A Keen Holiday

If Kene Holliday wins an Oscar, perhaps he'll have us to thank. Inspired by the saga of Matlock's trusted sidekick, A Keen Holiday stormed onto the scene in early 2007 when drummer Ryan Rody and guitarist Mike Manetta crossed paths after five long years apart. Back in '02, the then-Indiana University students spent countless hours jamming in a seedy Bloomington basement. They parted ways that fall when Manetta left to study in England. Rody joined the U.S. Air Force soon after. However, by January 2007 both men were back in Indianapolis and ready to pick up where they'd left off. Rody tapped bassist and former bandmate Josh Kirk (of No Identity fame) to complete the trifecta. Drastically different influences led to friction early on; affectations of the Black Keys mixed with Bryan Adams melodies and jazzy drum flares. Despite the early setbacks - including the discovery that drummer Rody was a type-1 diabetic - the band quickly found its feet, and now fuses a smattering of Hendrix-esque blues-rock riffs, Foo Fighter intensity, and Ginger Baker earthquakes that have been steamrolling Indy ever since.