The Pine Hill Haints are an American traditional bluegrass/folk/honky tonk/country band from Alabama, though the band members themselves describe their unique southern roots music as "Alabama Ghost Music."
The Haints are composed of Jamie Barrier on guitar and vocals, Katie "Kat" Barrier on mandolin, singing saw, and washboard, Stevie LaBlanc on washtub bass, Justin Ward on accordion and trombone, and Brian "Zero" Borden on snare drum.
Current line-up Jamie Barrier – vocals, guitar, fiddle, harmonica Katie "Kat" Barrier – washboard, mandolin, saw Matt Bakula – vocals, washtub, tenor banjo Stevie LaBlanc – washtub, banjo, harmonica Brian "Zero" Borden – snare Justin Ward – accordion, trombone
Former members Travis Hightower – washtub Matt Bakula – washtub, tenor banjo Ben Rhyne – snare Joey Barrier – banjo Sarah Nelson – accordion Roger Holcombe – snare Rymodee – saw Bradley Williams – washtub Jeremy Dale Henderson – snare Matt Comer – snare Mike Posey – accordion Jon Lucius – accordion J.R. Collins – snare
Musical style The Pine Hill Haints perform music they consider to be "dead" in the modern world, hence their self-proclaimed "Ghost Music." Some examples of the genres they perform include (but are not limited to) gospel, rockabilly, rock and roll, celtic music, blues music, and bluegrass. While their catalog of songs comprises mainly original material, the band has also been known to cover traditional gospel (Where The Soul Of Man Never Dies, Where The Roses Never Fade), cowboy (I Ride An Old Paint, Back In The Saddle Again), and folk (Goodnight Irene, Oh! Suzanna/Camptown Races) songs.
In addition to their live instruments, the band also utilizes a number of traditional American folk music instruments (such as a fiddle, harmonica, tenor banjo, mandolin, saw, and accordion) on their recordings. Occasionally, members of the Haints will swap instruments or abandon his or her primary instrument altogether, instead performing on one of the aforementioned instruments for a song or two. The band has several former members, and depending on how many happen to be present at a performance, surprise guest performers may accompany the Haints onstage. Such impromptu reunion performances are not completely unexpected at their shows.
Discography YearTitleLabelFormatOther information2000God, the Devil and the Two by the GateArkam Records12-inch LP2002The Cold, Cold HandArkam RecordsCDSplit album with The Natchez Shakers ("The Devil's Backbone").2002Tales From The Front PorchArkam Records12-inch LPSplit album with The Crypt Kickers and The Plain Clothes Creep String Trio.2002Alabama Ghost Country MusicNation of Kids7-inch EP2003Trains Have No NamesArkam RecordsCD2003SplitArkam Records7-inch EPSplit with David Dondero, 500 copies pressed on black vinyl.2004Those Who WanderArkam RecordsCD2004You Bury Your Hate In A Shallow GraveLelp RecordingsCD2005The Pine Hill Haints Meet Clampitt, Gaddis & BuckLelp RecordingsCDSplit album with Clampitt Gaddis & Buck.2005Jack of DiamondsArkam Records7-inch EP500 copies pressed on black vinyl.2007Darktime Came to the HillsSunburst Records7-inch EP500 copies pressed on black vinyl with hand-screened covers2007Ghost DanceK Records12-inch LP / CD2009To Win or To LoseK Records12-inch LP / CD2009Riding the Long Southern Train BluesArkam Records7-inch EPIncluded with Spidder #14 zine.2010Black CasketRazorcake / 45RPM Records7-inch EP110 copies pressed on translucent red vinyl, the rest on black vinyl.2010SplitLet's Pretend Records7-inch EPSplit EP with the Trainwreck Riders. 110 copies pressed on clear vinyl, 440 copies pressed on black vinyl.2011The Evening StarArkam Records / 45RPM Records/Burger Records12-inch LP / CD / CassetteCompilation album featuring songs from various Haints 7-inch EPs and previously unreleased tracks. LP and CD released on Arkam Records, cassette jointly released by 45RPM Records and Burger Records. Cassette edition limited to 250 hand-numbered copies.2011Welcome to the Midnight OpryK Records12-inch LP / CD2011SplitYa Dig? Records10-inch EP / CD-RSplit EP with Serious Sam Barrett. Packaged together with CD-R of the Split.2011Tales of CrimeK Records7-inch EPRelease #138 in K Records' International Pop Underground 7-inch series2014Rabbit in the Pea PatchArkam Records7-inch EPHand-screened cover art available in three colors: red, green, and blue.2014Moon PieArkam RecordsCDContains songs from the Rabbit in the Pea Patch 7-inch, and the Fadeaways split 7-inch.2014SplitSnuffy Smiles / Arkam Records7-inch EPSplit EP with The Fadeaways2014The Magik Sounds of the Pine Hill HaintsK Records12-inch LP / CD / Cassette2016The Cold, Cold Hand/The Devil's BackboneArkam Records2017SmokeArkam Records12-inch LP / CD202013Arkam Records12-inch LP2021The Song Companion of a Lonestar CowboySingle Lock Records12-inch LP / CD2025Shattered Pieces of The True CrossSingle Lock Records12-inch LP / CD
See also This Bike Is A Pipe Bomb, J.D. Wilkes
References
External links The Official Pine Hill Haints Myspace Razorcake Issue 32