The stage is a second home to Tom Keenan.
An actor by day, musician by night, the Winnipeg artist is currently touring B.C. and stops at The Hub Arts Collective for a show, Wednesday.
Called “gritty and poetic,” and someone who sounds like a “darker Dylan,” Keenan started his musical career in the rock band Jubal with his big brother, Patrick, in 1996. The two have continued to collaborate under the name Captain Keenan.
When not singing/songwriting, Keenan has also focussed his attentions to other artistic pursuits, acting in productions ranging from Shakespeare to children’s theatre. Keenan has also appeared in film and television, and was recently on the Comedy Network’s House Party, Global’s Less Than Kind, and in the lead role of Sean Garrity’s latest feature, Zooey and Adam.
Keenan’s voice and guitar have been featured prominently on both of his brother’s albums. In 2005, he formed the short-lived but explosive trio, The Church Choir, where he found his own voice as a songwriter.
More recently, he has collaborated with Matt Peters. They have written two songs together for Peters’ Royal Canoe project. In 2009, the two penned the music for 10 Shakespeare songs for a stage production of The Winter’s Tale, in which Keenan acted, sang, and played piano and guitar.
On his debut album, Romantic Fitness, Keenan sings and plays guitar, piano, and harmonica. He co-produced the album in his hometown with Peters and Dave Quanbury, of band Twilight Hotel.
The album bears the distinctive stamp of Winnipeg’s eclectic music scene, featuring such guests as banjo player Jaxon Haldane (The D-Rangers), bassist Joey Penner (The Waking Eyes, Royal Canoe), drummer Jeff Bruce (The Nods, Jicah), violinist Rachel Moody (the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra), cellist Erika Donald, and Keenan’s brother Patrick.
Since the release of Romantic Fitness, Keenan has been touring throughout Canada both solo and with his band, which has featured his brother, Tom “Twisty” Fodey, Jaime Carrasco, Kelly Castle, and Joey Penner.
Keenan is playing at The Hub, next to the Towne Theatre downtown Vernon, Wednesday, May 16 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 at the Bean Scene and The Hub in advance, or at the door.
