Modern West really got its start when my wife (Christine) encouraged me to reconnect musically with John Coinman.
I wasn’t really sure after all these years how it might work. I wasn’t really sure what to say. But if life has taught me anything it was not be stopped by the question or the unknown. F… it, what did I have to lose but maybe some of the best times of my life?
I made the call to Tucson. “John what do you think?” He never hesitated, willing to explore the idea. But it was always more than just an idea for me. It was a feeling that I had been unable to articulate. For a long time now I have felt the need to connect with people in a more meaningful way than just the autograph. I have found myself here and around the world in different situations where the only exchange has been just that…a quick signature on the run usually followed by a “gee, he’s taller than I thought.”
I always thought that music could build a stronger, more personal moment for me. It would create the opportunity for a genuine exchange much greater than the movie, TV interview or magazine. It would be real, full of mistakes and without apology. But most of all there would be the chance to have some fun. The question was, would it work? I thought it could but I wasn’t really sure. I had been out on creative limbs before, and this felt familiar.
I asked John to get some guys together starting with Blair Forward who was in the first and only band I was ever in. John would pick the rest. If we were to play together the majority of our music would have to be our own compositions. What ever else we played would be old favorites of mine. They would come from friends, some famous and some who probably should be. The rest would be from artists that I have enjoyed over the years. If we played it would be Live, Loud and Long. The idea was simple. Don’t stop the party. Everybody understood and everybody went to work.
Teddy Morgan out of Nashville is our lead guitarist and producer. Larry Cobb from Tucson keeps the beat. Park Chisolm on vocals and guitar covers all my mistakes and hails from Nashville.
Bobby Yang, from Atlanta, and Luke Bulla, from Nashville, burn fiddle for us when they aren’t killing it with their own bands.
Kevin Costner and Modern West's Friend Space (Top 11)
Hey there - thanks for adding me !! Happy Halloween to you ;-) Your tour in Germany was more than just fantastic, it was so great to see and hear you all - looking forward to a tour in 2010 I'm hoping for a tour-DVD and a new album
please come back to europe soon!! and put some guitar tabs on your site that wud be cool! can't tab them by myself and wud love to try your songs!! ;) xoxoxo igz
I see from your blogs that you are rockin over there. Very cool. Kevin sounds great along with the great band. Kevin has always seemed like a very down to earth person. Almost met him at the Double JJ Ranch in Rothbury, Michigan. Someday I hope to see him here in Nashville again. Thank you for the friendship.
Daniel Paul Of The Daniel Paul Band & Daniel Paul Publishing
Your concert in Mannheim was aweseome! We truly enjoyed it. I appreciated it so much that it was more in a smaller setting and not one of those mega concerts. Please don't change that in the future. It would be great to find the lyrics to your new songs. Hope to see you again! Thank you! Sandra
Hey Kevin and Modern West, your concert in Mannheim was great!! You've rock the hall I'm listen to your songs all the time and think of this fantastic evening..! Please, please come back to Germany!!
I know Kevin Costner as a great actor and I've just discover K. Costner as a singer ! I have to say that I really enjoy this cd. I hope to see you one day on stage in France (which is not so far from Germany :-). Or maybe when I'll go back to the US I'll cross your road... I whish you the best for your career.
"Give me friends or give me death". A life without friendship is terrible and lonely. We are social beings and friendship is an incredibly important part of our lives. Appreciating friends is something we must always make time for. In today's competitive world it is easy to get up in our careers or our latest project. It is important to keep a sense of perspective. It is nice to rise high in the company but all the money in the world is not going to keep you company on a cold winter night. Thank you for being such a wonderful friend,you are very dear to my heart! Peace and love always! Sincerely Wolfen
