infinite possibility, the brutality of circumstance and dealing with it, dependency, desperation, perseverance, charley patton, hank, BLACK FLAG, the who, waylon, sam cooke, paul, replacements, descendants, lemonheads, tampa red, bessie smith, lou reed, bob, eddie, billie , ella , j.c., doors, geto boys, misfits, django, willie, mahalia , merle, r.j., winged migration, carl sagan, emmett fox, ernest holmes, alex haley, napolean hill, In the Heart of the Sea, In Harm's Way, any combat veterans, any combat fatalities, the ocean, barley soda, Charles Bukowski, thoreau, the trials, tribulations, and the glory and wonder of it all.
Watch the video for "Oh Lord," featured on Deadliest Catch below!
Check out my performance at Eddie's Attic!
King of Coming Around - $12 (does not include S&H)
Kickin' Out The Rungs - $12 (does not include S&H)
Devil in Me - $12 (does not include S&H)
After many years of strumming a six string, writing songs, stirring up trouble while touring the country, music has become the lifeblood of Ken Will Morton. He can't stop. is he nuts? probably.
after many bombastic yet traditional rock band experiences, In the spring of the new millenium , Ken joined the fantastic Indicators. 2003 saw the release of the band’s sophomore CD, Kill the Messenger, a rootsy pop rock record, which received rave reviews from No Depression, Relix, Harp, Paste Magazine and more. he also learned a lot from fellow bandmates with far more skill and experience under their belts.
In the summer of 2002, Ken backed former Guadalcanal Diary front man Murray Attaway as lead guitarist in The Redeemers for a few shows. While Ken had a great time with these projects, he wanted to pursue his ambition of becoming a full-time musician and simply find an outlet for his quickly acruing song reserves. He left The Indicators in spring of 2004, relocated to Athens, Georgia, and worked to finish his first solo record.
In Rock ‘n’ Roll’s Hands was self-released in June of 2004. The recording process was a long and often difficult one for Ken, who spent a long year of sporadic recording with Chuck Jopski at Summer House Sound in Hoschton, GA.
With a smoky, life-worn vocal styling reminiscent of Springsteen, Westerberg and Dylan, and heartfelt lyrics about the frailties of life, In Rock ‘n’ Rolls Hands captured the attention of music critics across the country. The disc has received rave reviews in No Depression, Harp Magazine, Paste Magazine and Performing Songwriter, as well as airplay on many charting non-commercial radio stations such as KUT in Austin, WNCW in Charlotte and WPPP hot 100.7 in athens.
Ken toured the U.S. behind the release, sharing the stage with such folks as Tommy Stinson, Edwin McCain, Todd Snider, Sugarland, Dick Dale, Angie Aparo, Cary Hudson, Randall Bramblett, and more. A short tour of Ireland in 2004 included a performance at the renowned Ruby Sessions in Dublin.
In March 2006, Ken Will released his second solo effort The King Of Coming Around on Fundamental Records. Recorded with producer Rob Gal (Josh Joplin, Swimming Pool Qs), and some with Ben Holst (Love Tractor), the album features the likes of Brann Dailor (Mastodon), John Neff (Drive By Truckers), Billy Holmes (Love Tractor) Kyle Harris (ex Kenny Howes and the Yeah), and Patrick Ferguson (ex Five Eight). A diverse collection of rock, pop, Americana, blues, gospel and folk songs, the album received favorable press from Harp, Paste, Georgia Music Magazine, No Depression, American Songwriter, Jambands.com and more. Morton spent the spring and summer of 2006 touring the Southeast in support of the record with his backing band, The Wholly Ghosts.
In March of 2007, Ken Will performed two showcases at the annual South-By-Southwest convention in Austin, TX. Later that spring, he was nominated for “Best Solo Performer in Athens” by The Flagpole Magazine and made his 4th appearance at AthFest, the annual arts and music festival held in Athens, GA.
Ken Will spent the winter of 2007 putting the finishing touches on not one, but TWO new full-length releases. Devil In Me is a collection of 10 new “rock” songs, recorded in the basement. On Kickin’ Out The Rungs, Ken Will once again aligned with producer Chuck Jopski at Summerhouse Sounds Studios. More of an acoustic based album, the CD features another 10 new songs, including “That’s All Behind Me Now,” a tune co-written with Kristen Hall of the multi-platinum band Sugarland.
With two new albums in the can, and another coming out with new upstart label Sojourn , Ken Will is gearing up for a busy couple of years, following the path he set out on those many years ago when he moved a little further down South to follow his muse.
To Hear More Music visit www.kenwillmorton.com
To Order CD visit www.fundamentalrecords.com
Ken Will Morton
Kickin’ Out The Rungs
Devil in Me
Rara Avis
It’s hard for any artist to squeeze out one good album, much less two at once. It’s significant that Ken Will Morton hits more than he misses on these simultaneously released, but separately packaged, disks. Devil In Me covers his harder, WhiteStripes-type rocking side while Kickin’ Out the Rungs is more (but not exclusively) acoustic-guitar based. Neither dispels any notion that, growing up, this guy must have been a handful for his parents. If the choice was between putting him on Ritalin and buying him a guitar it seems they made the right choice to go with the guitar.
