Kevin Renick

Well HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone! It's kind of hard to believe we are in 2024 now, isn't it? But I'm glad; last year was pretty dreadful. Best to leave all that chaos, war-mongering and death behind. I genuinely hope there is less of all that this year. But hey, I'm supposed to be talking about my MUSIC, right? Well after releasing RIVER OF CHANGE last year, I think I expected a bit more in some circles, but I know most people are not buying CDs anymore. And I haven't yet gotten the album properly distributed online. I'm working on that; bear with me. Hope to do it this month. I've submitted a few songs for various opportunities lately, and I had a brush with a new film shooting here in St. Louis which I would love to get a track into. But that's a long shot, and I can never count on that sort of thing like I lucked out with for UP IN THE AIR. 

Meanwhile I am starting to look ahead with my next project. No title yet, but this one is mostly going to be topical and "modern times" related songs. The centerpiece will be a mini musical called "Hoping For an Alien Invasion," for which most of the basic tracks have been recorded. I've also done the scratch track for a piece called "Go and Tell the Others," and just today I got most of the lyrics written for a new song about insane world leaders I'm calling "Silly Empty Bubble Hopes." That phrase comes from a friend of mine in Ukraine, who has been witnessing every level of insanity imaginable in her country. My heart goes out to her and all Ukrainians; the wind is NOT favoring their side of the war right now, and I hope that changes.

Since my last newsletter, I've gotten into the music of Taylor Swift big time. Some people who know me and my various eccentricities are surprised that such a commercial pop superstar would "float my boat" so to speak. But Taylor is unmatched as a committed singer/songwriter, and her body of work not only speaks for itself, it has broken every record in the book, as made clear by her recent selection as Time magazine's "Person of the Year." She experiments with genre and creative sonics in a way that has captured my imagination, and there are songs on FOLKLORE and EVERMORE, her two pandemic releases, as good as anything I've ever heard. I think I'm trying to learn a few things from Taylor's artistic choices and work ethic; we'll see how that manifests in my future music.

Folks there are still limited CD copies available of my new album; all you have to do is drop me a line here, or via snail mail at PO Box 31785, Des Peres, MO 63131. I really try to reach my listeners, and I care what EVERYONE thinks..People have tons and tons of choices with their listening these days and I am realistic about the kinds of reactions I might get. But thank you to Sonia in Ukraine for sending me this note about my song WALKIN' ALONG on the new record: "It truly captivated my heart and soul. The gentle melody accompanied by your heartfelt lyrics created a serene and soothing atmosphere. The song resonated with me deeply, as it conveyed the universal experience of introspection and contemplation during a solitary walk. The way you effortlessly blend melancholic and uplifting tones reflects the complexity of human emotions. Your music has a remarkable ability to touch the deepest corners of the soul and evoke a range of feelings..." Clearly I can't expect THAT kind of praise all the time, but I sure appreciate it when it happens!

Whatever you listen to, my friends, and whatever path you're on, I hope this new year is good to you. Take care of your health, and be good to all your loved ones. And support the hard-working artists in your community and beyond as much as possible. We're all in this together, trying hard to conjure a better world...or at least HOPING for one! And don't forget to check out my redesigned website at link. CHEERS, everyone!

Hello again, friends and fans! Would you say that YOUR life is like a river, flowing onward and always winding around, sometimes "flooding" you with emotions or obstacles to navigate? The river makes for a good metaphor, and it became the natural concept to base my sixth full album around. The record is called RIVER OF CHANGE, and it features 16 songs that are taken from various sessions, some old and some from the past few years. Most of it is contemplative and reflective of the twists and turns of my personal journey, but I am hoping that songs like "Scared of This River" (recorded with Shakey Deal), "Walkin' Along" and "Thoughts For When You're Anxious" will stir the emotions of most of my loyal fans. It is hard to say what people will respond to in this fast-moving, hyperactive (and hyper-CRAZY) world, but any artist who is tuned in must simply do their own thing, and make the music THEY want to make. I feel I've done that all along, and it sure seems like some of you GET it. I always appreciate the messages you send me!

