BENJAMIN KEITH: News

http://www.youtube.com/user/benjaminkeithmusic

All good things must come to an end. Today I deleted all of my bathroom series videos from Youtube, Facebook and Myspace. I realized that a good number of people have been listening to some less than impressive takes of my own music and covers. The bathroom is not the most professional background, even though it’s probably the least pretentious of all the rooms in the house to record in. Now that I have some free time on my hands I’ve decided to revamp my video collection. I’ll redo some covers, but mostly focus my originals. Thanks for your kind comments in the past and hopefully the new videos will keep them coming.

Bises
BK (in france)

So after many trips back and forth from Toronto to Vancouver this time I'm heading a bit further east....FRANCE. I'll be in Nantes to spend some time with my lady to meet her friends and family. And before you ask, Yes I'm a little nervous.
I"m bringing my Guitar along with me and hopefully will be inspired to write a few new tunes.

But before I go I decided to have one final show. It will be at Raw Canvas in Yaletown, on Thursday June 17th. They have amazing soup! So good!
Doors at 8:30pm I'll go on around 930ish. Cover will be by donation/pay what you can.

Thanks so much
BK

With today's high tech recording tools, many people feel as though we have lost the honesty in music. Inspired by boot leg recording and live tracks, I decided that I would try to capture the feel and sound of me sitting in a room playing my songs. Performed as they were written, just me and an acoustic guitar.

This series is not meant to be perfect or fancy, you will hear bumps and knocks, and imperfections. Thank you to Michael Frost for his time, patients and encouragement.

heres the link to listen or download
http://www.benjaminkeithmusic.com/music-group-75.html


If you enjoy what you hear and would like to help me to continue making music please donate. Every little bit helps out. Thanks so much
BK

Apr 4, 2010 8:00 PM
BACKSTAGE LOUNGE
1585 Johnston Street
Vancouver, British Columbia

With Honey and the Money, and Jenny Galt (604) 687-1354

For more details go to www.myspace.com/benjaminkeith

So as the City of Vancouver becomes engulfed in Olympic fever, i decided it would be a good time to take a little break from playing shows for a bit.

I've been working on some new recordings lately. Learning a lot about the recording process, my voice and what it takes to capture real feelings with just voice and guitar in one take. (Damn you Ryan Adams!) Sounds like it should be easy but its not once the record button is hit!

Plans are in the the works to make my way back out to Toronto for mid March/early April. But I'm sure I'll have a show or three before I leave.
Two at least....

Tuesday Feb 2nd @ The Backstage Lounge and Friday Feb 5th @ Caffe Divano

BK

Tell your friends, and if you wanted to give it a review....5stars?.... I wouldn't be upset.
thanks so much
BK

"Far From Home" can now be downloaded from CDbaby!

BK

Just a couple of tidbits i want to let you all know about. First off, as of last week i am no longer working a day job for some one else (this is a good thing. Don't worry Mom) Now i can really focus on my own music, and the business that goes along with being an independent artist. Right now I'm working on keeping my self as busy as possible and any sort help would much appreciated. If anyone is looking to book a house concert, or corporate event for the coming holiday season, now would be a good time to start planning.

Secondly. For the last 2 months I've been selling my EP "Far From Home" off stage by donation, and saving half of the profits to give to Big Brothers and Sisters of Canada. My goal is to get to $500 by the end of the year. I have CD Baby working on getting the tracks on to I-tunes as well, so hopefully that will help the cause.

So I've been back in Vancouver for a bit over a month now. Figure I should let people in on what’s been going on in the last 6 months.
Where to start…… Well as you might know I went out to Toronto this time to join a band named “Birds of Wales”. I played 13 or 14 shows with the boys, toured western Canada, and had an awesome trip down to SXSW is Austin, TX. But some things are just not meant to be, or at least not right now. Joining a band was more challenging than I expected, especially after years of running my own Solo career. I guess it’s safe to say that I couldn’t switch roles comfortable, from being…well the only man, to being a sideman. The boys in BOW are going to do just fine, and we will continue to be friends. We’ll just be going on different paths. And who know what the future will bring? Right?

Now the plan is to regroup and finally treat my music the way I should have been doing along time ago, like a business. A few days after leaving Toronto, I found my self back in the same day job I left, the same apartment I last lived in, and wondering what happened? Where was the forward progress? Thankfully I have a truly amazing roommate who is also a clinical counselor, which helps when you are having a freak out. We talked goals and dreams, and I figured out that I was living one of my dreams without ever realizing it. I always wanted to have my own business. Well for the last 7 years I have had my own business (Music) but I never actually said it. I swear saying it out loud has completely changed the way I think of my music, how I deal with everything from booking gigs to responding to e-mails. I would much rather be doing a lot of un-fun phone calls, forwarding my career, then to be working for someone else’s dream just to pay the bills.

