Robert Earl Keen fans can pre-order an autographed LP of his soon-to-be released album, Ready For Confetti, on his Web site.
Keen’s 11th studio album hits stores Aug. 30. The latest release is on the Lost Highway label.
Based on the title track and the single, “I Gotta Go,” the album sounds like another good one by REK.
He says he tried to concentrate on a few simple themes like joy and happiness when writing the latest batch of songs and then when he went into the studio to record with his band they stripped down the numbers to make them sound as loose and friendly as possible.
That’s completely fitting with Keen’s warm spirit. He’s an artist who easily endears himself to an audience.
Early in his career, he would travel to Santa Cruz, Calif., and perform solo acoustic shows at the tiny Kuumbwa Jazz Center. He would tell funny stories and sing beautiful songs, tell beautiful stories and sing funny songs.
When the show ended, the audience couldn’t wait until the next time the big Texan would come to Surf City.
Santa Cruz has long been a Keen hot spot, largely because KPIG, a local radio station found at 107 oink 5 on the dial, had the good taste and carefree attitude to play a lot of his songs. That’s how I first came across him.
The city became the setting for one of his best songs, “I’m Coming Home.”
As his popularity grew, Keen went on to play larger venues and perform with a bigger and louder band. That’s taken away from the intimacy of those early shows, but even so he still puts on a good show. He's a first-rate songwriter with a head full of colorful characters, a sense of adventure, and a heart full of tender tales.
Keen’s albums always come with high expectations. Lucky for us he usually delivers.
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