From the first moment we knew Keith John Adams, we were hugging it out – like two Jeremy Pivens. Then Mr. Adams, still red in the cheeks and sleepy in the eyelids from the night before in Omaha, Nebraska, moved on to the next total stranger for a second and a third man hug. He was immediately memorable. Most of the time it’s a standard hand shake and then they’re shown the room – hugs reserved for the goodbyes. Keith was here in the United States sharing a tour and a van with Happy Happy Birthday To Me labelmates Casper and the Cookies and though we weren’t necessarily expecting him to be here, we leapt at the opportunity to record him. Before we did that, we talked to him about accents and how all who come into contact with an Englishman give it their best shot. He went for his best American accent, said some git er dones, some howdies and ya’lls. Good times. The setting and the circumstances on the day of Keith’s session were as such: Casper and the Cookies, with their chocolate chip cookie sweetness, went first and then Daytrotter’s Numero Uno, Resident Homeboy William Elliott Whitmore proceeded to confetti our hallway with some resplendent, down home bluegrass folk and following a pizza lunch and a rest period (aka hangover recovery time), Keith was next to cap off the afternoon. We had just recorded Will in our wooden floored hallway – the first time we tested that method – and decided that it was the way to go with Keith as well. We set him up next to the unfinished art studio space used by our landlord’s girlfriend, just short of the bathroom, and let him bust into his extremely clever, observational nuggets about bank tellers, misfits in cities and most often dads – his own and others. It was interesting hearing Keith buttressed with Will’s extremely American, heartland-ish take on life. They both deal with the loves in their lives and their families in strikingly different ways, never really crossing into similar terrain and it made for an interesting, double-edged dissection of the wonders and worries that all those still with heaving chests feel keep replenishing themselves. Sometimes those personal discussions and such are quirky and odd, sometimes they feel and sound like the bark of a rough, grandfatherly tree and other times they’re both. – Sean Moeller

First song
Phony Hearts (Keith John Adams) [1.60MB] [957 downloads]


– unreleased
This song came from always seeing the most “alternative” kid in each town when you’re touring. I have sympathy for the kid in the song, but I’m also a little sarcastic about his aloof nature. Can you tell?

Second song
Badly (Keith John Adams) [2.18MB] [927 downloads]


– unreleased
This song is an apology for not making things work out. It speaks for itself I guess. The words “cocking it up” are English slang vernacular — just means ruining things. I’m often amazed at how many of my lyrics have difficulty crossing the Atlantic.

Third song
She's Your Dad (Keith John Adams) [1.47MB] [906 downloads]


– unreleased
This is about falling for someone when you’re involved with someone else. How wrong could a relationship be? She’s your dad? That’s pretty wrong. It’s got very intensely rhyming lyrics – l like doing that now and then.

Fourth song
Dad (Keith John Adams) [2.49MB] [913 downloads]


– original version appears on PIP
This is very simply a homage to the relationship I have with my father. It’s not complicated, I just like him a lot!