy" is actually their third project together, playing previously in the bands haelah and the Urban Legends. The Urban Legends band was started as a recording project by Hutch Harris in the fall of 1996, and made into a live band in the fall of 1998, with Hutch singing and playing guitar, Kathy drumming, and bass duties filled by a number of Portland folks. Since then, shows have come in all shapes and sizes, from Kathy and Hutch playing as an acoustic duo, to performances as a quartet, with a second guitar/keyboard player. As we enter the summer of 2002, we find the Hutch and Kathy carving a new folk sound, with an emphasis on singing, backed by harmonica, acoustic guitars, a farfisa organ, bass and crisp drums.
Four Urban Legends 7" singles were released, on the labels Tree, Trainbridge (split with Her Space Holiday), Fragile, and No Karma. Audio Information Phenomena (AIP records) released the self titled Urban Legends lp/cd in 1999. The Urban Legends toured three times nationally, with two west coast trips as well Hutch and Kathy aim to continue their successes into the future with a new full length and many more tours.
Now let's name drop a bit: Kathy Foster plays drums for the All Girl Summer Fun Band, recently releasing their debut lp on K records. She also records songs under the name Butterfly Transformation Service, and has a single coming soon from Troubleman Unlimited. Before Urban Legends, Hutch Harris and Kathy Foster were in the band haelah, recording two singles for Tree records, appearing on Tree's post marked stamps single series/compilation, as well as the sounds for the geographically challenged compilation, on the Temporary Residence Limited label. Marc Bianchi, of Her Space Holiday (Tigerstyle records),played keyboards on the Urban Legends lp and split single. Hutch Harris has played with the Minders (Spin Art records) and Duster (UP records). Bass players for the Urban Legends have included Ben Barnett and Brian Grant, both of Kind of Like Spitting.
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