"Scared of This River" is quite possibly the most Neil Young-y song I've ever recorded. There've been others, like "Where Am I Going?" from my first album, and "These Things Happen," from CLEAR THE WAY, which several writers referenced as being Neil-influenced. But it was more overt on this "River" song, probably. I'll post it for streaming later this month; stay tuned. My album also contains two historic live tracks: a fun version of "Up in the Air" recorded the same week I found out my song was actually being used in the movie (September of 2009) and a lively version of my popular early tune "The Sorry Song" from a concert in May 2010. I do want to say, quite openly, that independent artists like me need followers and fans willing to occasionally spend a few bucks, to keep doing our thing. Only a limited number of physical CDs will be available for RIVER OF CHANGE. You can go to my totally redesigned website to find out about purchasing it, at link. The new site is more user-friendly than my old one and features all kinds of cool things: videos, booking information, links to articles, fan comments, a new regular blog page, etc. Please check the site out and feel free to message me there if you want. Fairly soon we will have a spiffy ordering page for obtaining CDs, autographed photos and other merch as we get it produced. So check it out! Also you can find out where I will be performing live in a more timely manner than before. I have shows on July 17, July 29, July 30 and a bunch in August and September. Seek and ye shall find!

It's a hot, intense summer so far, and the country is as nutso as ever. I have NO trouble finding topics to write about; in fact, I have about half the material for my NEXT album already written. Music is genuinely my main form of therapy. It's important to me that what I do connects with as many of YOU as possible. Drop me a line any time, and by all means, take care of yourselves and your loved ones. As someone who has experienced plenty of loss, let me tell you...NOTHING is more important than that. Try not to DROWN in this ever-flowing river of life and circumstances...

Hey out there, fans and peeps!
I haven't posted for a while...life has been utterly crazy, and of course I am always busy trying to make new music. Getting closer to the finish line on my new album RIVER OF CHANGE. I posted two songs from it for streaming; these are "Disappointed," a tune about those days when you feel you just can't get things right (this one features the gnarly guitar of my pal Ted Moniak), and "Thoughts For When You're Anxious," an acoustic song about reassuring an insecure loved one that you ARE there for them even though maybe you're preoccupied sometimes or caught up in trying circumstances. But hey, it's time to remind them you DO care and you want to help soothe their anxiety just like you hope they can soothe YOURS! I want to thank you guys for the high rating my song "Something So Wrong" continues to get; many of you have even written to me about that one. It's a song for our times, I guess, when there are so many dour, uncontrollable things happening in society that remind us not all is well. We have to pay attention to what's around us, and speak up about injustice. I believe that with every fiber of my being.

Along with RIVER OF CHANGE, I can also announce that Walter Whitney and I have finally completed our ambient collaboration, a major first in our respective careers. This album is called LOST IN FAMILIAR TERRITORY, and while it's hard to sum up, I would say it's an attempt to evoke literal wilderness as well as the "wilderness of the mind." I'll post a track from that shortly, just have to figure out which one. This is a strange album, but I have always LOVED ambient music and this is my first chance to share any of my work in that area. Walter was like a benevolent mad scientist in the making of this record.

Most musicians I know certainly CARE about what their fans think. Every one of you out there matters to me, and I LOVE hearing from you! Keep sending me messages about the songs that speak to you,and when you're able to, please download or stream my music. There is lots more to come; I have so many songs in the works it's ridiculous. An epic mini-suite that I recorded nearly two years ago is called "Hoping For An Alien Invasion," and this song speaks to the insanity of modern times more than anything I've done. However, mixing that thing is gonna be a bitch; it's long and complex. But boy is it sounding good! And I'm in the midst of recording a poignant song about growing older, titled "A Question For You." Not sure when that one will see the light of day, but a couple of people have said it's one of my best songs. Just letting y'all know, I suppose, that I am ALWAYS trying to conjure new music, but it takes time, and it can be expensive. Stay with me on this journey; I NEED you guys! We live in troubled, exhausting times, and feeling a sense of COMMUNITY is more important than ever. Stay on your path, friends, and look for the magic wherever you can find it. And thanks for letting me be a little part of your soundtrack...

