ABOUT STEVEN KEENE:
Keene grew up in Brooklyn, New York. He got his start in the 90s playing the folk clubs and cafes of the Greenwich Village scene alongside contemporaries Beck, Susanne Vega, Shawn Colvin and others. Inspired by the song craftsmanship of Bob Dylan, Woody Guthrie and Leonard Cohen, Keene is a songwriter’s songwriter who is a measured and mature artist that is seemingly, and eerily, plugged-in to the times. With consistent, powerful and timely lyrics, the folk mainstay and seasoned singer-songwriter has perfected his own unique alchemy. He’s played joints like Sun Mountain Cafe and the Chameleon and crisscrossed the streets of McDougal and Bleecker to perform at well-known clubs such as the Lone Star Cafe, Mercury Lounge, Bottom Line, Bitter End, Arlene’s Grocery, and the legendary CBGB’s.
Keene recorded and released his first album KEENE ON DYLAN (1990), collaboration with Bob Dylan band members Howie Wyeth and Rob Stoner (Desire/Rolling Thunder) featuring an eclectic mix of originals, covers and traditional tunes.
He followed with his sophomore album, titled NO ALTERNATIVE (Moo Records/1995), featuring the musicianship of former Dylan band members Tony Garnier, John Jackson and Bucky Baxter. The project was distributed through BMG in Europe in conjunction with a European tour in support of his single, "Far Better Friend Than Lover.”
In 2001, Keene released the album titled SET THE CLOCK. He celebrated the release of his EP, titled IT IS WHAT IT IS, in January and continuing momentum throughout 2020, Keene launched his single series campaign, dropping a new original each month throughout 2020, as an introduction to his new album, THEM & US.