Shout out to Andrew Krause for hooking it up! I had the opportunity to play bass and perform for 8 shows with the very talented band, Hey, King. The best part was we were opening for Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals, which is one of my all time favorite bands. The tour consisted of three weeks on the road, 2 countries, and 5 different states. It was such a cool experience and we played some awesome music as well!
The song Last November is the brain child of Kevin Kennedy iii and Tom Kahre. It is the first song that Kennedy has written that wasn't about his life. "It was fun writing a story from a different perspective", Kennedy explained. "I also don't have such folkie songs in my repertoire."
The video was completely shot in Aachen, Germany. Kennedy hooked up with local director Max Kirschning to create something unique and beautiful. "I figured since I was traveling around Germany, it was the perfect place to shoot a video. Also, the fall in Aachen is absolutely beautiful," said Kennedy. The movie was shot using Go Pros and the Dinij Drone.
So sit back, relax, and enjoy the newest single from Kevin Kennedy iii.
Hey friends, I just released my fourth music video single, Heat of Alabama, from my debut album Umami. The song was recorded in at the Brewery Recording Studio in Brooklyn, NY. Heat of Alabama is a beauty mix of country story telling and hip hop beats which lyrically take place at the Gulf Shore.
The music video was shot at the Hangout Music Festival in Gulf Shores, AL during the 2015 and 2016 events. I am also an advocate for the Buena Onda company (www.thebuenaonda.com) which uses social enterprise to bring love, community ties, and empowerment to the Wayuu People of Colombia. In the video you can see a large assortment of Wayuu products, plus you get a sneak peek on what it takes to run a merchandise booth at a festival. Buena Onda actually sold at over 9 major music festivals across the USA this year so this video was a perfect opportunity to spotlight the brand.
I want to give a special thanks to Trey Monaghan, Erin Kalkbrenner, Annette Küeser, Cole Kalkbrenner, William Wood Krohn, Maddy Rose, Emmy German, Marquest Meeks, Walker Daniel, Alex Eggleston, Sydney Eggleston, Devon Eggleston, Taylor Elizabeth, Chris Hess, Matthew Taylor, Charlene Cullins, Colin Lee, Shana Stone, Falan Guy, and Julia Pisano for all of the help and great memories at the Hangout Festival.
So now, sit back and enjoy my newest song: Heat of Alabama.
It was a long day traveling to Hamburg, mostly because I spent the morning the Cologne hospital figuring out what to do about my fractured arm. The doctor told me I would need some time to heal, but I could play the guitar if it didn't hurt. Over the past couple of weeks I have taken a time out from playing, however once I got to Hamburg things changed.
I met up with a friend Sherija who lives in Hamburg. I originally met Sherija in Morocco and last saw her in August at the family reunion tour in Portugal. This was so great to finally see her in her natural environment. One of my favorite things in life is visiting friends in their home towns. You get a trip into their world and get to see their town and country through their eyes. Not only is this a learning experience, but you get to feel like a local in some way.
As soon as I arrived Sherija suggested that we head to an open mic. I knew this would be dangerous because I was already itching to play but my arm was still hurting. When we arrived the door guy told us it would be 5 euros to enter, but if we were playing it would be free. I said I would take a peek in the club and see if I would be up to playing. When I walked in I was blown away by the set up. There were over 70 people in the room and there was so much energy. This place doubled as a techno club on the weekends so it was a very trendy atmosphere. There were musicians, comedians, and a couple of poets. I asked one of the other performers if I could borrow his guitar and he was more than happy to help me out.
As the host called my name, which he thought was hilarious because apparently Kevin is not a popular name in Germany. In fact, Kevin is known for being an annoying person who is not educated. This has been an ongoing joke for me in Germany. It also doesn't help that I fell off a bike and broke my arm for no reason. So as I walked up to the stage a little unsure how my arm would hold up and also feeling like I had something to prove, I could feel the adrenaline starting to pump in my veins. I began to pick the first few notes of the song and I knew it was going to be a great set. After I finished, I really felt well received. People seemed to enjoy both of my songs Picture of Love and Umami. It even caused me to play a different version of Umami because I couldn't strum.
The next day, I met up with another friend from Colombia who I had not seen in a couple of years. In fact, we had not met up since the Bonnaroo festival in Manchester, TN in 2014. It is always great to meet up with people in another country and during another time period in life! Daniella and her boyfriend took me to a little Jazz club called the Colton Club. I would highly suggest anyone to try out this club especially if you like swing and jazz music!
Never underestimate Craigslist. It doesn't matter where I go, I always take a peak at craigslist because you never know what opportunities might exist. It just so happened that I was looking for music gigs in Paris when I stumbled across an ad that was looking for an actor who could skateboard. I immediately applied and long and below landed the job.
It turned out to be a great experience. The commercial was for Penta Hotels, which I would highly suggest checking out if you are ever in Paris. The bar and restaurant really get rowdy in the evening and we were filming on a Monday. Also, I had a blast because I was skateboarding in their lobby.
So remember, event though Craigslist can be extremely sketchy every now and then you may get to skate through a multimillion dollar hotel.
