MySpace a place for friends

OLDIES
I don't so much live in the Toronto area as I pace, sleep, play guitar and don't answer the phone there. Sometimes I don't remember picking up the guitar, yet there it is in my hands. Occasionally, strange phrases arrive with music and we go on little adventures, explorations, expeditions. Don't say splunking.

My dad owned a cassette of James Bond themes, and mom had Neil Diamond's "The Jazz Singer". Ever heard the scat version of "Diamonds are Forever?" Neither was played much, so I was left to my own devices. Blues as a teenager - anything and everything. Have you heard Skip James? Yeah! Drifted through Clapton to The Band and Dylan, and singer-songwriters, Jackson Browne, Paul Westerberg, Paul Simon, but always catchy pop tunes in the mix.

I was in a band called "The Complements" that perhaps sounds familiar. I tend to be recognized by people I've never met and meet the rest for the first time repeatedly. The C-Ments (a nickname I am inventing right...now), did make their way around southern Ontario, some radio and tv, and got some neato reviews:

"...strong writing avoids the sappy cliches that bogs down lesser breakup discs." (NOW MAGAZINE)

"...five originals that are definite gems, whether you base your criteria on songwriting or performing. Kevin's voice is undeniably one of a folk singer - melodic but gritty, clearly passionate about the words he is singing." (BEING THERE MAGAZINE)

"...glimpses of a young Dylan are evident on "Just Another Sad Song" where Zarnett's vocals find solace. The songwriting also maintains center stage with catchy choruses and thoughtful insight." (SOUL SHINE MAGAZINE)

Maybe you did hear about us after all? We actually had three sets of original material, plus a whack of covers to play. I was such a taskmaster. Was?

Do I really accompany other artists? Think of me as a musical coaster, that keeps your songs from ruining a nice table. No, that's no good. Musical mustard, that leaves a yellow glob in the corner of your mouth. Even worse. Talk to Kirsten Jones, Gregg Lawless or Howard Gladstone and ask them to come up with a good analogy for what I've done to their music. They are crafty folk. I have always wanted to be some kind of musical pudding though.

Some people say my songs sound like Paul Simon (mostly based on height similarities), The Wallflowers (based on weight), Blue Rodeo (based on geography) and Tom Petty (we both use the same recipe for homemade body wash: part old spice classic, axe snake peel, and something that gets spots out). But what do they know? Certainly not as much as you.

RANDOM NOTES
Alongside Kirsten Jones, recently participated in Oh Susanna & Friends at the revered Hugh's Room in Toronto, also featuring Sarah Harmer and Jim Cuddy, and performed at Canadian Country Music Week's Songwriter's Cafe in Winnipeg alongside Lisa Brokop. Other performance highlights include opening for Jim Cuddy (Mississauga Waterfront Festival), Corb Lund (Magna Hoedown), Brampton Folk Festival, Barriefolk, as well as various local tv & radio appearances.