Tom Keller – Interview – Thanks for Asking!

Tom Keller – Interview – Thanks for Asking! – by Liam Sweeny.

We connected with Tom Keller to talk music. This is what he had to say.

RRX: Music genres are difficult for some artists. Some strictly adhere; others not so much. What is your perspective on the genre you play, or the genres you hover around?

TK: Well, I come from classical background. I started playing at 7 and by the age of 14 I was performing Giuliani while thinking Zappa. Now at 51, there isn’t a genre I don’t hit, because I think it’s all important. I’m on a Miles Davis kick right now but I’m also finally getting around to learning “Mr. Crowley” after 44 years, lol! Some genres I don’t play as well as others and I’m ok with that. I’m me, and not trying to be Brent Mason or Steve Vai.

RRX: We have to play somewhere, and sometimes those places have more going for them than a stage and a power outlet. What is a memorable place you played, and bonus points if it’s not a well-known place.

TK: Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, and The Bitter End.

RRX: With services like Spotify, streaming revenue can be pretty dismal. Without spilling secrets, do you have a promotional mindset or philosophy?

TK: I’ve been old-school for years about all that. I’ll always be a hard-copy guy, burning discs in my studio. But the reality now is that streaming reaches bigger target audiences. I have Spotify, YouTube and Reverbnation pages. BUT, I have a professional, dedicated website, www.kellerguitarstudio.com , where everything is laid out – my bio, mission statement of the studio, lesson contract, pics, web links, tech rider – everything. A good website is SO important.

RRX: What do you think is the most dangerous song to cover from the perspective of criticism? Who do you think is too hard to cover, and why?

TK: Any hit song that’s been over-played on the radio is a target for that. “Stairway To Heaven” is an obvious choice. I don’t play it live but I do teach it in lessons. There is A LOT going on in that song that so many performers miss, to the point of shitty renditions being the norm. The same goes for 90% of classic rock you hear performed today.

RRX: You sing or you rap, you play guitar, play drums, what have you, you have no doubt struggled to learn music. Something probably tripped you up. What was it for each of you? What did you have to overcome (bands, pick a member)?

TK: My big issue has been learning recorded guitar solos verbatim. I only do it to teach them, usually with some difficulty, because my brain immediately wants to improvise off them. A great example is “Mr Crowley”, which I’m finally learning at the moment, and making myself pull apart Randy Rhoads’ structural devices. Then I zone out on ripping phrygian dominants for 5 minutes. Maybe an ADD thing, I don’t know, but over the years I’ve become increasingly bored with learning written notes because I feel it’s mandatory. The irony being that I want my students to do it…method to the madness.

RRX: Part of learning to be a musician is to fall in love with a song, an album, and hammer away at your instrument until you can play that whole thing. What was that song for you? Was there a hardest part?

TK: “Aja” by Steely Dan. The whole album. An absolute masterpiece.

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