I wish I had a better story to tell, like I saved a baby from a burning building while avoiding an angry mob who wanted to kidnap the child, but unfortunately that is not how I broke my arm. On the contrary, I was happily riding a bicycle down the street and fell off it. There were no potholes or obstacles in my way, and I was completely sober. Needless to say, I haven't grown out of being Clumsy. Luckily, I was with my good friend Franz who helped me find the hospital and the care that I needed.
Franz and I met back in High School in the United States. He was on an exchange program and somehow ended up at North Platte High School. It has been years since I saw him last, so I was really excited to catch up in Leipzig.
Of course, when Franz and I get together there is bound to be an injury. For example, there was the time back in North Platte when I took him out wake boarding and he hit his head on the board. We rushed him to the emergency room only to find out that an adult had to sign off on his medical care, good thing my father was in the neighborhood and stopped by the hospital. A few moments later in the operation room, Tim passed out from watching the doctors put stitches in Franz's head. I was in a fit of laughter as the doctor told me to push the button for the nurses to come in the room to help tim. At that moment Franz looked over at me and said "What is going on today?"
Now here we were over ten years later and Franz is signing off on my care, well he didn't sign off but he did have to translate. After spending 4 hours in the hospital, the doctor told me I should go home without a cast. He told me I should keep moving the arm and that the fracture would heal in six weeks. Six weeks! How will I continue playing music?
Thankfully for me, Franz and his roommates are awesome! They cooked for me and helped me get through life with only the usage of one arm. I have to give a special shout out to Sam here for all the wonderful cooking. I may have starved to death if they had not of been so kind. However, as they pointed out they really didn't have a choice...
After months of working on this music video I’m happy to say it is complete. I am so excited to finally release it. I want to thank everyone who helped me including Andrew Krause AKA D.R.U. the legend who played lead guitar and help bring this song into fruition. Thank you Molly Varner and Molly Grunewald for your videoing skills and help with Buena Onda. David Krause, thank you for your kladiescope effects and editing. Also thank you to the Electric Forest pixies, the weird dancing bunny, the hoola hooper, Crow, and all the random electric forest family. You guys all rock!
So sit back and enjoy this video. Please tell me what you think! If you like it please share it or add the song to your play list on spotify.
Cologne is not a beautiful city. This is due the bombings from the 262 air raids during World War II. It is a relatively modern European city with unexciting architectural design. However, I thought Cologne was the bomb, pun intended. It was a young city filled with rowdy bars and restaurants, the people where so cool and friendly, and the river and cathedral were actually beautiful. My friend Denise, who I met in Morocco, was the perfect tour guide and knew all the hidden spots.
On Saturday, during the day Denise and I went downtown to perform on the street, but I ran into one small issue: there were already way to many buskers. It seems that Cologne has been over run by street performers. I counted ten on the few blocks that I walked down. I tried to play a couple of songs but since I forgot my mic stand and the crowds were huge not to mention I was already in a competitive situation, I decided to give up after two songs. In fact it is the first time this trip I did not make any money. Apparently after talking to one of the musicians there are certain rules in Cologne. First of all, you can not use amplification, but EVERYONE was using amplification, typical buskers. The second rule was that you must start your show on the hour ending half past the hour. Besides that feel free to play!
It took me over 4 1/2 hours to get to Brussels from Paris. To be honest, I thought about skipping Brussels altogether but I am so happy I didn't. I arrived near the Bourse in Brussels and took a little stroll around the city. It was beautiful and I knew the only thing that could make this adventure better was to bust out the guitar. I decided the best place to set up was in front of the the Grand Palace. This turned out to be an awesome decision! As soon as I finished the first song, I knew it was going to be a great set. The acoustics in this plaza were absolutely amazing. It was loud and clear and the echo off the buildings across from me were perfect. The best part was people were loving the whole scenario. They were dancing and singing along and I was getting applause after each song. Towards the end of my set a group of university students came to thank me for playing, which is better than any tip.
I really wish I had more time to stay in Brussels but it is time to head to Aachen, Germany to see friends and play music for the germans!
So I fell in love today, her name is Porto, but I call her Oporto...
Porto is the second largest city in Portugal and is one of the oldest European centers. Of course it is know for it's Port Wine, which is world renowned, but it really has so much more to offer. The fast collection of parks along the Douro river add the relaxed charm of the city. There are always people hanging around outside in different cafes and bars and the narrow streets are straight out of a European travel pamphlet. It is really something to be admired.
I had such a great experience here. First off, I made friends with Xachi, who was the most hospitality host and tour guide. He introduced me to his friends, to me to a music studio, and gave me tips on how to enjoy Porto. The best part was his bass skills. We immediately hit it of once we started jamming. He had a unique style and there was so much energy in his technique. I could see why his band was gaining traction in the Porto music scene.
One night we went to an abandoned shopping mall complex that had been taken over by musicians and artists. Each room had been converted into some kind of studio whether it was art or music. Xachi took me to meet his buddy and we all started jamming even switching between instruments. Lets just say my drumming skills could use some work, but we were in the zone and it didn't matter.
