Warren Haynes Band Cover Kevn Kinney’s “The Flower and the Knife” for Massive Tribute Album
The Warren Haynes Band have recorded a new treatment of Kevn Kinney’s “The Flower and the Knife” for Let’s Go Dancing: the Reimagined Songs of Kevn Kinney/Drivin N Cryin. Haynes and his backing quartet’s take on the title track from Kinney’s 2000 studio album is the latest contribution to a sprawling collection of 100 covers that’s been quietly rolling out since 2023; the shadowy, soul-stirring Southern-rock of Haynes’ version builds on a storied musical relationship with Kinney and his music.
“I always loved the song ‘The Flower and the Knife’ going back to when Kevn and I were working on the album of the same name together,” Haynes reflected on his cover selection. ‘For this project, I wanted to take a little bit different approach to it, which was easy enough considering that the original version was only two acoustic guitars and Kevn’s voice. This version has a spooky New Orleansy type of vibe, which makes sense in respect to the lyric.”
Haynes’ gruffly sensitive anad ardent guitar lead a version of Kinney’s solo original that gets at just what has made the Drivin N Cryin frontman’s music so important to so many of his peers. Kinney’s songs, like Haynes, endeavored to reinvigorate Southern rock at a time when the torch was passed from the form’s early innovators, breaking the style free from tropes and recombinging the region’s rich sonic history to establish it as a vital part of America’s musical identity. Haynes’ spin on the track to which he contributed guitar back in 2000 is supported by his Warren Haynes Band quartet of Terence Higgins on drums, Kevin Scott on bass, Greg Osby on saxophone and Matthew Slocum on keyboards.
“Warren Haynes is one the kindest, deep thinking badasses of all time,” Kinney said of his longtime friend and collaborator. “He was producing [The Flower and the Knife in 2000] but he was also accompanying me. Derek Trucks lent him Bukka White’s dobro; he had me playing his acoustic Gibson… and off we went. The Flower and The Knife is one of my proudest moments. With special guests Allen Woody, Oteil Burbridge, Derek Trucks, Jimmy Herring, John Popper and Edwin McCain. It was a great week!
“Fast forward to today almost 30 years later…Warren’s epic cinematic version of the title song “The Flower and the Knife” is now available and it’s spectacular! Really listen closely to the soundscape and be transported to a lonely window coach seat on the Southern Crescent. Heading southbound, where the confusing ain’t so confusing ‘cause I know everybody there… I’ll see you there.”
Listen to the Warren Haynes Band’s version of “The Flower and the Knife” here. Hayne’s cover follows more than 85 previous tributes from Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Elf Power, Pylon Reenactment Society, Parker Gispert Shovels and Rope, Patterson Hood featuring Peter Buck, Keller Williams, The Black Crowes, Wreckless Eric, Jimmy Vivino and many more. Find the fulll list here.