Hello and Happy Autumn, everyone! Lots of big news from my corner. Some of you have asked when new stuff would be available, and the answer is...NOW. I have a new 5-song EP out this week called FORECAST. A few of the songs have been posted here at N1M, but for those of you who still listen to and like CDs (and I hope that includes plenty of you), this limited-edition physical product is available for only $7 (plus $3 for shipping if you are here in the link.). You can get it by sending a check to me at PO Box 31785, Des Peres, MO 63131, or by sending your payment via Paypal to: kevinrenickbusiness@link. If you're overseas and you'd like a copy, you will need to write me directly. My very popular song "Beer and Wine" appears on CD for the first and ONLY time...that song will not be on the regular album I'm working on now to be called RIVER OF CHANGE. You musicians out there know that the recording and mixing process can take a long, long time. I've been in and out of the studio over the past year, and have a ton of material in various stages of completion. Among the examples: "Walkin' Along," which I think is a pretty commercial little pop/country song, awaits only the lead guitar part. Another new one called "Scared of This River" is in scratch track form, although it came out pretty well. I'll be sending to to my full band, Shakey Deal, to work up and add their parts to soon. I envision this one as a Neil Young-style composition, in a similar sonic universe to "Cortez the Killer" and other Neil classics like that. Anyway, there is plenty to work on and I will be doing so all winter. Speaking of Shakey Deal, my Neil Young tribute band, we have perhaps our biggest gig EVER this Friday night, Nov. 4 at 8 pm at a nice theatre called the Westport Playhouse. If any of you out there are in the St. Louis area, please consider attending this concert. Our opening act will be Hard Rain, a Bob Dylan tribute band headed by Michael Twente (who performs with me on the song "Something So Wrong" from this new EP). You don't often get to hear Neil Young and Bob Dylan classics in the same show, so this is a special opportunity! You can get advance tix for this show by simply going to link and choosing your seats. It really is a wonderful, comfy venue to see a concert in!

The world is surely an unsettling place these days, and I can't even talk about the importance of the upcoming mid-term link I CAN say that we all need to focus on our own journey and abilities, AND the best way for us to make a positive contribution somehow to society. For me, as a writer and musician, the way seems clear, although my thoughts do get muddled at times. But every fan I have matters to me, and I hope to keep writing better and better songs. There is always a LOT to say. Just wish time would slow down, y'know? Life goes too fast, and I have lost many people important to me, as I am sure many of YOU have. So don't take things for granted. Appreciate every day, every close person in your life and every song that touches you. And as I have said before, I appreciate hearing from every one of you, and I hope some of you will get in touch about the new EP. Have a GREAT autumn and upcoming holiday season, folks!

Greetings, my lovely subscribers!
Last time I tried to do a newsletter, there was a still incomprehensible glitch and it did not go through. So I am being super careful this time. Essentially, I won an Artist Support Grant not long ago from the St. Louis Regional Arts Commission, and it is allowing me to record two very separate albums simultaneously. One will almost certainly be titled RIVER OF CHANGE. I am about two thirds the way through this one, which will be a document of personal changes, passing time, dealing with loss, and figuring out your identity in the midst of chaos...all favorite themes of mine! I am pondering the interest in the very idea of "artistic expression" these days, as I still intend to do limited runs of CDs, but recognize that streaming is how most people seem to do their listening now. I am not so fond of that reality, but...what can ya do? I want to encourage my listeners to check out my song about fighting depression, "I Might Want Out," which I've had a powerful response to so far. It comes from deep personal experiences, and I think many of you will find it relatable. Any day now, I will also be posting a rocking song I wrote inspired by the movie "No Country For Old Men." The song is titled "Call It, Friendo," and though it dates back some years, I did a thorough remix of it with one of my ace engineers, and now it has a fresh new sound. I think it is genuinely relevant to our times, as it is a song about taking chances and recognizing that there are consequences to virtually every move you make. I really like this song, and it rocks! I'm in the midst of polishing off three newer songs in the studio: "Disappointed," which is a straightforward mid-tempo rocker about things not quite going according to plan; "Walkin' Along," an ambling country-pop song about a long thought-filled stroll, and "Go and Tell the Others," an oblique sort of look at the nature of "true" spirituality. And brand-new stuff is emerging from my restless mind as fast as I can focus on it and make something tangible.

