June 14, 2017
Pat Keen with special guest Addison Israelson
7-10pm
$10 suggested donation
Recorded throughout 2016, Albatross is performed almost entirely by Keen himself. The record began to take shape during the tail end of a 4-month long retreat in New Hampshire, during which time Keen studied guitar and music theory in Brattleboro, VT with Chris Weisman. Featuring guest vocals from the likes of Adelyn Rose’s Addie Strei, and other American midwest-based songwriters, Pat Keen’s music hints at an underlying pop-sensibility while not shying from experimental influences. The instrumental texture of the record is highly nuanced, as Keen employs all possible timbres from an accompaniment of acoustic and electric guitars, bass and drums. Albatross also shows Keen making a concerted effort to deliver a virtuosic vocal performance. In preparation, he trained his vocals with Minnesota-based musician J.E. Sunde.
“I write my lyrics from a rhythmic/sound standpoint at first and then things just flow out and end up totally meaning something,” Keen says regarding his writing style. Tracks like “Chappy Coat” and “Wannabes” boldly embody this concept, with each musical / lyrical phrase standing as a distinct statement within the larger groove of the track. As a result, Keen’s music mixes meters, employs chromatic, jazz-influenced harmonies and volleys between quiet, tender moments and dramatic swells. Thematically, the record shows Keen confronting his past and his changing relationships with his family and friends in the face of a move back to his native midwest. Tracks like “idk” and “Sore Thumb” analyze the peaceful end of a romantic relationship, the first that Keen says “didn’t end like a tornado”. The record is dedicated to Pat Keen’s mother.
Album release date:
2 June 2017
Addison Israelson is a multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter from Rochester, Minnesota. His rich melodies and strong lyrical stylings create a roots by the way of indie sound and are accentuated by an incredibly talented backing band. His music is faintly reminiscent of fellow Minnesotans Gary Louris, Jeremy Messersmith, and Bob Dylan
