Meeting Keane

MANILA, Philippines – What I came away with, which I had not expected about Keane: this is a group of guys who are damn funny.

This unexpected humor coupled with their clear sense of themselves in the context of the world made for not only a fun presscon, but revealed a band that is refreshingly honest and, dare we say it, true.

This by no means is a flat-out Keane lovefest.

Rather, it helps to contextualize what they are trying to do with their music.

I have found that one of my frustrations with Keane — as I have followed their first couple of albums — has been that I felt that they lacked ambition.

I thought that they should have been striving for something more grandiose, more epic, as their crescendoes showed capacity for the amazing and momentous.

And yet it seemed that they were content with where they were. 

Humility and humor

Interestingly, at the press conference that was held at the EDSA Shangri-La Hotel earlier this October, the band regularly referred to their movement from small town kids just trying to learn instruments and trying to make something of their songs and their music.

They had come from such humble beginnings that the level of success that they had achieved with their music is undeniably massive. 

Thus, I am forced to reconsider my position. I am, in all honesty, disarmed by the band’s honesty and sincerity.

Their candor in facing the oddest of questions, such as one prefaced with, “I am not a fan of you, but…” is admirable. Fielding the odd as well as the flattering, the band chuckled away and played with their crowd.

Which is to say Keane is a charming band. 

Melancholy and cool

The event opened with them being asked if they are as melancholic as their songs.

The answer: They get it all out in the songs so that they can live relatively normal lives.

Lead vocalist Tom Chaplin added, “Sad songs are often the best ones.”

Make no mistake about it: Keane, though their sound on this album (Strangeland) is a lot bigger and brighter, doesn’t shy away form sad songs; but Chaplin assured that the “new album is a bit more hopeful.”

I am inclined to agree, as I find the swells and heights of this album to be much higher than its melancholic depths. 

The years that have passed between albums reveal a levity that only comes with maturity. I can’t help but think how some of their songs lack the f*cked-up-ness of relationships portrayed in other contemporary albums (Jack White’s Blunderbuss comes to mind).

But that’s because these guys seem to be on a very different journey from their contemporaries. Theirs is a journey more of sincerity than dramatic irony, and one that is definitely more reflective.

They are moving from the wide-eyed optimism of earlier efforts and trying to express themselves and their lives as 30-somethings.

As pianist Tim Rice-Oxley explained, “We’re not interested in being cool or popular.” Rather, their drive is to write music that is emotionally honest.

He pointed out that very few bands are willing to be so honest in their music. Keane are a band that isn’t afraid to wear their hearts on their sleeves.

The raw and direct lyricism and the piano hooks are testament to this. 

Love and connection

But more important than that was what they are trying to do.

While I thought what I perceived to be a lack in their sound was a glaring limitation, it is actually a strength.

The sound that Keane produces is intimate, it speaks to people. As Rice-Oxley explained, “What really matters is making music that connects with people.” 

They have made a lot of songs that have connected with people, though the band will chuckle at the assertions that their songs are classics. This new album is a fine addition to their oeuvre, with many songs that are reminiscent of previous efforts while moving into new ground.

As drummer Richard Hughes explained, this is the first album that captures them as a band, and also “we fell back in love with the piano.”

Though bassist Jesse Quinn — who played on Keane’s previous album Perfect Symmetry and is now officially a member — joked that what makes this album special is that he is finally a member of the band, he also elaborated on he idea of their playing as a band, that they have the energy and power of live performances captured on their record. – Rappler.com

 

Watch out for the Keane concert reviews later today. Where you there? Tell us about what you thought, what your favorite part of the night was. Tweet us @rapplerdotcom and @kaimagsanoc with hashtag #KeaneatMoAArena.

Keane’s newest album, Strangeland, is out now under MCA Universal.

Carljoe Javier teaches at the UP Department of English and Comparative Literature. He has written a few books, most recently the new edition of The Kobayashi Maru of Love available from Visprint Inc. and the upcoming Writing 30 available as an ebook at amazon, ibookstore, b&n and flipreads.com.