Hiya. I'm Kenley Young, and I play music. I also write, sing and record it, with my band, The Open Fires. We're based in Columbia, S.C., and we're glad you've found us on MySpace.

Our band has enjoyed some success in the famously hot Capital City in the past few years, and I've been fortunate enough to have shared the stage with a number of excellent artists during that time: from Mike Watt to Sarah Lee Guthrie and Johnny Irion, from Nine Days ("Story of a Girl") and Mark Bryan (Hootie and the Blowfish) to members of the Polyphonic Spree.

"Kenley's resume is no coincidence," says the Free Times, Columbia's weekly entertainment paper, "as his gift of song is the stuff would-be Lloyd Doblers ["Say Anything"] would be proud to hoist above their heads."

Regarding our band, The Open Fires, the paper says that "with their powers combined, they could be captains of Columbia's rock scene."

We're honored, and we're not planning to stop there. Last year was a particularly busy one, including a house show with Nashville, Tenn., legend Phil Lee as well as a performance in front of a crowd of 2,000 at the Florida Theatre in Jacksonville. We aim to continue traveling and garnering the same kind of buzz as this review from Southeastern Performer:

"Take a moment to recollect the last time a pop album was praised for its depth and emotion. Kenley Young is not only the strength behind the vocals, but the poetic genius that delivers compelling, passionate lyrics."

So far, 2009 has been just as exciting as last year, with the release of my first full-length record, "Standard Candle," available on DigStation.com and iTunes. I hope you like what you hear.

You can find more information about me and my music at www.kenleyyoung.com, or at kenleyyoung.ubik.net on your mobile device. And feel free to contact me any time at kenleyoyoung@gmail.com.