They sing about booze and broads. They sing about drugs and their Southern roots, given by the grace of God. They sing about hurt, they sing about pain and they sing about things that drive them insane.

Poetics aside, Heaven Hill keeps their music simple and Southern. 

Chuck Willis (vocals) and Teague Ridge (bass), formerly of Breckinridge, are no strangers to the spotlight. Breckinridge was the first unsigned band ever to make it onto Billboard’s Heatseeker charts. They also grabbed sponsorships by Budweiser and Red Bull. 

The biggest musical difference between Breckinridge and Heaven Hill, Ridge says, is that the latter is “a lot more grown up. The music is more mature and these guys have made us better musicians. That’s about all there is to that.”

Guitarist Chris Evans, formerly of The Constant and Never the Man, fellow guitarist Kris Kerr and drummer Steven O’Reilly (Exit Left and S-Tribe) round out the lineup. Heaven Hill trades in Southern guitar licks, soulful bass, grungy-yet-progressive movements with a twist of lyrical raunchiness that everyone can either relate or admit to.

“I’ve Done It” and “Top of the South” sum up the group’s musical attitude. Heaven Hill’s album, Somewhat Civil, dropped Tuesday on Krowe Records. Dig the songs at
www.myspace.com/heavenhill.

Jason Ashcraft is a freelance writer for Louisville Music News.