A shout-out to one of my performing partners, Denise Chappell, whom I've now been doing shows with for 7 years (we had a great gig this past weekend in St. Charles). Denise is about to get her first co-songwriting credit with me if I can just finish up an arrangement for a set of lyrics she wrote. And it goes without saying that I am grateful to ALL the musicians I play with, like the dedicated, versatile Theodore Moniak, who appears on more of my songs than anyone else. Check out his eerie guitar ambience on "I Might Want Out," and contrast that with, for example, his fiery playing on "Promise Man." Versatility, man!

My tentative plans call for the release of an EP, containing 4 or 5 songs, in the next month or two. I'm calling it FORECAST. Exactly when a full album will be released depends on many factors, but certainly by the end of the year. As always, I welcome your emails and comments about any aspect of my music. I encourage you all to support the music you like by buying directly from the artist when possible, as we make almost nothing from streaming. Do you guys know that some platforms actually email me to say "Congratulations! Check our your latest royalty statement!" And when I do so, it's about 5 cents for x number of streams. Or in a really good quarter, maybe a dime or more! Frankly, I have found more money just walking along in parking lots, than I've made from Spotify or other services. Thank God for ASCAP, where I still get decent royalties from "Up in the Air" and a couple of my other songs. Anyway, I'm not bitter...just contemplative about the realities of the modern music industry. I love what I get to do. And I greatly appreciate the support and feedback from each and every one of YOU! This is a busy time for me, and I'll be putting new songs together throughout fall and winter!

MY NEW SONG, and SOME CURRENT THOUGHTS ON STUFF...

Greetings to my N1M subscribers and friends! As I write this, we are approaching the intense holiday season that includes both Thanksgiving and Christmas. And while things are superficially going "forward" in that holiday manner, many of us are encountering understaffed restaurants and stores, crazed debates over masking and vaccinations, and an uncommon level of intensity regarding health and economic matters. Unrest is the order of the day, wouldn't most of you agree? And yet, the arts are still there to soothe us and affirm our values, and friends (and hopefully family) are there to connect and bond with. From both those things, I take my inspiration and find ways to keep going. And I love to write and record songs as much as ever before.

My forthcoming album, "KEVIN-ish", has proceeded in fits and starts, with the schedules of both participants and the engineers influencing the rate of things. Some of you have already heard finished tracks that will be on this disc such as "Something From Your Heart" and "Beer and Wine," but I'm pleased to post a brand-new mix for a song called "Broken Joe and Broken Jane." This is mixed but not mastered, so I am only making it available for streaming for a few weeks. Many of you have been clamoring for new stuff from me, so I hope this will whet your appetite for what is to come. The "Broken Joe" song is a collaboration between me and New York poet/photographer Ami Wilber-Mosher. Ami and I seem to have a mutual interest in the plight of the downtrodden and the intense struggles that life imposes on many people. Her little tale of two troubled souls who miraculously find love and solace with each other, touched me deeply, and I suggested we make a song together out of the poem. At last the results are here, and I am very pleased. Jacob Detering at Red Pill Studio engineered the session, and some nice harmony vocals are provided by rising St. Louis singer/songwriter Caroline Steinkamp. I'd be very interested to have some of you drop me a note to let me know what you think of this track and the theme it embodies. EMPATHY is at the heart of most of my music, and this song certainly aims to illustrate that concept.

