By Tracy Dietlin
I remember Michael Keeth when he was 16 years old as frontman of a very popular local band rocking stages across the valley at many bars before they were of age. He then went on to front another successful Coachella Valley hard rock band.
Since then, Keeth has gone on to have a very successful career spanning over 26 years.
When the TV show The Voice came out, I suggested Keeth audition for it. Even though he did not, I still refer to him as The Voice.
Keeth is a very charismatic performer with a voice that can sing anything from ballads to hard rock/metal, from covers to originals. He has an uncanny ability to do covers that we all love while making them his own such as “Another Brick in the Wall” by Pink Floyd. And many of his originals could easily be Top 10 hits.
I recently got to see Keeth in person at Casuelas Café and it was a real treat. While catching up we talked about what he’s currently doing including his new Self-titled EP, due for release early February on all streaming platforms.
CV Weekly: How old were you when you were in your first band?
Keeth: “I was 16 when we started playing together. Broke up when I was 21.”
CVW: You guys were playing in bars like Flaherty’s before you were of legal age right?
Keeth: “Oh yes (shhhh). Luckily I had a full beard at 17.”
CVW: When did you go solo?
Keeth: “I had played some open mics and short solo slots,
time to time from 15-22. I was singing in a couple of different rock bands in those years, so being a lead singer was the focus. But around 23, both of those projects had disbanded. I moved to Long Beach with my girlfriend (now wife of 16 years) Jodi.
I started writing more songs and getting random solo slots in and around LA. It was a totally new and strange time for me because I had to completely start over.
I went from 5 years of playing in bands for packed bar and club crowds to playing for a handful of people in coffee shops and the small rooms at places like the Viper Room and The Rainbow by myself. Suddenly I was very nervous and trying to find my voice and style as a solo performer.
After 3 years in LB and a lot of those short set gigs, we moved back to the Coachella Valley.
About 13 years ago I auditioned for and landed a weekly acoustic gig at Corktree Restaurant. Little by little, I picked up more and more gigs at hotels, restaurants, and wine bars.”
CVW: How many CDs/EPs do you have now and their titles?
Keeth: “Three full length albums: “The Crashing Wake” in 2009, “Shed the Skin” in 2012, “Get Back Up” in 2016. And 4 acoustic singles in 2020. And I’ll be releasing this new self titled EP in early Feb.”
CVW: Is playing music/performing full time for you? Talk a bit about how you were able to get to that point?
Keeth: “I’ve been a full time live singer/guitarist for the last 10 years.
A lot of gigs come from somebody seeing me play somewhere and bringing me on at their venue. And a lot of gigs have come from me persistently cold calling and emailing new places. I book a lot of shows directly, and others are booked through several different booking agents in Southern California and Florida.
It’s a non-stop effort to keep the gig calendar full; and thankfully it’s very full!”
CVW: The last couple years you’ve been traveling performing in different states. Can you talk about what that has been like?
Keeth: “Before covid I had done some mini tours in Georgia and Florida. When the pandemic shut down live music in the Valley, my family and I went on the road. At first, I was just live-streaming from wherever we were (we traveled through 41 states), before landing full time gigs in Florida and Georgia for the next 2 years. It was an amazing adventure. Even though I’m based in the CV again, I still book out of state shows a couple times a year because I enjoy the experience so much.”
CVW: You do a lot of private events and corporate gigs. Does your performance differ from doing bars/restaurants?
Keeth: “It’s just ‘playing to the room’. Some gigs are more high energy, sing along; and some are very chill. I just play to the crowd. Every type of gig has experience value.
They’ve really helped me become stronger in my full range of belting to quietly singing; and I’m very comfortable singing in pretty much any situation and playing at high or low volume.
CVW: What venues are you performing locally on a regular basis?
Keeth: “I play weekly at Omni Rancho Las Palmas, Tommy Bahama’s PS, Casuelas Cafe PD, and the Riviera Hotel. And a ton of other places mixed in.”
CVW: Tell us a bit about your wife and kids?
Keeth: “My wife Jodi is an awesome yoga teacher, CV Realtor, my best friend and the best Mom ever to our 3 kids: Daughter Quinn (15), Son Mikey (9), and daughter Riley (6); who are amazing, sweet, hilarious, super smart and talented people that I am continually impressed by.”
CVW: How do you balance family and work?
Keeth: “The best I can. We’re all busy. But we love and support each other and keep really open communication. We make the most of the time we spend together.”
CVW: Let’s talk about the new EP and how long you worked on it?
Release date? On what platforms?
Keeth: “So I’ve been recording and adding to and revising these 5 tracks for 3 years! It’s taken way too long. But life is crazy and busy and time got away from me. But I love them and I’m really happy to get them out into the world. I’ll be releasing them on all major streaming platforms next month. Tentatively Feb 1st.”
CVW: Will you be selling the CDs at your shows?
Keeth: “I will make some CD’s even though sadly, there are fewer and fewer cd players around. But yes. Maybe some vinyls and cassettes for fun.” (said laughing)
CVW: What’s your favorite song from the new EP?
Keeth: “They’re each very different from each other and I love them all.”
CVW: What are some of your favorite songs to perform live?
Keeth: “I love playing all my originals live. And as for covers ‘The Chain’ and ‘Another Brick in the Wall’ are some, but I have a lot of favorites.”
CVW: You do a lot of covers and so a fantastic job at making them your own and yet still familiar. What’s your process for doing that?
Keeth: “Thank you so much! I really try to keep the spirit of the original intact and use the really identifiable melodies; but put them through my filter.”
CVW: Can you Talk about how the music community has changed in the valley over the years?
Keeth: “Not a lot really- because luckily a lot of musicians that were playing around here when I was younger are still around. Venues have come and gone- but the desire to create, perform, and be part of a music scene is still very much alive in the CV.”
CVW: What do you think you would want to do if you weren’t a musician?
Keeth: “If I didn’t do music-maybe I’d be a fire fighter? Or a pilot?
I don’t know! Tough to answer because music is all I’ve ever wanted to do.”
CVW: Anything else you want to share?
Keeth: “Just thank YOU for interviewing me and for all your support over the years. And thank you so much to my family and friends for your love and support of my musical endeavors.
To book Michael or follow his performing schedule go to his website: www.michaelkeethmusic.com
Photos by Daniel Zamora
