I opened the mail this week to find an intriguing album by Greg Koons, a singer-songwriter entirely unknown to me. However, what I did recognize was the name of co-producer Matt Keating who released the really great double album Quixotic in 2008. In fact, most of the musicians who supported Keating on that record appear on Koons' Welcome to the Nowhere Motel (although guitarist Kirk Swann fills the slot for the late Duane Jarvis who contributes only a few dobro parts here).
Much in the same vein as Quixtoic, Nowhere Motel is a shimmering slice of Petty-esque roots rock. Koons has an interesting voice that can sound conversational one minute and almost crooning the next. There's nothing particularly revolutionary about Koons' brand of alt-country, but he demonstrates that solid material with stellar musical backing is still a powerful combination.
Keep this one in mind when you're at the record store this week. Koons is touring like a dog through the summer, including a swing through Texas next week (and a stop in Houston in September).
Comments