The spicy Baconator comes to town

We chat with the Hollywood star about tapping his Philly rock roots to make beautiful music with his big brother

Hollywood heavies who rekindle their rock and roll roots with vanity side projects are a dime a dozen. One needs only take a gander at the concert calendar for a local casino to find familiar names. Yes Kevin Costner, I’m talking about you. But to pay your dues, play clubs and earn the respect that comes with consistently proving your musical mettle is a different thing entirely. Kevin Bacon, who fronts the Bacon Brothers along with brother Michael, falls decidedly in to the latter camp.

Fifteen years and six albums later, the band has displayed a particular talent for a bluesy blend of Americana that plays to the brothers’ blue collar Philly roots. Post City Magazines caught up with the sizzling brothers Bacon for a chat in anticipation of their Feb. 3 concert at T.O.’s hottest new concert venue Koerner Hall.

You’ve been doing this for 15 years now. Are people finally accepting you guys as a legit band?

Well, I think we just kind of chip away at it, in terms of people’s perceptions. I mean, I’m always surprised when I hear that people had no idea we were a band. On the other hand, we do have some fans who are very, very loyal
and really like the music. But, we haven’t done nearly enough in Canada.

This band was supposed to be a one off. What happened?

Well, you know, it’s funny: we played the one show, and as far as I can remember, a small club owner from the East Coast called us up and said,
“I heard you play. How about if you guys come up here and play?” And then it just kept rolling along whether we wanted it to or not.

What does this musical collaboration do for you, in terms of creative fulfillment, that you can’t get from acting?

I think it’s fun to challenge yourself creatively, and certainly writing a song and standing in front of people to perform is a great creative challenge. I think that
playing live in a lot of ways is a real test — it’s a risky proposition much more so than a recording studio. It’s good to take creative risks.

I see five movies listed under your name for release in 2011 — how do you find the time for this?

You know, it is tough to find the time. That’s probably one of the biggest challenges, you know. I just sit down with the calendar
and see how to make it work.

Will it ever be music first, acting second?

Well, I don’t think I’ll ever stop being an actor. There’s a lot of stuff I want to do
and haven’t done … producing, directing. I think I’ll
always have both.

Bacon Brothers are playing at Koerner Hall on Feb. 3.

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