I'm alive.

I haven't forgotten about the blog. Truthfully, I've been ashamed. I'm yet to get a sound file up for your listening pleasure/pain, and I had promised to have one up the next time I posted. So here's the thing... I'm just saying that I'm here. I've got a Keezer tune that I'm working on right now. All I have is a finished chorus - and if I can figure out how to transfer the audio from my minidisc to my computer, then you'll have audio soon. So please... come back, won't you?

paix amour.

Something cool

I'm sorry that I haven't posted any new music yet. I've got a couple of idea's brewing right now with some of Keezer's tunes - it's just finding the time to really kick them into gear. Hopefully tomorrow. I've been in Kansas City for the past couple of days, plus work, etc. etc. Excuses, excuses.

Here's the "something cool" - "When He Leaves" was featured on the "Homemade Hit Show" podcast this week. It's a really cool show where they only play stuff that the artists have recorded on their own. I highly reccomend checking it out. www.homemadehitshow.com I've gotten a few hits on here because of the site, so I appreciate those of you that are here for that reason!

"When He Leaves" is also finished in the Garageband ratings. It didn't do so hot... but I guess that's the name of the game. The only thing about it that really frustrates me is the fact that nearly all of my reviewers were too lazy to give me any actual insight on the tune. If anyone on here hasn't heard the tune, please feel free to give it a listen and let me know what you think and how I could make the tune better. www.garageband.com/keezerlewis

Thanks for checking in - and I promise that in the next post I will have SOMETHING for you to listen to, even if it's a rough version of a tune for some feedback.

This week...

Let me start this post by asking a favor. Anyone who is checking out this project, I would be very appreciative if you would leave me a comment to let me know you're there. Of course I expect that I don't have many die hard readers at this point, but it's still encouraging to know if anyone is out there.

Over the course of this last week I got started on the next tune in the project. I hope to be posting a demo of the tune soon. I didn't have much to work with, except for a few lyrics and some chords - so I'm working on the re-writes this week.

Also during the course of this week I went to see "Feist" in concert. If you have never heard of her, I highly reccomend checking her out. She's amazing. www.listentofeist.com The most immaculate voice I think I've ever heard. Her music has become a major influence to me latlely.

The next phase in the project, (aside from the writing and recording of some more of Keezer's work) is getting some publicity to the blog. I'm scoping the net for some podcast's to submit "When He Leaves" to in hopes to get some more readers/listeners. If anyone out there has a favorite podcast, let me know about it.

I also am going to be digging through some of Keezer's old tapes in the future to get some actual audio of him online as well. I think it would be cool for everyone to make the connection audibly.

Until next time... 

I went ahead and started this project a couple of weeks ago. I wasn't sure how I was going to get the ball rolling, and I'm still not sure at what pace the process will go... but it's something that I want to make happen. I feel like it will be a big step for me musically - working on these song, sucking it up, and letting people have an opinion on them.

For the first tune, I called upon my friend Tof to help me finish up what Keezer had left me to work with. We wrapped up some musical ideas and he threw some synth pad on the sucker - and the race was on. From there I worked on it in my spare time - which I tried to make lots of - often. : ) Then I got Amy to put some backing vocals on it, and Tof's brother Thom to add the bass. I think it's pretty close to finished. There are a few editing things that I want to fix up, but all in due time. I'm anxious to start the next tune and see where it goes.

This one ended up with an electronic influence, but not to the point of losing it's accoustic feel. At least I don't think so.

I'm looking for feedback on this guy - so please go listen to it and let me know what you think. Rate it between 1-10, and tell me what you like and don't like about it. Please be honest here. I can take the heat, trust me.

Song Credits for "When He Leaves"
Keezer Lewis - Guitar
Lennon Bone - Guitar, Vocals, Keyboards, Sequencing, Production
Amy Lynne Coibion - Backing Vocals
Tof Hoglen - Synth Pad
Thom Hoglen - Bass

Listen to the tune at www.garageband.com/keezerlewis

If you have any questions about this whole deal - feel free to leave me a comment and I'll reply in the comment box as well. Thanks!

paix amour.
Lennon

What is...

The "Keezer Lewis Intention" is a new years resolution launched by Lennon Bone, drummer for the Midwest Alt. Rock Act Amsterband. (http://www.amsterband.com/)

Lennon and Keezer met for the first time at a family reunion quite a few years back. "Keezer became a major influence in my life in a lot of different ways. Most of them weren't musical at the time." Lennon states. "We just hit it off from the beginning. It was kind of an odd scenario. Here's this 29 year old man who knew he didn't have long here, and wanted me to take his demo's and do something with them. It was especially odd since I was only 18 and really not even trying to dive into the music business yet. Now I just want his stuff to be heard... which is exactly what he wanted, and what I think these songs deserve."

Keezer was a purist when it came to recording. He wanted the songs to have a raw sound... something that people could relate with and not feel like what they were listening to had gone through all the processing and over production of what you hear on the radio. He wanted it to feel like you were actually in his living room with him - where nearly all of his demo's were recorded. Of course Lennon has a bit of a different perspective. "I know what Keezer wanted - he wanted me to take the songs and do my thing with them as well, and that's what I'm doing. He knew that I wouldn't have a hand in this without including what would be influencing me at the time. So here's what's coming out - this mix of acoustic and electronic sounds...some help from other friends of mine. I think it's something different... but I'm probably wrong." Lennon laughs.

Lennon will be launching these recordings during the year - looking for listener feedback throughout the process in hopes to release an EP of his late relatives material. Along with the release of the songs will be stories of Keezer's life - sort of a documentation of what he went through during the process of his writings, along with how the work impacted Lennon during his collaboration.