Hillbillies break up, Higbee plays on
Country music fans were stunned and saddened earlier this year when the popular band the PovertyNeck Hillbillies announced that it was breaking up indefinitely. Founding member of the PovertyNeck Hillbillies, Chris Higbee of Dunbar, was as sad and stunned as the fans, saying he learned of the other band members’ decision to take a break of indefinite length via email.
“My world was turned upside down,” Higbee said. “I was knocked off my feet, not knowing when I’d be performing again.”
The regional band appeared to be at the pinnacle of its success when members decided to take a hiatus. They just started to gain national recognition.
The Pittsburgh Steelers named the band as the official band of the team just prior to their 2005 Superbowl win.
Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger appeared in a music video for the group’s song “Mr. Right Now.”
The Hillbillies attracted the attention of independent Nashville label Rust Records in June 2006.
After signing with Rust, the band released its self-titled debut album nationally, selling approximately 30,000 copies.
As founding member, Higbee retains the right to the band’s name, titled after Poverty Neck Lane where his grandfather’s farm is located.
Though hurt by the decision of his previous band members, Higbee has barely missed a beat. In a few short months, he has formed a new band, “The Chris Higbee Project” and has already started performing shows at prime southwestern Pennsylvania venues.
The band has played at Saddle Ridge Saloon at Station Square in Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh Pirates home opener at PNC Park.
Mark Vinsick, lead guitarist in The Chris Higbee Project and longtime close friend of Higbee, said the band has been invited to perform at Jamboree in the Hills on July 19 in Morristown, Ohio.
“We are really excited about playing for the event. We’re playing in the afternoon, opening for country stars Brooks & Dunn, Reba McEntire and Rodney Atkins,” Vinsick said.
In addition to booking shows, the band has recorded its first single, “Break Me Down,” which debuted in April on Froggy 98.3 FM country music radio in Pittsburgh and has received a lot of air time on the station since then.
Higbee said the song’s theme is about getting back up on your feet and trying harder to make your dreams come true, after life’s blows knock your feet out from under you. Something he said he relates to after the break up of the PovertyNeck Hillbillies, and something most everyone can relate to at one time or another.
When asked why he is not performing under the name of the PovertyNeck Hillbillies, Higbee, said, “I haven’t ruled it out for the future. It’s still up in the air.”
He indicated sounding a bit raw with emotion that right now is too soon to perform under the name.
Higbee said though his hiatus from performing was brief, he really missed playing and being on the stage performing.
“I was born to play music,” he said. “I am having fun again playing good music with the new (band) members.”
“The fan support has been wonderful,” he added. “Sometimes we work 14 to 15 hours a day and it is tiring, but it doesn’t feel like a job. By golly, if the fans come out we are going to play for them.”
Like guitarist Vinsick, other band members are Higbee’s longtime friends. Les Philburn, childhood friend and former lead singer of the early PovertyNeck Hillbillies, is a lead vocalist and does harmonies. Close friend and fellow songwriter Jay McKnight plays bass and lead guitar. Higbee’s cousin Troy Williams plays rhythm guitar.
Larry Shotter is the drummer and has played in other local bands. Nate Shrasser of West Virginia, a newcomer, plays the keyboard.
“We are like the Brady Bunch, all connected in some way. And we’re having a lot of fun playing together,” Vinsick said, laughing.
The band like the PovertyNeck Hillbillies is a country band with a rock influence.
“Our show is really cool and energetic,” Vinsick said. “It is the rock genre that gives it an edge.”
Forming a new band isn’t the only exciting thing in Higbee’s life.
On May 17, he married his longtime girlfriend, Melissa in a locally held ceremony.