What else is going on? Well, November 12th was Neil Young's birthday...many of you know that Neil was a huge influence on my music and life, and one of my bands is actually a Neil Young tribute group called "Shakey Deal." We will open for the Bob Dylan tribute band Hard Rain, led by my buddy Michael Twente, on Sunday, Nov. 21 at 6:30 pm here in St. Louis at the Sky Music Lounge, a supercool and classy venue. It would thrill me to see any of my N1M subscribers at this show, however unlikely! I am working hard at organizing my music and my song publishing concerns...I am nearing the milestone of 300 original songs, which constitutes a "catalogue" in most respects. However, only a third of those songs exist in some recorded form at present, so I have my work cut out for me. i still truly believe that many of my very best songs are things no one has yet heard. I hope to remedy that in the next few years. I'll say this, though, there is NEVER a shortage of things to write about. My preferred themes such as loneliness, societal distress, the ups and downs of love, dealing with one's past, friendship, loss and the passing of time...are all more relevant and omnipresent than ever. My problem is never WHAT to say about things; it's more a matter of finding TIME, and being organized. That can be hard in the age of Covid, and apparent non-stop divisions in our country and the world. But music can be a unifying and affirming force; I've seen it over and over again. And I believe in what I'm doing. It heartens me that many of you also seem to support me; I appreciate your notes so much. Keep it up! I will likely post another new song in January, and then this thingamabob I am trying to shape into an album should "bloom" by early spring. That's my plan. But ha...SPRING is a ways off. We are having autumnal moments at present, and a cold winter still awaits us. As that comes about, may you all stay healthy, engaged in the compelling activities of this thing called life, and warmly connected to your loved ones. Happy Holidays, my fans and friends, and may surprising and welcome gifts always be just around the corner for you, just as my song "The Box it Comes In" states!

Greetings, fans!
I've noticed a pattern over the past five or six years (not counting 2020, which was atypical on every level for obvious reasons). I tend to get creatively charged up in Spring, when the weather gets nicer and I find myself with gigs to look forward to and hopefully new music to present. That's the case in 2021 for sure. I am well into the sessions for my sixth album now, which I plan to call, simply, "Kevin-ish." The title is sort of an amusing riff on the notion that you have to fit your music into a specific genre for marketing purposes, and music reviewers go to great lengths to label things. But I happen to like a wide variety of music, and my releases have always touched on rock, folk, Americana, ambient and the all-encompassing "singer/songwriter" category so far (that is mostly HOME to me overall). What connects the styles is ME, and the musical predilections that this "Kevin" guy tends to reveal. I'm part of ALL my songs, so isn't it fair to say they are all sort of "Kevin-ish," regardless of genre? I like the title, and it's easier to remember than "Songs I've Done Since That Last Really Intense Thing That Preceded the Pandemic That Found Me in Something of An Existential Funk, Even Though I Had NO Idea What Was Still To Come."
I'm engaged in recording as you read this, and I can say there will be either 13 or 14 songs on this album. "Beer and Wine" is already out there, and by month's end, I hope to have a new ditty called "Walkin' Along" just about ready to share. And I've done a rockin' new remix of "Call It, Friend-o" which I will have plenty to say about later. Am I the only songwriter to pen a song inspired by the Coen Brothers movie "No Country For Old Men"? Not sure, but I think MAYBE so.
Everyone is probably sick of hearing and reading about the pandemic. There is nothing new I can personally say on this grim topic. I'm scheduled for my vaccine on April 14, and that's fine as long as there is no interference with my music. I have a round of gigs coming up, my first ones since November of last year. If you're a musician, it is simply torture to NOT make music no matter the reason. So gol dang it, I'm gonna git dem tunes out dere one way or another! And I thank those of you who have taken time to send me messages. I always try to answer them, for sure. I crossed the hallowed "2000 subscribers" mark recently, and that's just plain awesome. Thank you, guys! Stick with me; I feel sure that the best is yet to come!

For fans of my songs that may not know, I am also lead singer of a Neil Young tribute band called SHAKEY DEAL. Neil was hugely influential for me as a musician, and I genuinely love performing his songs. People who've heard my band have said they are amazed at how much we capture the Neil Young vibe. It happens pretty organically. We are playing here in St. Louis on May 23 opening for Dylan tribute band Hard Rain, and we have a really kickin' slot opening the SamJam Festival on Aug. 28 in Carlinville, IL. Details on that show in the next newsletter.