Now I have made some big changes in the last six months in terms of my thinking and attitude towards life, the company I keep, and the person I want to be. I’ll be honest I really didn’t want to leave Toronto. I made some amazing friends who were so encouraging, and supportive. It was hard to leave that kind of love. I look at this time as a challenge, and a planning stage. I’ve got a lot of support here in Vancouver as well, (you thought I forgot, didn’t you? Not the case) which will help me to keep pushing on.

I’ve been booking shows and been doing my best to be playing as much as possible, so I can raise the money to push my career to the next level. Which would be to have Music be my day job. There is a lot to do, and a lot to look forward to. Which goes well with my new life motto “What are you waiting for?”

BK

So things have changed a bit for me as of late. I've moved to Toronto and have joined a band called Birds of Wales playing bass. Now before any one gets all out of sorts, I'm still going to be doing my own music.
This was a chance for me to get on the road and see some new places touring. In the 2 months I've been with the band we have played in 13 cities. Met so many great people, and had a lot of really fun times.

I've also made it a resolution to get back to writing everyday and have given my self a song a day challenge. I'm sure a few good songs will come, along with a good number of throw aways. But that's how the game is played.
Keep an eye on my acoustic myspace page for some demos of these songs.

Ben

Maybe you have picked up a free copy out there in the world. If so I hope your enjoying it, and can make it out to a show soon.

Thank you to my family and friends for all the support in making this EP happen. Lets hope some doors will open and I can pay you all back soon!

The shows just keep coming!
Mix Work, Recording and Shows Shows Shows and I've got my self the busiest summer to date. Check out the calender to see all fun, and look for my New EP to be ready later this summer.

Oh I"ve added a group and more importantly a Music Page to Facebook. So search my out if your on facebook!

ttyl
BK

With today’s high tech recording tools, many people feel as though we have lost the honesty in music. Inspired by boot leg recording and live tracks, I decided that I would try to capture the feel and sound of me sitting in a living room (or Caleb’s kitchen) playing my songs as they were written. Just Me and an Acoustic.

This series is not meant to be perfect or fancy, you will hear bumps and knocks, and imperfections. No click tracks were used, no auto tune or reverb. No headphones for that matter. Just two Microphones and the truth.

Thank you

Benjamin Keith

CD Copies will be available in limited numbers at shows or by mail.
To listen to the tracks go to www.myspace.com/benjaminkeithacoustic

So I'm home now from CMW in Toronto. Where they had the biggest snow storm in 80 years while I was there! it was not so bad but it did make it a bit hard to get to all the shows I wanted to see. Thank you to Cathleen and Ryan for having me out to there showcase. Also thanks to the fine folks at Gibson. (they let me play a beautiful J45 guitar for the show. now my guitar just doesn't feel right. Damn you Brad!)

While at the day panels I ran in to my very talented friend Peter Katz, who just signed to Curb Records. He had just booked a show in Vancouver at the Media Club (one of my favorite rooms) April 6th (my Birthday) and was looking to fill the bill.

So mark your calenders. Sunday April 6th 8pm @ The Media Club.
It's my first band Show in almost a year, and my Birthday. So now you have two reasons to come out.

and if all goes right I should also have a New Limited Edition Acoustic EP for sale that night.

BK

Check out a few of the pic's taken by Julee Wyld from our shoot this week
More to come
BK

Thank you to Mission Entertainment and Ryan McMahon for inviting me out to there show case at the Gibson Showroom on March 7th.

It is an industry only event but I have a 10 person guest list. So if you want to come out please e-mail me and let me know.
BK

Another year gone, and another year to make new resolutions! I'm not going to say what mine are, but those of you close to me can probably guess.

2008 feels as though it is going to be an amazing year. I'm feeling great about my friends, my family and my music. What more can you ask for?
BK

Every time I send an e-mail to some one on hotmail it gets bounced back URRRRR!

So I"m back home and getting back in to the swing of things. To keep my self busy while the winter rain hits Vancouver I have booked a few regular gigs at the Cornerstone Cafe in Coquitlam, and at the Bean Around The World at Lonsdale Quay in North Vancouver.

Go to the Show Page for more details
BK