fakejazz.com

Innovators can often be split into two categories, those who break with tradition out of frustration or anger, and those who do so more lovingly, simply looking to explore further a form that they respect. Keenan Lawler, thought his work on the resonator guitar would sound positively alien to most of his fellow Kentuckians, seems more a member of the latter group. The Louisville native’s music is a clear descendent of rustic American folk and blues, though largely aberrant progeny, to be sure. The Strange Tale of Eddy Westport is Lawler’s most recent release, a teaser, of sorts, for the two discs that will drop on the Music Fellowship label in future months. The three-track disc finds Lawler covering a surprising amount of ground in such a short time, though hearing him on record [sic] doesn’t seem to showcase Lawler’s arsenal of techniques as much as a live performance can. Still, “The Old Fort” and “A Fork in Gardner’s Path” are some nice slices of Lawler’s own obscure Americana, the former more traditional in its dark, serpentine path, the latter a more fragmented collection of some of Lawler’s more extended techniques. “Goodbye Lisa Rose” closes the disc with an abridged performance and humorous footnote, a closing that takes a turn from the levity underpinning the rest of the music. Lawler’s just completed a tour with Mike Tamburo, a like-minded individual who runs New American Folk Hero, and should continue to be active with releases and a reissue coming soon. It’s hard to view this release as much more than a small taste of what’s to come, but that’s no reason not to enjoy it.

Keenan Lawler at Amazon & Insound