Maurice Hope – September 12, 2016 at 05:44PM
Tags:_AMERICANA
Chet O’Keefe is a much travelled singer-songwriter who grew up in Southern Maine and New Hampshire prior to stints, later in life in Nashville, Dallas, TX and Sweden before he bumped into Kinky Friedman. Opening for the Kinkster in Europe he was persuaded by him to move to Austin, Tx where he now resides. O’Keefe has also opened for Nanci Griffith (Ireland). O’Keefe’s songs are spilt into two categories, those you enjoy, instantly, and others that have the habit of sneaking up on you. Something they do relatively quickly.
Made up of 10 songs the record speak of among other things “Hick Tech (nology)” and how he misses his woman (“Not Drunk Yet”) and girls watching boys go by (“Goin’ Downtown”); the beautiful arrangement awash in a choppy rhythm and finely spun harmony vocals is among the albums best.
O’Keefe’s finely honed style, both as a songwriter and performer boast hints of John Prine, Steve Goodman, Ramsey Midwood and others too. Relaxed and easy on the ear O’Keefe keeps things simple, lyrically while instrumentally he uses sparingly, acoustic and electric guitar, drums and harmony vocal. Shuffling at an easy lope “True Love” contains a warm friendly muse, before he becomes stern and sombre on “Because Of You”; likewise could be said of the noteworthy “Oh Angel”.
When it comes to his best work, added to the above of favourable mention you have engaging story ballad “Star Café”. With its simplistic values, a young John Prine and arguably, Steve Goodman too are present here. Such the warmth and beauty as O’Keefe spins a tale that speaks of coming in weary from the road, and of how the waitress makes him feel welcome at the Star Café. He soon recognises those working there in the form of some of country music’s greats. One line in particular houses a great Mickey Newbury nuance. It is a beautiful infectious little number; as he mentions Hank Williams, Snr, Jr and Hank 111 plus Garth Brooks, Tanya Tucker and Vassar Clements et al. O’Keefe keeps up the standard via “Drinking Day” and the pretty little ramble “Blue Martin” (nice picking), plus the tune that closes up the record. “Talking Kerrville Blues” is a humourus piece, and though it has been done is various forms many times before Chet’s talking blues is up with the best. Be sure to check out this guy. He is well worth looking at more than once, just in case you aren’t convinced to the degree I was in double quick time.
Maurice Hope
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