The Return of Clint Vines & The Hard Times
A new band lineup hits the ground running
Clint Vines and The Hard Times returned to form last weekend with a hot live show at The Iron Horse Pub following months of transition.
The last time we saw Clint in full electric mode, with the Hard Times behind him, was in August of 2023, but times have been, ahem, hard since then. Several band members moved on, and their replacements were not easy to find.
The wait was worth it.
Foremost, Clint was in fine shape, on the guitar and vocals, but also in his personal health. Vines made some lifestyle changes in the last year, and not only could you see it in about 20 or 30 missing pounds, but you could hear it in his voice. Clint Vines has returned to performing with The Hard Times as a new and improved version of himself, and the music benefits.
The Hard Times’ new lineup includes a bassist from Wichita Falls’ elite echelon — Jacob Seigler, who is also the bassist for Escape Goats. If you’ve seen Jacob perform, you know there is no denying his talent. Seigler is on a constant walk and totally locked-in when he plays.
Guitarist Anthony Montes is the lone holdover from the last version of The Hard Times, and he still smokes on the electric six string, but now he’s joined by another lead guitarist, well-known local musician and guitar teacher Kelly Jackson.
Jackson adds a fantastic backing vocal element to Clint Vines and The Hard Times, and we enjoyed his harmony vocals all night. In addition, Kelly functioned as a co-lead guitarist at this gig and we thought there was a little more guitar-rock attitude to the Hard Times as a result, with Jackson, Vines, and Montes all adding their own flavors to favorites like Train Station, Chickens, and Oil City Hell.
The other half of The Hard Times’ new rhythm section is drummer John Cameron, whom we first heard when he showed up with his kit in Park Central in the summer of 2023 for a little solo jam session. As the drummer for The Hard Times, Cameron fits the bill — he’s a skilled skinsman with the talent to handle Clint’s nuanced songs, both subtle and bombastic.
Clint Vines and The Hard Times are back. Follow them on your favorite streaming platform so you don’t miss their upcoming releases. [Apple Music | Spotify]
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What a great story about a great band!