"...This storyteller (road songs, portraits, social criticisms) writes easily and is very convincing in his art, which means there is absolutely no need to use the fast-forward button."
--BART EBISCH, HOLLAND (WWW.ALTCOUNTRY.NL)
Influences
i'm interested in context. Bill Hicks, Jimi Hendrix, etc., etc....George Orwell, Albert Einstien....
"Once and a while you find a cd on your desk which had been independently released. Usually hand-woven artists who'd have done better keeping their musical aspirations in their own home circle, but sometimes it's a nugget. Jim Keaveny belongs in this last category. A small pearl in the American folk tradition of Guthrie and Dylan and when Keaveny uses some instrumentation, Steve Earle is only just around the corner."
--CHRIS KIJNE, HOLLAND
Sounds Like
People say I sound like Steve Earle, Bob Dylan, Woody and/or Arlo Guthrie, John Prine, Steve Forbert, and Greg Brown alot.
... I was born and raised in Bismarck, North Dakota. Was trained in
classical piano from 2nd to 8th grad. My instructor, Mrs. Buck, chose
me from all her students to represent her at the University of Mary
outside of town. I played a piece called "Chimes".
Always hated school and never did well at it. One teacher of mine
suggested seatbelting me to my desk chair. I was diagnosed with a.d.d.
by the 8th grade. To me the entire thing was and still is a joke. Grades were at their worst by then and my mother insisted I either quit sports or piano. I
quit piano to escape the nun-like strictness of Mrs. Buck. Started in a rock
band my junior year as bass player.
It was then I started the guitar and began writing songs.
Instead of collage, I hitchhiked and rode freight trains around the
country for about a year-and-a-half. These were the best times of m
life... I met some of my best friends and felt that i was finding
myself with the like-minds, the guitar, the traveling, and the poetry.
Played in a band in Eugene, Oregon a couple years. Worked as a
fisherman, a dishwasher, a cook, a treeplanter, a firefighter, a
janitor, a graveyard maintenance man, a brewer, in several factories,
and later (what I do now) as a carpenter.
I've lived solely by busking (performing on the streets) for about two years
of my life, the second round in Europe, mostly Spain.
Arrived in Austin early '96. Played with a few different bands
including the "Fence Cutters". In 1998 I began playing solo and then released my first of three records. "These Old Things" (2000), " The Great Historical Bum"(2002), and " A Boot Stomping"(2005) are the titles.
I was a "New Folk Finalist" in 2005 at the Kerrville Folk Festival.
I play in the central Texas area as well as tour about 4 months of
the year in both the states and E.U.
I consider myself a folk/country singer. I play alotta harmonica.
Jim Keaveny
April 9th, 2007
"A 2005 new folk finalist, Jim Keaveny is as DIY as folk music gets. From his hand written bio to a summer spent busking in Europe, Jim lives close to the ground and his third record (A Boot Stomping) only reinforces his stance..." -- JIM CALIGIURI, AUSTIN CHRONICLE
"I heard this album and got a copy of it in a hostel in Amsterdam, Nederlands from the sweet sweet front lady. I hear that Jim had been there once or so. I was impressed with the music then and I am still impressed today. His songs are original yet manage to exude a refreshingly reminiscent flavor of traveling music. It is folk music. that's it. There's no question about it. I feel as if I am breathing the clean air of Montana or on an open rail cart somewhere in europe when I hear this...." -- MICHAEL HURLEY (CDbaby.com review)
Hi Jim, wow - this is exactly what I expect from good ol' Tejas songwriting!!! Beside your own style I'm hearing old howls and hollers from Woody Gurhrie to Guy Clark! Great lyrics also...specially your "German Song"! I'm looking for fall to meet you here! Best from Leipzig!! Stefan
Hey Jim, How is New Orleans? Heard you were going to be in the parade. WooHoo! Thanks for enlightening Ben to the Lura experience and thus sending her my way as well. Also,Ron Paul is going to be at my school tomorrow. Very exciting. Hope you're doing well! Buena Suerte, Laura
Love your music and your choice of songs. I grew up with parents that listened to the Chad Mitchell Trio so I knew all their songs by heart. Haven't heard anyone else do "The Great Historical Bum" until you! Sounds like you lead a free spirited life...good for you. Keep on pickin' and the rest of us will keep on enjoying your songs.
hey buddy, hope all's well in a-town. i'm out in cali--for now. managed to record an album while in austin. will get you a copy when it's pressed. keep in touch and all the best...
Hey Jim :) how's the craziness in Austin treating you? Wonderfully I hope. I sent Ben some mail to your address. Next time I will send you a surprise, too. Happy Belated Thanksgiving!