“I was a writer first. I didn’t know I wanted to sing until I started putting my words to music,” says Bilchik, of St. Louis, Missouri. Blending rock and contemporary folk, his words and music offer a personal perspective with wide appeal. “When I perform my songs, it’s like taking a tour of what I’ve learned about life in the past 10 years. Every time I play, it’s a reminder that your whole life comes along with you wherever you go. You can’t run away from it. I’m hoping that people who hear my music feel that I’ve said something they’ve been thinking about, too.”

Kevin’s life path swerved significantly from the expected. “Like a lot of people, I knew there was something out there for me, but I didn’t know what or where it was,” he says. “That’s when I started taking my own route. I caught rides to random places out West. I followed bands around on festival tours. I apprenticed in non-traditional jobs and lived in unconventional communities. Those times and places and people led me to some of the ideas and lessons that drive my songs today.”

But there was always a guitar, he adds. “As a little kid, I took about two piano lessons before I quit, and I played the trombone for a couple of days. But I grabbed a guitar whenever things were uncomfortable socially, or when nothing was happening. So there was always the opportunity to channel my experiences into a song.” And he did. “I’ve spent the past 16 years finding my voice as a singer and writer, playing music on back porches, in basements, coffee houses and bars, working restaurant jobs, and writing lyrics on napkins and take-out order forms.”

A chance meeting in a St. Louis guitar shop jump-started Kevin’s official music career. “The people I met that day are still some of my best friends, collaborators and critics,” he says. “And I still look at every day as another chance to pick up my guitar and see what happens.” Kevin currently performs as a solo artist and with his band.

Reviews:

Kevin Bilchik has a great voice and a very strong "singer/songwriter" tone about him. With an undeniable modern country feel. You can tell he loves these words and means every syllable leaving his lips. He was able to create a commendably non-cliché love album, by his use of ever-changing technique and sounds to distract the listener from the fact that the entire album is a love song. He has the ability throughout the album to change not only his style and tone, but feelings and mood, while performing all of them well. Jumping from the country farm boy in track one, to the mysterious cowboy in track three, and back to a folk country swing by track five. Overall, a pretty relaxed album with a proud Midwestern feel. I would definitely recommend track 6, "When The Rain Comes!" -Elizabeth O'Brien, Static Magazine

The fact that Kevin Bilchik was a writer far before he was a singer and performer is more than evident on his debut release, Paper Money. His lyrics, as well as a smooth, stark delivery and composition are reminiscent of artists such as Bob Dylan and Tom Waits at his most folky. Relying on the strength of storytelling, Bilchik's music is only the delivery system for stories that immerse the listener in vivid imagery and powerful states of mind. Sung in a plain, no frills sandy baritone, there is little to distract you from Bilchik's tales of the extraordinary in everyday life. - “Under My Wheels” tackles how your own worst enemy is very often yourself. The track illustrates how steadily losing respect for oneself can bring a life spiraling down to rock bottom. Lyrics such as “Once upon a time, in the last few years / I started to disappear / I could see myself in the rear view mirror / The wheels were rolling me over / I'm under my wheels” sculpt a poetic yet very genuine visage of the dangers of self-loathing. Paper Money's title track moves along with a country-folk sound that will make the listener sit up and take notice. The instrumentation on this track is simple and subtle which is the perfect compliment to Bilchik's vocals. -Paper Money is a very intimate record, radiating an aura of accessibility, it becomes truly easy to identify with and relate to. By the end of this six-track CD you will be left wanting more, sad that it has to end. The album definitely falls into the singer/songwriter category, and those who have an aversion to the genre will likely not even give it a chance. However, not giving this record a chance is a travesty. Heartfelt and unassuming yet powerful, Paper Money is what songwriting should be all about. -James Dufendach, 30music.com

Listen to the very first track “Long Ride” on Kevin Bilchik's CD Paper Money and you're hooked for the rest. Kevin's songs and vocal style are a simple pleasure that you want to indulge in again and again. Good songs. Good writing. Good style. I really enjoyed listening to this CD and will certainly add it my collection of to enjoy on a regular basis. -Angie Chaney, Vision Music Group Nashville , Roots Music Report

