About:

Like many musicians, John has floated in and out of bands since he was fifteen. And, like many musicians, those dark days of youthful, misguided, ambiguous blobs of emotional expression captured through song are remembered with considerable discomfort and the realization that is best expressed through his father’s nurturing words from childhood, “It’ll feel better when it quits hurting.” Although “better” is relative, growth is a little more measurable. The constant goal in John’s music has been to grow as a songwriter and a musician. Striving to eliminate excessiveness and recognize attempted cleverness can be annoying. John’s music is a mix of warm rock, organic pop and folk heart with just enough edge to be rock, pop relatability without the overproduction, and the folk ideal of lyrical substance.

His home state of Kentucky is well known for the story telling tradition that is woven through the music created; the influence is unquestionable. According to ME Music Entertainment News John “has truly found the common denominator between serious musical innovation and mainstream pop appeal.”

The Crowd Downstairs, released in 2010, is John’s most recent full album released. This project was a year-long struggle of writing, recording, and producing with band mate (drummer) Ryan McQuerry. The goal was diversity in both lyrical and musical content without abandoning continuity. Most of the songs are an attempt to provide others with words to describe their experiences and feelings. Streets and Clowns (track 10 on The Crowd Downstairs) asks the street “aren’t you tired of the crowd? She said no, they keep me on the ground. The metal and gravity are what shape me.” This metaphor is an example of the album’s guiding idea that although we sometimes love, despise, annoy, or laugh at “The Crowd,” the one unchanging fact we cannot avoid is we are shaped by it.

After twelve months, twelve tracks, and a little too much quality time, John Hatfield and Ryan McQuerry (along with bassist Steven Weber) released The Crowd Downstairs. Following its release, the John Hatfield Band went out to play their new music around town (Most notably at Natasha's Bistro and Bar). In June of 2012, the John Hatfield Band took a break to focus on writing and recording. In July of 2012, bassist Carson Childers joined the band.

These days the John Hatfield Band are busy preparing to release new music. New show dates, radio appearances, and videos are already in the works for 2013. Booking is currently underway to promote new music and build on the current fan base. Venues that support singer/songwriter bands are most appropriate. However, smaller venues that require a more intimate approach are also suitable.