To get on my mailing list for show and release information, please write me at kevinarenick@link. These newsletters tend to be every two months, and I wouldn't want you to miss some timely information. Just rest assured that I am keeping my musical goals top of mind always, and have plenty I want to accomplish. But I'll close by urging all of you to get your vaccine shots, and to stay safe and healthy above all else. The world is hardly ever a truly safe place, and we've all been pushed to the limit in the past year, needless to say. Let's hope it all starts getting better and easier. I promise I will keep trying to write and record tunes that inspire you or help soundtrack your life. It's the least we empathetic songwriters can try to do, right? :-)

Golly, it's actually...another new year!
Hey everyone, and an extended HAPPY NEW YEAR to you all! As I write
my first newsletter of 2021, I am filled with anticipation about my
musical prospects for this year and a kind of fresh hope that this
year will be WAY better than last year. Let's face it, that wouldn't
take much! But we all need to try to stay healthy, support the
country's new leadership and work to minimize the stressful divisions
that really brought a lot of us down in recent years. Hopefully we can all agree on that! But my primary goal right now is that I want to get back to making MUSIC and increasing my public profile! First of all, some of you have told me you are waiting for new songs. I've just added three tracks to my N!M list...these are not new recordings PER SE, but they were never available HERE before. "Come On Down (and Pull Me Up)" is a rocker from my third release, with the theme of trying to overcome stress (sound familiar?) and to partially ask your closest friends to help you in that process. It's partly also
about self-talk, imploring the more hopeful part of you to get it together and make things happen. "No Second Dates" is the first of three collaborations with my old high school friend Christa Juergens. When we started writing together, I wanted to do something way more commercial and poppy than my usual style, which her lyrics on this tune made easy for me. And I want to single out the drummer on both of these songs, Andrea Spencer, who is now with a hot St. Louis band called Keokuk. I was lucky to get to work with Andrea for a while as
she's a terrific musician. The third "new" song here is "Bites," a track from CLEAR THE WAY, which I never wanted to share before. That's because it is deeply personal, easily the most angst-ridden breakup song I have ever written. I was in love with someone, things ended, and I was in great pain for a while. Straight up, that's what this song documents. I play every instrument on the tune myself except for some atmospheric electric guitar from Theodore Moniak. Time has helped me heal, so I decided to finally share this song, and maybe it will speak to some of you who know the wrenching sadness of losing a relationship that meant the world to you.

As for GENUINELY new songs, I am still waiting to get back into the
recording studios I've mostly used. I have a decent demo of a song i
love called "Go In Peace," and I am working on another tune that will
probably be called "Saint Marge." There's also an instrumental or two
floating around, I just have to get my act together and make stuff
happen when I can. The pandemic has been brutal, simply brutal. People
I love have caught it, friends have told me scary stories...I'm sure
it's the same for all of you. I'm using much of this extra time on
blogging, trying to license my songs, and reading. Life is okay but it
could be better. And I want to increase my musical reach this year,
which I will try to do in different ways.

By the way, we lost one of the most evocative and talented keyboard
players in the world late last year, Harold Budd. He was known for
collaborating with Brian Eno, the Cocteau Twins (especially Robin
Guthrie) and many others. And he influenced me a great deal. It was
devastating to lose him, and yes, it was from Covid. DAMN that virus,
anyway. Will it eventually be totally eradicated? I hope so. I want to
also put in a plug for one of my favorite songs, "When the Best Ones
Are Gone," by the Norwegian female pop trio Ephemera. If you've lost
someone or you're scared about Covid or all the other malignant
realities of our time, this song may prove cathartic. It's beautiful and fragile,
and has distinct healing qualities. I've listened to it constantly. Look it up,
you won't be sorry.

Anyway, despite plenty of angst to go around, I am excited about
music, about writing and recording new stuff, and about reaching new
fans out there like YOU guys! Drop me a line any time. And be nice to
each other, okay? Say "I love you" to people in your life as often as possible, and get in touch with your own dreams. Time is fleeting, folks. The time to
pursue your goals and dreams is NOW. Group "Cheers!" on that one,
okay?