Kevin Bilchik proves the old adage “less is more.” With six well-crafted tunes on his new album, there's no room for filler. Instead, listeners are left with 23 minutes of top-notch music. Sure, other bands in the pop-meets-folk-meets-rock genre also have catchy, memorable songs, but Paper Money doesn't sandwich its killer tracks in between a sea of forgettable noise. All are equally well done, with “Under My Wheels” leading the pack in perfection. With a remarkable similarity to The Wallflowers, Kevin's mellow, adult contemporary sound will please almost anyone, If you're looking for a quality soft rock album superior to most radio junk, this is it. -Jason Janik, Harder Beat Magazine

St. Louis native Kevin Bilchik started out as a writer before he started putting his words to music. That commitment to the craft of choosing the right words -- in the right combination – comes through loud and clear on Bilchik's debut EP recording, Paper Money. It's obvious that Bilchik took the time to hone his lyrics well... every one of the six originals on Paper Money possesses an organic, emotional core that's built on the power of the lyrics. Images of cars, wheels and road trips reverberate from song to song as well, adding to the coherent feel of the tunes. Producer/engineer Jacob Detering – who also contributes fine guitar, bass and mandolin playing to the recording – creates textures for each song that provide just the right mood for each one. R. Scott Bryan, David Aholt and Christopher Hughes add solid musicianship throughout. Every cut works, but special mention has to go to “Lost Art” and “When the Rain Comes.”  You'll be hearing more from Kevin Bilchik. -Terry Perkins, music journalist

All songs copyright 2006 / ASCAP

Long Ride

Written by Kevin Bilchik/Produced and Engineered by Jacob Detering, Red Pill Entertainment 2006/ credits: Kevin Bilchik(lead vocals)/Jacob Detering(acoustic and electric guitars, bass guitar)/David Aholt(rhodes, keyboards, accordian)/R Scott Bryan(cajon, snare and bass drums, auxiliary percussion)/J Christopher Hughes(hihat)/Mastered by Brad Sarno

Under My Wheels

Written by Kevin Bilchik/ Produced and Engineered by Jacob Detering 2006, Red Pill Entertainment/ credits: Kevin Bilchik(lead vocals)/ Jacob Detering(guitars, bass guitar)/ David Aholt(rhodes, B3)/ R Scott Bryan(percussion)/ J Christopher Hughes (drums)/ mastered by Brad Sarno

Paper Money

Written by Kevin Bilchik/Produced and engineered by Jacob Detering - Red Pill Entertainment 2006/ credit: Kevin Bilchik(lead vocals)/Jacob Detering(guitars, bass guitar)/David Ahlot(rhodes, B3, keyboards)/R Scott Bryan (percussion)/Grover Stewart(drums)/ mastered by Brad Sarno

Arizona

Written by Kevin Bilchik. Produced and engineered by Jacob Detering, 2006 Red Pill Entertainment. Song credits: Kevin Bilchik (vocals)/ Jacob Detering (guitars)/ Chris Boslett (bass guitar)/Christopher Hughes (drums)/ Ross Bell (melophone)/ David Aholt (rhodes, B3)/ Mastered by Brad Sarno - Blue Jade Audio Mastering

Lost Art

Written by Kevin Bilchik. Produced by Jacob Detering and R Scott Bryan. Engineered by Jacob Detering, 2006 Red Pill Entertainment. Song credits: Kevin Bilchik (lead vocals)/ Jacob Detering (guitar)/ R Scott Bryan (bass guitar, percussion, slide guitar)/ David Aholt (rhodes, B3)/ mastered by Brad Sarno- Blue Jade Audio Mastering

When The Rain Comes

Written by Kevin Bilchik/ Produced and Engineered by Jacob Detering 2006, Red Pill Entertainment/ credits: Kevin Bilchik(lead vocals)/ Jacob Detering(guitars, bass guitar)/ David Aholt(rhodes, B3)/ R Scott Bryan(percussion)/ J Christopher Hughes (drums)/ mastered by Brad Sarno