There’s not much conventional about Morton. An effective singer, his voice is apparently gig-worn. As a guitarist he is inventive and original and does a good job of expressing himself without depending on (recognizably) standard riffs. This works very well on Devil. There’s a definite air of self-exorcism when he cracks off lick after high-intensity lick. Like David Gilmour, or maybe even more like Neil Young, Morton is able to communicate his emotional state of mind through his almost anarchistic approach to the guitar. Playing, singing, or songwriting, Morton goes undeterred- and undistracted- where he wants to, and usually he gets there with the listener following willingly.
Rungs may be the more accessible of the two disks. Morton is neither tuneless nor anti-melodic, but his songs seldom end up where they started and he’s not much for hooks, which separates him from similar artists like, well… nobody. There’s a lot of rocker, some cowboy, some folkie, and some Nashville country in him, showcased in the Jayhakws-ish “Long Way Down.” And he is not shy about taking a sharp left in the middle of a song (“Fuddydud”). The effect is surprising, sometimes jarring, but Morton makes such detours work without turning them into MacGuffins.
Both discs feature all-original Morton compositions save for “That’s All Behind Me Now,” a highlight on Rungs co-written with Kristen Hall of the more traditional and significantly less provocative Sugarland. -RA
July/ August 2008
KEN WILL MORTON Devil in Me / Kickin’ Out the Rungs (RARA AVIS) ***
Ken Will Morton didn’t want to choose between ripping fiery solos on electric guitar and having his battered-but-tough-skinned working-man’s song, lyrics clearly heard this time, so he didn’t – he made room for both. Kickin Out the Rungs is an acoustic-based affair, with Morton’s scruffy, nasal slurring front and center, while Devil in Me is his guitar catharsis – 11 tracks ratcheted up with driving, boogying verve, volume and lyrics packed in a little less densely. Both albums (together they make four for Morton) treat the exploits of a hard-living soul (drinking, gambling etc.), but Morton’s characters boast about them on Devil and come damn close to apologizing for the on Kickin’. Or, if not apologizing, the country-rock romp “Get My Head Right” at least talks about trying to get it together. All told, Morton did a good thing by indulging his dual love of songs and soloing. – JEWLY HIGHT
May 2008
One thing you can’t accuse Athens-based rocker/singer/songwriter Ken Will Morton of is being lazy. On April 8, he released two CDs (the acoustic-driven Kickin’ Out The Rungs and the flat-out electric Devil In Me) simultaneously, while, according to his bio, recording yet another album of material to be released on the Sojourn label. When does the man have time to sleep? Sleeping, actually, does not seem to be one of Morton’s chief concerns; instead he is seemingly consumed with writing, recording and performing his music and the quality of his commitment can be heard on the 21 tracks on these two CDs. Most of the songs on the quieter Kickin’ Out The Rungs feature Morton’s songs backed by acoustic guitar, bass, drums, a spare electric guitar and an uncredited better-than-average harmonica player. The melodies are generally memorable and the lyrics are introspective and thought provoking, especially with the stanout track, “That’s All Behind Me Now,” co-written by songwriter extraordinaire and ex-Sugarlander Kristen Hall.
Morton’s sometimes thin and nasally voice, perhaps his only weakness, occasionally comes through too strong on Kickin’..., but seems very well suited to the electric attack of Devil In Me. Recorded in his basement, Morton and his band The Wholly Ghosts confidently rock their way through 11 Westerbergian rockers with highlights being the leadoff title track and the slightly Americana-tinged “Still Look Pretty.”
Whether presented in a quieter or louder setting, Ken Will Morton’s music seems best suited to listening while swigging a beer or two with friends or strangers destined to be friends, and these two CDs are the perfect introduction to this talented musician whom you will undoubtedly want to number amongst your friends as well. (Self-released)
Spring 2008
Ken Will Morton - Kickin' Out the Rungs
Blessed with a voice that crosses somewhere between the whine of Bob Dylan, the passion of Bruce Springsteen and the angst of Paul Westerberg, Ken Will Morton's gravitation towards rootsy singer-songwriter stuff is fitting. His background is more gritty-power pop by-the-way-of-punk in bands like Wonderlust, the Indicators and the Redeemers-but Kickin' Out the Rungs only briefly nods to that style on "I Am the Wheel" and the sturdy rock of "Gamblin' Man's Blues." Instead, the new album leans heavily on spare, finger-picked songs with a country vibe and a lonely spirit. Whether it's the encouraging earnestness of "Don't Feel Bad For Cryin'," the bleak confessional of "My Only Conviction" or the casual strum of "Fuddydud," Morton's earthy delivery and wry observations make this disc a winner in a very crowded field. - JOHN DAVIDSON
Hey. Please don't feel bad. You'd just played a show. That was my fault. I'll make up for that photo with a lot of great ones for you. I sent Michelle an email today, so hopefully soon. So far, "On My Feet Again" and "Breathe" are definitely my favorites. You are certainly talented. ~Alisha
Hey! Thanks for adding me! You’re a true gem! If you wouldn't mind, I'd love it if you could take a couple minutes and check out my tunes. Leave me a comment and let me know what you think! And it would be much appreciated if you could spread the word about me! If your feeling my tunes, don’t hesitate to add me to your top friends! By the way, I love your style! Thanks a lot!
Hi Ken, Great to have you as a friend!! Best wishes, Mike (Brett Huckfield's promo team). PS Please check out Brett's debut release 'Here Again' (available on iTunes, Amazon, Napster etc.) Hope you enjoy the music!!
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