Country music will once again blare throughout Chelsea’s Cafe on Saturday as Denton Hatcher and The Soapbox Blues are set to play at the restaurant off Perkins Road.
Hatcher, a Mississippi native, has played at Chelsea’s before and says it’s probably his favorite venue to visit.
“I really enjoy Chelsea’s,” Hatcher said. “[Chelsea’s owner] Dave [Remmetter] treats us the best.”
Hatcher developed a love of music when he received his grandfather’s acoustic guitar at 13. He plays country, folk and rock music, with inspiration coming from bands like Nirvana and Stone Temple Pilots.
Hatcher said he would like to see more variety in the Baton Rouge music scene. He said club owners need to make money, and they think hiring original acts won’t attract crowds.
“There are some good players in town that kind of get overlooked,” Hatcher said. “Baton Rouge is rough. It’s cover-band central. If you’re not from out of town, nobody really pays attention to you. There could be something really great right under everyone’s nose.”
Shannon Harrington Kennedy, one of the band’s biggest fans, has been listening for a year or two.
“I first saw him playing guitar with a cover band at the Caterie right before it burned down well over a year ago,” Kennedy said in an e-mail. “I went to the next show and have been dragging all my friends to every show since.”
Kennedy said she loves the way Hatcher writes, describing his songs as “from the heart, and you can tell by the way he sings and plays them.”
“I have been to at least 10 or more of his shows since I discovered his band, and I never get tired of listening,” Kennedy said.
Hatcher said he has really only honed his writing skills in the past year or two.
“I’ve been writing and playing for years, but lately I’ve actually been happy with what I write,” Hatcher said.
Kennedy believes the band doesn’t get enough attention, and she promotes them on Facebook. She has also met Hatcher personally.
“He’s the nicest guy, and funny as hell, always has a smile on his face,” Kennedy said. “I think that is because he really enjoys what he does.”
Denton Hatcher and the Soapbox Blues will perform with Grahm Wilkinson at 10:30 p.m. at Chelsea’s.
 
 
____
Contact Taylor Balkorn at [email protected]