Tommy Keene, an underrated exponent of power pop whose most recent album, "Behind the Parade," showcases his golden voice and idiosyncratic guitar playing, plays a triple bill Saturday, Jan. 28, at the Sunset, in Seattle's Ballard neighborhood.
Critical acclaim came early to Tommy Keene, who plays Ballard’s Sunset on Saturday as part of a triple bill with the Parson Red Heads and the Riffbrokers. His 1984 single “Places That Are Gone” was named Village Voice’s EP of the year, Rolling Stone gave it four stars and Geffen Records soon came calling.
Almost 30 years later, Keene’s still earning praise, but now it comes with words like “underrated” or “underappreciated.”
“Yeah,” laughs Keene, “and why isn’t this guy famous?”
Good question.
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“I don’t think I should be selling a million records,” Keene says in a phone interview. “But I think my music is so accessible and could reach more people, and at this point in my career I really need some sort of a breakthrough to raise it above this level.”
Music as melodic and heartfelt as Keene’s — call it power pop, if you like — has always seemed to be on the periphery of what’s considered “cool” or “edgy.” The Washington, D.C.-bred, Los Angeles-based singer, songwriter and guitarist even chose the title of his 10th and most recent album, “Behind the Parade,” as a “self-deprecating nod to playing music that’s considered slightly unhip.”
“I got the title from a book of hipster slang, and thought it fit perfectly,” he says.
“Behind the Parade” adds 10 more solid entries to Keene’s already deep inventory of alternate-universe hits, highlighting his golden voice and idiosyncratic playing style. Songs like the jaunty “Deep Six Saturday” and the tender “Already Made Up Your Mind” are classic Keene — equal parts hard-rock grandeur and arpeggiated, folk-inspired jangle, like the Who on a collision course with the Byrds.
Keene says he’s extremely proud of the record, as well as the band he’s bringing to the Sunset for his first Seattle appearance since 2002. But like Seattle’s Posies, who have also enjoyed critical recognition but only abbreviated brushes with commercial success, Keene is well aware that making timeless guitar pop and a comfortable living are too often mutually exclusive.
“I got into this because I love it,” he says. “This is what I do and it’s the only thing I’ll ever do, but to just make a living doing what you love … that’s the ultimate dream, which I have not gotten to yet.”
And so the question remains — why isn’t this guy famous?
“Yeah, it’s a little frustrating,” Keene says, “but I’m tenacious. I keep going.”
Charlie Zaillian: czaillian@gmail.com