Spring Break
Keegan Smith: Funky, eclectic, exuberant
Portland-based musician gets Portland dancing at live performance
Rachel Love
Issue date: 5/8/09 Section: Diversions
When I first walked into the Baghdad theater in Portland, I wasn't expecting much. I had been invited to the CD release party for Keegan Smith and the Fam, a band I had never heard of but had won multiple Portland Music awards.
But when I was hustled through the "VIP" entrance, I was immediately faced with a huge crowd that blew away all my expectations.
Keegan himself walked among the crowd, greeting friends and talking to anyone who stopped him, while one of his opening acts, the Acoustic Minds, got everyone worked up.
During the entire show, Keegan gushed about his friends and family (including his wife and new baby, to whom he dedicates the new CD), which was endearing but also a little bit awkward.
However, Keegan's constant salutations to familiar audience members as well as his collaboration with the opening acts make it pretty obvious that his friends and close-knit fan base are responsible for a large part of his success.
When I got home and popped my complimentary copy of Smith's "Special Delivery" into my computer, the first thing I noticed was that its genre was listed as "easy listening."
While the album may seem vaguely reminiscent of easy listening, it in no way resembles the elevator music that immediately comes to mind.
The sound is eclectic, with guest musicians beat-boxing in some tracks, and other tracks use a method similar to that of T-pain's auto-tune (though it's hard for me to tell the difference between the auto-tune and talk box effects).
The CD is all the more impressive when you're lucky enough to see the live show.
Keegan's "easy listening" somehow managed to get almost the entire crowd up and dancing to the funky, eclectic and exuberant live sound.
While buying CDs has largely become a thing of the past, I would highly recommend going to of Keegan's live shows if you have the opportunity.
You will not be disappointed.
Rachel Love
diversions@dailybarometer.com
But when I was hustled through the "VIP" entrance, I was immediately faced with a huge crowd that blew away all my expectations.
Keegan himself walked among the crowd, greeting friends and talking to anyone who stopped him, while one of his opening acts, the Acoustic Minds, got everyone worked up.
During the entire show, Keegan gushed about his friends and family (including his wife and new baby, to whom he dedicates the new CD), which was endearing but also a little bit awkward.
However, Keegan's constant salutations to familiar audience members as well as his collaboration with the opening acts make it pretty obvious that his friends and close-knit fan base are responsible for a large part of his success.
When I got home and popped my complimentary copy of Smith's "Special Delivery" into my computer, the first thing I noticed was that its genre was listed as "easy listening."
While the album may seem vaguely reminiscent of easy listening, it in no way resembles the elevator music that immediately comes to mind.
The sound is eclectic, with guest musicians beat-boxing in some tracks, and other tracks use a method similar to that of T-pain's auto-tune (though it's hard for me to tell the difference between the auto-tune and talk box effects).
The CD is all the more impressive when you're lucky enough to see the live show.
Keegan's "easy listening" somehow managed to get almost the entire crowd up and dancing to the funky, eclectic and exuberant live sound.
While buying CDs has largely become a thing of the past, I would highly recommend going to of Keegan's live shows if you have the opportunity.
You will not be disappointed.
Rachel Love
diversions@dailybarometer.com
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