As one of the more unique acts in the world of acoustic roots music, the Hillbilly Thomists use music infused with faith to relay their deeply held beliefs.
The band is composed of friars of the Order of Preachers (Dominicans). The proceeds from their tours and record sales benefit the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, D.C., where the members first met and began making music.
The “Thomist” part of their group’s name refers to followers of the Catholic saint and theologian St. Thomas Aquinas. Thomist thinking includes the belief that “the invisible grace of God can be at work in visible things.”
“This for us is not music for Mass,” explained band member Father Justin Bolger, O.P. They have, however, recorded music for Mass with other friars; this includes albums of Dominican chant, polyphony and hymnody.
Most of what the Hillbilly Thomists do on most of their recorded music, however, is a more accessible way of reaching people. Fr. Justin described it as “old-timey country,” with some of it even “bordering on rock ‘n’ roll.”
“A lot of families like the music,” he added. “I think it fills a nice place in Catholic life where it isn’t praise music or liturgical chant but is more for hanging out. It’s more for the BBQ…for driving around…”
There’s a deeper aspect to it as well.
“We’ve heard stories of people being touched by the music toward the end of life,” Fr. Justin explained. Death shows up often in the lyrics, as could be expected of a music centered on things of the spirit. “A lot of the songs we write touch on that theme.”
He said the Hillbilly Thomists “sing in a joyful way” but do not shy away from – and in fact, embrace – examinations of suffering.
The group has released several albums. Their first – 2017’s eponymously-titled The Hillbilly Thomists – reached #3 on the Billboard Bluegrass Chart. This year, they released their fourth album, Marigold.
“The album is about all kinds of stuff…some of our characters are inspired by Flannery O’Connor,” Fr. Justin said of the Southern Gothic-style novelist and short story writer. That literary genre is often filled with depictions of colorful but troubled characters hailing from the Deep South. “Her stories are dark, but sometimes they show how grace can really interrupt…some of our songs kind of correspond with her worldview.”
One example is a song from the new record called “Justify You.” Fr. Justin said it is about “rundown characters in a bar and the wisdom they have in their suffering.”
Another track echoes a Biblical story. “If the story of the Prodigal Son happened in the American South, this is what we think it would sound like,” Fr. Justin said.
The song the album is named after – “Marigold” – is about the Virgin Mary. “I’m not aware of a bluegrass, folk or country song, really, that’s about Our Lady,” he said. “The marigold [flower] is associated with her. It is kind of a song about patience, especially in suffering.”
Having just wrapped up a summer tour, the Hillbilly Thomists have settled down a bit until their availability opens up again. Most of the music is made when the group members are free for extra projects; that usually means summertime.
“We also have full-time, or more than full-time, ministries,” Fr. Justin said. For instance, his main job is serving as a Catholic Chaplain at Brown University.
Over the next year, they’ll be working on recording and releasing a Christmas record.
“It’s just carols…there are so many beautiful ones,” Fr. Justin said. Despite using instruments such as banjo and mandolin, he added it’s “not so much bluegrass…it’s a little bit more plaintive, a little bit more contemplative.” In advance of that full record coming in the next year, they recorded a single for this Christmas season: a Hillbilly Thomists version of “Silent Night.”
While Fr. Justin said music can definitely be “cathartic,” its purpose for these men goes well beyond just rousing the emotions.
“Music can raise the heart and mind to noble things,” Fr. Justin said, adding that “beauty has an arresting quality to it. When you can couple some good music with some lyrical depth…that’s a good package.”
The music has been embraced not only by the Catholic faithful but by others outside the fold. That’s a pretty good sign that the messages of the Hillbilly Thomists are reaching people.
“We get invites from protestant pastors and chaplains. Most priests are not asked to preach to protestant congregations,” he said, explaining that the music is an entry point to ministering to different groups.
To Fr. Justin, this is a real plus. He described – in the simplest terms possible – how music is a great way of sharing.
“This music is another way to the heart,” he said.