John Paul Keith

September 17, 2013
by JPK
Comments Off on The new album is out

The new album is out

My new record came out today. You can listen below via Spotify. It was produced by Roland Janes and it’s the best thing I’ve ever done. We recorded it at Sam Phillips Recording Service on 2” analog tape without the use of computers. The vinyl was mastered on the original Stax Records lathe. It was not intended to be heard streaming on laptop speakers or earbuds. If you like it, please consider picking up the vinyl or the CD, or download it from iTunes. Hope you enjoy it.

We also have a new 7″ single from the same sessions, featuring two new songs unavailable anywhere else. You can order the vinyl or download from iTunes.

If you’d like both the LP and the 7″, in addition to the Motel Mirrors 10″, you can get them all in one from Last Chance Records.

September 10, 2013
by JPK
Comments Off on Listen to MEMPHIS CIRCA 3AM in full at American Songwriter

Listen to MEMPHIS CIRCA 3AM in full at American Songwriter

The good folks over at American Songwriter are streaming my new album, Memphis Circa 3AM in its entirety for one week starting today. The album comes out September 17 and we’ll be celebrating its release September 20th at the Levitt Shell in Memphis. You can pre-order the album here.

I’m also excited about my side-project with Amy LaVere, Motel Mirrors, and the 7-song EP we released a few weeks ago. It’s available on iTunes and Spotify, or you can buy the 10″ vinyl here.

As if that’s not enough new music, I also have a 7″ single with two new songs coming out on September 17 as well. You can pre-order it, Memphis Circa 3AM, and the Motel Mirrors EP all from Last Chance Records.

Stay tuned for more fall tour dates. We’ll be hitting Texas, the midwest, and the East Coast. Here goes nothin’!

August 8, 2013
by JPK
Comments Off on SPIN.com premieres a track from the new record + more news

SPIN.com premieres a track from the new record + more news

We are very excited to announce that SPIN.com has premiered a track from our forthcoming album Memphis Circa 3AM, a song called “Everything’s Different Now”. The album hits stores September 17 and we’ll be celebrating the release with a free show at the Levitt Shell on September 20!

In other news, my duet side-project with Amy LaVere, Motel Mirrors, will be releasing our debut 7-song, self-titled EP on August 27 and celebrating the release at Young Avenue Deli on August 24. The EP will be available via digital download (iTunes, etc) and 10″ vinyl. You can read more about the project here. We’re also excited to announce that Motel Mirrors will be headlining this year’s Cooper Young Festival on September 14.

Also, be sure and check the tour dates page for both Motel Mirrors and JPK tour dates. We’re adding more all the time, including an East Coast tour in October.

Lastly, if you’re not following me on Twitter, the Memphis Flyer thinks you should be. Warning: my Twitter feed may contain bad jokes and awful puns. Proceed with caution.

July 9, 2013
by JPK
Comments Off on The new album, MEMPHIS CIRCA 3AM, due 9.17.13

The new album, MEMPHIS CIRCA 3AM, due 9.17.13

Ladies and gentlemen, it’s official. The new album is called Memphis Circa 3AM. It was produced by Roland Janes at Sam Phillips Recording Service, and it will be our third release for Big Legal Mess (Fat Possum). The street date for North America, Australia, and Japan will be September 17, 2013. Stay tuned for a European release date, as well as a Memphis release party and of course a track preview (eventually). I’ve never been more proud of or excited about a recording I’ve worked on. Can’t wait for you guys to hear it.

Photo by Jim Herrington.

June 9, 2013
by JPK
Comments Off on New records coming soon + Amy LaVere duet project + Lucero shows!

New records coming soon + Amy LaVere duet project + Lucero shows!

In case you’re not following us on Twitter or Facebook, you may not have heard that we just finished our new full-length album. We cut it at Sam Phillips Recording Service (the studio Sam built in 1960 after he sold Sun Records), with the legendary Roland Janes producing and engineering. Look for a September release date. I’ve never been more excited about a session - it has been truly special. You can check out some photos here.

The Memphis Commercial-Appeal recently ran an epic profile of Roland with more pics and behind-the-scenes info from our sessions - if you are interested in the history of American music, particularly Memphis music, you will want to read this.

In other news, for the past few months I have been working on a duet project with singer/songwriter/upright bassist Amy LaVere and her drummer Shawn Zorn, called Motel Mirrors. We just completed a 7 song EP for Archer Records which will also hopefully be out late summer. I’m very excited about this project and I think you guys are going to love it. It’ll be my first time releasing a vinyl 10″!

And…in case that’s not enough new music for you, we also plan to release a new 7″ single soon with our friends at Last Chance Records, featuring a couple of sides we cut with Roland. Stay tuned!

Lastly, we’ve added some summer shows, including a two-night stand in Nashville at the Mercy Lounge opening for our good buddies Lucero! The shows are June 28 and 29. Weekend passes are available here.