Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks to bring acoustic swing

NEWTON — Dan Hicks, one of the defining figures of American roots music and king of hipster-chic, according to his 2013 biography, is widely thought of as an eclectic musician — though he isn’t so sure the label fits.

“It seems to be a term that gets used,” he said, “but I sometimes wonder about it.”

He prefers to think of his band’s sound as acoustic swing with a touch of country. As a jazz enthusiast, Hicks leans heavily on swing and scat vocals, but his folk guitar styling gives Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks’ music that hard to define quality.

Regardless of how their sound is classified, the band will perform at the Newton Theater on Saturday, Aug. 10. Tickets range from $29 to $34 and can be purchased at the theater’s box office.

Since forming the Hot Licks in 1968, Hicks has stuck to the same basic formula.

“It’s a light approach,” he said. “We don’t take ourselves that seriously, but we’re serious about making the best sound we can make.”

While Hicks hasn’t always been visible as a national performer throughout his 40-plus year career, at 71 years old he continues to deliver.

“I’ve evolved,” he said. “I’m even better than I used to be.“ He then quipped: “At least, I rarely get worse.”

This sense of humor has also been a cornerstone of Hicks’ music. While he doesn’t claim to be funny, he often finds concertgoers smiling and snickering in their seats at his shows.

“The humor is in the margins,” he said.

The longevity of this humor was brought to attention on a recent episode of Meet the Press, when a correspondent referenced one of the earliest songs Hicks wrote, titled How Can I Miss You When You Won’t Go Away.

"Live at Davies"
To celebrate his 70th birthday, Hicks held a sold-out concert at Davies’ Hall in San Francisco, invited his musician friends and recorded the result.

“Everybody and their brother showed up with a guitar,” Hicks said. “It was a success.”

At the upcoming Newton Theater show, Hicks will play some of the tracks from the new live record, which covers most of his four-decade career, but also plans on unveiling some surprises the public hasn’t heard. He also says fans can expect to hear his signature songs, including "I Scare Myself,” which Hicks said he performs every night.

To check out "Live at Davies" or learn more about Dan Hicks, visit www.danhicks.net. To purchase tickets to the Aug. 10 Newton Theater show, call 973-383-3700 or visit thenewtontheater.com.