Apparently, after fronting for various bands throughout New England for more than 40 years (The Bailey Brothers Band, Southbound, The Subheds, the NutGrafs), Billy “The Kid Claiborne” has decided to go it alone. Not a bad move, in my opinion. "Heart of the Matter" contains the gruff-but-tender quality of certain Americana singer-songwriter greats such as the Boss and Townes van Zandt, with a slight shakiness to his voice that suggests history, pain, and wisdom. "I'm ready to change, I'm ready for the happy ever-after/ So why don't we sit right here and get to the heart of the matter." Claiborne says on his website: “I play the songs that are meaningful to me in the hopes that I’m not all that different than the folks who come see me and that will be meaningful to them.”