Hey my friends,
This will be my last newsletter of the strange year 2020, which, although it hasn't been turned into a horror movie yet, has certainly been the subject of countless horror MEMES on Facebook. I know this holiday season won't exactly be like others I remember! I'm guessing that most of us had some optimism at the beginning of this year, right? But then came the paralyzing pandemic, a shocking death count in America and beyond, the worst election cycle in our history (with all the division that went along with it), job and financial woes, and the collapse of entire sectors of the economy, including the gig market that musicians generally depend on. I absolutely did NOT accomplish my hoped-for goals in 2020. Survival itself became the primary goal, which is probably so for most of you as well. But at this writing, I am healthy, energized, and making plans for what I hope will be a much better 2021. When the pandemic is officially over and I can get back to the recording studio, I'll resume work on an EP I started early in the year. I'll most likely call it "Kevin-ish" or "Kevin-esque." I already have an ambient collaboration finished; it is at the mixing stage. Again, that just requires some safe interaction with the people involved. And dreaming ahead, I have a full cycle of songs written for what I hope will be my next "proper" full-length release. But any way you want to look at it, plans went astray this calendar year. If any of you are of a mind to help support me during this crazy time, you can purchase my "Clear the Way" CD for only $10 (plus $3 for shipping domestically). My Paypal address is kevinrenickbusiness@link, or you can send me a check at: Kevin Renick, PO Box 31785, Des Peres, MO 63131. I'm thinking of starting a Patreon account soon, once I know I have some goodies to offer. I hope some of you will take an interest in that!

Difficult times can lead to either renewed contemplation or, perhaps, a fresh direction. I am still writing songs, patiently hoping for more regular gigs to return (had a fun one with Denise Chappell and Mark Arnold in November), and figuring out what lessons to learn from this mess of a year. I certainly hope to connect with as many of you as possible through my music and now, through various writings. Check out the movie and memory blogsite I contribute to, it's at link. I also write for link. Although normal holiday greetings don't seem quite right to close with here, I do want to say that I hope all of you reading this (and your loved ones) are in good health and have been spared from this pandemic. I hope you are coping by doing as many things as possible to keep yourselves engaged with life, your friends and your personal interests. I also hope you are still listening to good music and maybe getting out in nature. This crazy thing will pass, and while life may look different for a while, there is always something new to discover, something to fire up one's enthusiasm. I appreciate the messages some of you send me, and I encourage you to keep doing so: I try to answer EVERY message or email I get. Eventually YES, I will have some new songs to post. Meanwhile, thanks for sharing this connection we have and for listening to my music! We have certainly been reminded this year how fragile life can be, and how ever-changing our circumstances. We are all in this together, truly, if we could just start realizing that. And every day should be looked at as an adventure, one where we can learn, grow, and (hopefully) flourish...

link. For those of you wanting slightly more contact with me, check out my Facebook fan page: Facebook

August greetings to y'all,
It's hard to pretend anything is even close to ordinary during this pandemic. We've all had to make sacrifices and individual decisions about how to survive. Any fans of mine reading this, I hope you've been able to find a way, and to keep yourself and loved ones healthy. No music or concerts matter that much if you are physically suffering in some major way. But without a doubt, music continues to be a soundtrack for many of us during hard times, and if anything I've written has spoken to you these days, I am truly grateful. And I thank you for caring, just as I care about YOUR health and safety out there, folks. I only had one indoor gig in the past five months, and it was fun if sparsely attended. I have outdoor shows coming up on Aug. 9 (Lake Creek Winery near Marthasville, MO) and Aug. 22 (Alpha Brewing in St. Louis), but I am not actively pursuing gigs right now. There are just too many destabilizing factors. Most musicians I know will regard this as one of the worst periods EVER for our profession. It has required looking at all sorts of ways to find "alternatives" to what we normally wouldn't even have to think about. I do continue to plan an EP, tentatively for fall. Anxious to get some new songs out there when the signals are more clear. But I won't lie, it's tough to be an artist right now. I enjoyed a recent photoshoot I did with photographer/filmmaker Wolfgang Lehmkuhl (one of his pics is included here) and I've entered a few songs in songwriting contests just for the discipline of doing so. The next tune I post is almost certainly going to be my extensive remix of "Call It, Friend-o" which is getting close to the finish line. And I have a couple of new things under way, including a vaguely pandemic-themed song. Mostly, however, I have been writing reviews and essays for a couple of blog sites. One of these is called CINEMEMOIR, a cool new forum featuring writers' in-depth stories about how a certain film or aspects of film impacted their lives. This is going to be an active, evolving blogsite and I'm thrilled to be part ot it. You can check it out at link if the subject appeals to you. A writing contest with cash prizes will launch very shortly and is open to the public.

