Joe Keehnast

Joe Keehnast has not exactly taken a direct route to playing music. Never formally trained in any instruments or vocals, without having heard him, you would have to assume it would just be a matter of time before no one would invite him back to play at their venue.... Especially when you would find out that he does this part-time while working a full-time career in the software industry.... But what has been happening has been quite the contrary. Each show he has played has brought in a new crop of fans and promoters looking to book more shows, even in LA, a mecca of music.

Originally from Chicago, he got his first guitar at 14, started listening to Nirvana, and the seeds of future music endeavors were sown. But it wasn't until after college that he really started exploring his own sound.

"It took me a while to really feel comfortable playing my own stuff in front of people. You realize how personal every lyric is that you write, and putting that out there the first time is pretty scary."

He has been compared to a variety of similar performers....John Mayer, Jason Mraz, Amos Lee, Dave Matthews....but the one comparison he has gotten nearly every single time he has played is surprising...Tracy Chapman.

"Yeah, the first time someone told me that, I kind of wrote it off....but then I was hearing it every single place I played. I laugh every time, but they assure me it's because Tracy's voice is masculine...not that reassuring on my end but I'm happy to be compared to an amazing performer like her."