Bill, father of Kasey Chambers is one of those growling singers who owes a substantial debt to both Bob Dylan and John Prine. Perhaps i'ts a result of those early weathered years he spent roughing it in the outback with his family.
"My kids Nash and Kasey grew up listening only to the music I played on cassettes or on my guitar around the campfire. Songs of Hank Williams, the Carter Family, Johnny Cash, Jackson Browne and John Prine," remembers Bill. "I'm entirely self taught. I guess that's why I sound like I do."
There's much more to Bill Chambers than just being Kasey's dad. The patriarch of the Chambers Clan is considered by some to be Australia's premier alt-country guitarist. He can be a master of delicate picking on Dobro or Lap Steel and a demon on Slide. Along with producing albums for the likes of Catherine Britt, Audrey Auld Mezera, Becky Willis(co-produced with Kasey) and the Dead Ringer Band, Bill has still found time to write most of the songs for both his albums - the ARIA nominated 'Sleeping With The Blues' and his most recent 'Frozen Ground'.
"What I love the best is to get out on the road and perform the songs. I still play in Kasey's band when she's on the road and the gigs take us all over the world. That's where I get many of the stories for my songs," says Bill.
The Courier Mail described 'Frozen Ground' as "A rough diamond of an album, honest and uncontrived", giving it a four star review. It covers different styles from classic country to blues, rock and points in between. From the fiery kiss of the first single 'Chasing Rainbows' to the back-against-the-wall fighting spirit of 'This Ain't Your Town' through the sweet tenderness of 'Little Man' and the modern gospel track 'Stranger', 'Frozen Ground' bears testament to both Bill's influences and his vision. The Floods' Kevin Bennett appears on a swampy version of Cash's 'Big River' in an arrangement that puts a turbo charge under the original boom chicka boom.
"We knew we didn't want to do it straight. We ended up with something that was like Johnny Cash-meets-Tony Joe White," says Bill.
Richard Jinman from The Sydney Magazine called 'Frozen Ground' "a fine collection of country blues songs with dirt under their fingernails. A lifetime of bitter experience in the sweetest melodies. Sonically the album is reminiscent of Daniel Lanois eerily spacious work; all elongated guitar phrases, shuffling drums and ambient rumbling, and the combined effect is as seductive as hell."
Music 4 World - Bill Chambers (Rock) - Biography - Bill, father of Kasey Chambers is one of those growling singers who owes a substantial debt to both Bob Dylan and John Prine. Perhaps i'ts a result of
