Christopher Keating

Entertaining To Forget Your Troubles

By Candace McDuffie; photo courtesy of Chris Keating

Making yourself unforgettable in a city that has a local music scene as flagrant as Boston’s is a feat in itself. Luckily, musician Christopher Keating has developed a strategy to set himself apart from the herd. Characteristics of his self-proclaimed circus-styled show consist of “throwing the guitar in the air and catching it on {his} lap while still playing.” Being a man of geography, Keating skillfully divides the area to best target certain music listeners.

“Allston/Cambridge/Somerville are better for independent artists,” he says, “and Boston audiences are better suited for assholes who wear too much black and don’t dance enough to enjoy life.” Loaded with an eclectic sound featuring guitar chords reminiscent of Modest Mouse frontman Issac Brock’s earlier band, Ugly Casanova, Keating’s unconventional sound can best be identified through his influences. “Off the top of my head, my most influential figures in society would include Hunter S. Thompson, Andy Kaufman, Tyler Durden, William Jefferson Clinton, Michael Jackson, Michael Jordan, John Lennon, Charles Darwin, Bobby Brown, Irish people and Michael Hedges.” A man devoted to his craft, he justifies his need to make music in simple terms. “My mission is to entertain with hopes that people will forget about their troubles for a few moments — music is just the vessel I use because it helps people step out of their comfort zone.” And booking agents feel the same way, allowing artists to make their music more accessible to the public. Keating is scheduled to play T.T. the Bear’s in the middle of next month. “Shows are easy to book if you have a worthy act,” remarks Keating. “It’s more of a task to get people off their couches and in front of the stage.” He does seem quite impressed, however, with his fellow Boston musicians —and although he is not necessarily a proponent of the indie scene. “I have never understood the term ‘indie,’ I always thought it was kids who wore tight denim and had bad hair. I feel all the notable local acts are pushing their creativity as far as their brains will go. My nighttime act is slightly more Vaudeville and mostly focuses on pushing personal creativity.” Perhaps the most admirable feature regarding said creativity is Keating’s status as the founder of “If I Can, You Can” - a program at elementary schools that guide, teach, and encourage aspiring (and really young) musicians. “My advice to [them] is that they can do anything they imagine - there are no rules. The moment they say “I can’t,“ they have already quit and should go work in an office until they die.”

www.myspace.com/chriskeatingmusic