I want to say that I really appreciate it when you guys send me messages. I have always LOVED one-on-one communication. And I try to respond to every message I get. So don't be shy! If you have a question or just want to comment about a certain song, drop me a line. I'll love it, and chances are you will hear back from me quickly. In the meantime, folks, be good to each other out there and be attentive to what is happening in our country and your community. These are absolutely unprecedented times, and everyone is running scared. Through love, a sense of community and appreciation of the arts and other disciplines, we can find our common humanity and learn more about being decent human beings. I work on it every day, and can't wait to share new music with you as soon as I am able. So keep yourselves sane and healthy! Blessings, everyone... And enjoy the rest of your summer!
SDH (socially distant hugs),
Kevin

Hello again, everyone!
I know it has been a long time since I sent out a newsletter here. In fall of last year, I lost my dear brother to a heart attack...a guy who had always been very supportive of my music. it was a big loss. Then in late winter of this year, just as I was gearing up to record some new stuff, the Pandemic hit, and all of us were thrown into an unprecedented crisis. It has been unbelievable. I hope and pray all of you out there have stayed safe and healthy, and that none of your loved ones caught this horrible virus. I'm healthy so far, but obviously almost all music activities were shut down, and I am waiting to see what happens later this spring. To say this period has been challenging would be an understatement...

Before Spring is over, I will release my vibrant new remix of "Call It, Friend-o," an older song of which I'm particularly proud. We are sprucing it up quite a bit. When I can, I will record the songs "Broken Joe and Broken Jane," and "Walking Along," which were planned for an EP. Can't give a timeline on that right now. Just taking everything one day at a time. My goofy party song, "Beer and Wine," has been near the top in the Country Rock genre for months now, even making it to the top 10 internationally. Some of YOU may have helped this happen, and if so, I thank you. Sharing a drink or three with friends remains a great pleasure, although during this pandemic, we haven't always been able to get together with people. "Beer and wine" are not quite as enjoyable when you're drinking alone, in my opinion. I hope things get back to normal soon.
 
If you have a taste for luminous, melodic female-fronted pop music, I want to recommend the Norwegian trio Ephemera to you all. I've loved them for many years, but they just released SEASONS, their first new platter in about 15 years. This is simply delightful, immaculately arranged music from the heart...check it out at either Tidal, Spotify or Amazon Music. The song "When the Best Ones Are Gone" is my favorite for the pandemic era, an absolutely gorgeous song about losing people and dealing with life's "undertow." The video Ephemera made for it shows empty streets and shuttered businesses in their hometown of Bergen...it is spellbinding and sad, yet still beautiful. I heartily recommend you check it out. I listen to these three ladies almost every other day; their music is that good. If you are still checking out MY songs, just know that I am grateful...some of you have written me sweet messages in the past few months and it means a lot. For those who don't know, my secondary project is lead singer of a Neil Young tribute band called "Shakey Deal." We have a sterling reputation here in St. Louis. I unearthed a solo performance recently of me performing "The Needle and the Damage Done." You can find it on our Facebook page, and it will likely be on YouTube soon, as other performances of ours such as "Cortez the Killer" are. Look into it if you dig Neil!

Please be good to each other, and be smart when you are out in public. This virus is nasty business, and no one wants to get it...none of us want to endure that sort of misery. I hope by the time I post again, the numbers will be down and life will at least resemble what it used to be. Time will tell. Keep writing to me if you are so inclined; I do try to answer as much as I can. And enjoy your spring (and upcoming summer), your family and friends, and all the good music that is out there. I toast to y'all from the quiet of my bedroom, where I am writing up a storm and hoping for better days SOON!
Hugs,
Kevin