April 28th, 2009
Fill In The Blanks: Tommy Keene
Longtime D.C.-based power-pop specialist (and Philly favorite) Tommy Keene comes to Johnny Brenda’s Wednesday night behind a really great new album, In the Late Bright. Like Matthew Sweet, Keene — who in addition to his many solo albums has collaborated on projects with the likes of the Replacements’ Paul Westerberg and Guided By Voices’ Robert Pollard — is an expert at marrying memorable melodies and hooks to potent guitar crunch, as you’ll discover if you check out the show tomorrow night. We caught up with Keene for a “Fill in the Blanks” session:
The last time I was in Philadelphia I: Went to a steak and cheese place at three in the morning with Robert Pollard.
My favorite thing about Philadelphia is: The very good audiences who are familiar with TK. And it’s close to D.C.
The strangest thing that ever happened to me in Philadelphia is: When I was in college in 1984 and I had a mid-term the next day and we drove up to Philly to open for the Church. We got there and we were getting ready to load in and there was a play going on at the venue at the time, that play A Coupla White Chicks Sitting Around Talking. So they came out and they said “Here’s the deal — either no one gets a soundcheck, or the Church soundchecks and the opening band gets cancelled.” Obviously it was the latter. So we drove home and I didn’t do very well on the mid-term.
My live show is not a success unless: The band feels as if they’ve connected with the audience and put on a good show.
The most favorite song I have ever written is: “Back to Zero” — I think it was one of the first really good songs I wrote, even though I’d written probably a dozen or so before that, and it still sounds good today.
The one thing that must be provided for me backstage is: A toilet.
The strangest thing someone has shouted at me while I was performing was: That I looked like Alan Thicke. I thought it was kinda chumpy.
The thing I’ll remember most about making In the Late Bright is: Finishing writing the song “Save This Harmony” and thinking that I’d written a really hooky song. It was one of those moments of self- delusion when I thought I’d written a big hit single.
My most treasured possession is: My 1967 orange Telecaster.
The thing I’ll remember most about collaborating with Robert Pollard is: Hearing a couple of what I thought were the lesser songs turned into great ones. I sent him about 30 instrumental songs and he whittled it down to about 15, and then I was surprised at a couple songs I thought were throwaways and he came up with really great melody lines.
The best advice I ever got about making music was: I’m still waiting for that.
I first realized I was musically inclined when: In first grade I got up and played a piece from Carmen at the end of the year on the piano and everyone clapped, and then I was hooked.
The first time I ever performed music in front of an audience I: Was intoxicated with the applause.
The one goal I had for my career when I first started out was: To keep running on blind ambition.
The one goal I have for my career now is: To keep running on blind ambition.
Tommy Keene plays Johnny Brenda’s on Wednesday, April 29th at 9pm. $10.