The next day I busked in the city center at Fonte dos Leões. It was a beautiful square but unfortunately it was too large and the sound was lost. I was a little disappointed but I knew there had to be some better places to go, so I decided to take a break.
I met up with John my South African compadre and we hit the streets to explore and also look for batteries for my amplifier. Of course, the tour ended at the Porto Wine Houses and we signed up for a tour at the Sandeman Winery, so we could be cultured on the historical Porto. The tour was great and at the end we ended sipping on port by the side of the river with Danielle and Christine, two american girls from New York. These are some of my favorite moments traveling. I love when you meet knew people and have good conversation, while doing something that is so simple yet at the same moment so unique and foreign because of your location and feelings. This is what it feels like to sip wine on the river side in Porto.
On the walk home I finally found the perfect busking location. It was on a strip of sidewalk right outside all the little fancy restaurants right on the Douro River. If you are a busker you can find this spot by walking along the river towards the Ponte Luís I bridge. So I ran back to Xachi apartment and grabbed my amp, guitar, and mic, it was time to busk.
When I showed back up to my gem of a location, I came to find that I wasn't the first person to have this idea. In fact, there were jugglers and people dress up as statues and some low rate Russian cover band playing at one of the cafes. I was about to give up, but I thought it was best to see how long they stuck around. Eventually the street performers trickled away and I was alone to own the street. People were really digging my sound and it was a fun set. It also helped that John, Christine, and Danielle came to watch me as well. I always enjoy having a built in fan group.
All in all, Porto is a spectacular city. It is warm and friendly and there is always something to do. Make sure you rest up before visiting because the Portuguese are known to stay up until all hours of the night, and trust me you will too.
The gang and I arrived in Lisbon late tonight and we were in the mood for a party. So after showering and getting ready we hit the rowdy streets of Lisbon. Of course I had a different goal in mind from the rest of the group. I knew that on this Saturday night, Lisbon would be the perfect setting for a street show.
As the group moved closer to the clubs in town I searched for the best corner to set up my equipment. I choose a spot at the end of the Cais do Sodré street and began to play. It was awesome! The energy in this place was pumping and it surely helped that all my friends were there. Massimo played the guitar case, which you would have thought was a complete trap set the way his hands kept rhythm. And then Aurelio joined in with a modern day twist on flamenco clapping. Meanwhile people sang along and danced in the streets. It was so much fun.
I played a couple of originals including Umami from my album. I was also approached by a group who was doing a remote year, and they requested all kinds of 90s hits including Semi Charmed Life, Santeria, and Santa Monica.
All in all it was a great evening of music and fun. The gang wanted to continue into a club at 4:45 am, but after playing for a couple of hours I was spent and headed back to the hostel.
The following day, everyone woke up late, most likely because they came home at 9:00 am. Oh Portugal! It was slow moving, but evidentially everyone decided to go and visit the Miradouro de Santa Catarina which is a beautiful park known by the locals as Adamastor. On the left side of this park is a cool little cafe / bar and in the center everyone is sitting around listening to live music.
When we arrived there was already a musician from Brazil playing his music. He let me play one song while he took a break and I chose "Picture of Love." I wanted to keep playing but I had to wait my turn. Unfortunately what I did not know is that busking in this park is serious and territorial. While I sat and listened for over two hours another Brazilian started setting up and the first one told me he was next. There was nothing I could do, especially because at this point I believed them both to be locals.
After 5 hours of music I finally got the opportunity to play. It was well worth the wait. There was over a 100 people in this park and my built in fan base was there (thanks guys!). I played for about 1 1/2 hours and I really got a great response. However, my amp did have some issues. I think the park was just two large and the sound was lost in the wind. As a busker you are always learning how to tune in your equipment based on your surroundings. I guess this was just another learning lesson!
So in conclusion if you are looking for a great city to busk in, I would highly suggest Lisbon! It also has some amazing people and sites to see!
The second single to come off Kevin Kennedy's debut album is L.A. Skies. Shot in Los Angeles by De'Andre Bush and directed by Kevin Kennedy iii. The music video stars Lauren Merar and Kennedy. Be sure to check out this new video and if you like it you can purchase the album on https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/umami/id1085921342.
It is a officially here, the day I've been dreaming of for years. For the first time, I can say that I my debut album is out and available. This album has been 2 years in the making and I have put forth so much effort, time, and money into it. I could not have done this without all of the support from my family, friends, and fans. So thank you for believing in me. Without further adeou please check out the links below to purchase or listen to my new album "UMAMI."
https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/kevin-kennedy-iii/id672756574
www.soundcloud.com/kevinkennedyiii
www.youtube.com/kevstalent
Check out the newest music video by Kevin Kennedy iii entitled Umami. It is sponsored by the Buena Onda which is a lifestyle brand that supports the Wayuu People of Colombia. Everything they sell is handmade, fair-trade, and one of a kind. The video was shot on location in La Guajira, Colombia. Umami is the first single off the new album entitled Umami by Kevin Kennedy iii. Order the album today at: http://itunes.apple.com/album/id1085921342?ls=1&app=itunes.