Great Music - Chris Keys

I discovered Chris on the internet, first having heard his music on MySpace. I think I could just have well put him in the 'Str8 Boys Need Love Too' category, but I also think this works just as well. Chris is from Belfast, Northern Ireland, and is getting gigs around Belfast, and putting up YouTube videos. He is 26 years old, a singer/songwriter and rather good looking. Just about a month ago, Chris put out a new song, Stronger.



I came across him on MySpace, heard one song, and was hooked. I think he is a talented guy, writing some very nice songs and performing them well. That first song was Shooting Star, and I had to follow the trail to the site I could buy his music. After all, with all these artists, if you don't support them with a purchase, they can only keep going for so long. And I would like to think with my money, more music can keep coming.



As I said, he is playing in Belfast, and took some video. The sound is good, although the picture is a bit dark. Here he performs Seven Seas, another of my favorite songs. He has a sweetness to his tone, while maintaining a smokey edge to his voice.



To find out more about Chris Keys, go to his website here. To get some free downloads and to purchase his music, click here. If you do, you will not be disappointed.

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New Music - Jake Walden

Jake Walden is an artist I discovered thru Tom Goss, first playing on the Rock The Folk Out tour, and then opening for Tom on tour and on the last show I attended in DC. Jake is very handsome, and quite intense while performing.



His CD is called Alive And Screaming. The song We Are, along with the video that follows, are the high points for me. If you like this video, order the CD. You won't be disappointed. You can find out more at Jake's MySpace site.

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Great Music - Stewart Lewis

I am not sure when I became aware of Stewart Lewis, but I owned In Formation before going to see him last fall on the Rock The Folk Out tour with Tom Goss and Jake Walden. I truly enjoyed the CD, and loved Not A Love Song, a great cut off the CD. Lyrically and musically, it is a fantastic song, and Stewart does it so damn well.

As well as several of his own songs, he performed an amusing and intricate medley, blending 18 songs in under 5 minutes. After the show, I met Stewart, who was quite funny and charming. I bought a couple of CDs, as well as a novel he had written, Rockstarlet, which I am reading at this time. I follow Stewart on the web, eagerly awaiting his next move.

Rockstarlet is a tale of a young singer/songwriter getting ready for a major label release, but his excitement is being trampled on by the executives and handlers making the gay man return to the closet. Thus far, I am enjoying the light touch he has, keeping it fun and very real. You can purchase it here. He has a 2nd novel, Relative Stranger.

Stewart released a YouTube video of a new song, What You Get Back. It is a beautiful song, but the sound is a bit low - see it here. For a second video, I am giving you the song Shine, sung at an interview with Here! Networks.

You can find out more about Stewart Lewis at his website.

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New Music - Jay Brannan - In Living Cover

On Tuesday, July 7, Jay Brannan is releasing a new CD, In Living Cover, with covers of such great songs as The Freshman, Blowin' In The Wind, and Zombie as well as some new material. I am hoping to make it to a show in Annapolis, MD, on Thursday, July 9th.



That is the cover of Zombie he did earlier this year at a gig in Ireland. I really love Jay's voice. If you are interested, you can get a free preview at Rhapsody by clicking here.




If I make it to the show, I will be sure to post about it, and hopefully get a picture or two. You can also get more information at his website or visit his online store.

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New Music - Aaron Beaumont - Nothing's Forever (Not Even Goodbye)

OK, this is my oddest find to date - by story, not by talent. The other day, I received a MySpace Friend Request with a little note that said 'I'm one of the ones that, surprisingly, you discover you actually like. At least, that's what everyone else says. :)' Silly, yes, but it worked. I have often either ignored or rejected just such requests, but that made me laugh and so I checked him out - how could I not? And I'll be damned he wasn't right, and his music did interest me.



So, the first thing I noticed was his humor - the note showed me that - and he was cute, and I have already admitted to my shallowness in that area. Yes, he is more adorkable than adorable, but I am good with that. And then there is the music. It is this odd combination of ragtime, pop, string quartet, and a touch of EMO vocals that I just found endearing and charming. Kinda retro, with no real specific period attached, more nostalgic with a dose of today.




The first on my hit parade is a little ditty named Julia, a ragtime-ish number with charm and spirit. He is definitely added to the list of indie boys, and has several videos available on YouTube, all performance based, so not necessarily of the highest quality. His voice has the quality that reminds me of the singers from The Killers or Keane, while singing in a different style. I know, that sounded weird when I typed it as well.



While my description makes him sound all gimmicky, I don't get that impression while listening to all his music. He has a wonderful musicality, a greater understanding of the music - a love for it. The boy knows what he is doing. He goes beyond the 21st century goofball playing ragtime to an artist with his music, be it a rag or flat out pop styling. I really like The Park Bench Song, Any Other Way, and Those Were The Days.



You can listen to his music by clicking on the song titles above, or visiting his MySpace page.

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