You might not be familiar with the music of King Kyote, but that’s about to change. The indie roots-rock musician from Portland, Maine, released his self-titled debut album on Wednesday, Sept. 17, and following the release he will embark on an extensive tour which includes a performance at the Shea Theater Arts Center in Turners Falls on Saturday, Sept. 27, at 8 p.m.
King Kyote (real name Jon King) has visited western Massachusetts in the past, performing in the Berkshires and the Parlor Room in Northampton. “But I’ve never been out to Turners Falls and I am stoked to be playing the Shea Theater,” King said in a recent phone interview.
King, who grew up in York, Maine, was raised listening to everything from blues to folk to rock.
“I got into playing guitar when I was really young and naturally progressed into singing,” King said. “When I was in high school I started playing in a band, and before that I found that I always enjoyed being onstage.”
Despite playing music most of his life, it wasn’t until 2018 that he became serious about pursuing a career in music. That was when he took the moniker King Kyote.
“I love the coyotes and how scrappy they are and how they are pack animals and can go out on their own,” he explained. “My last name is King, so that was easy, but I was looking for an animal that represented me and represented my music and represented the vibe I was going for as well.”
For the past five years, King has been busy getting his music out there, releasing a series of singles including originals and covers. He has toured the northeast, impressing audiences with his dynamic live show. He has shared the stage with such artists as Taj Mahal, Molly Tuttle, Houndmouth, and Robert Randolph and the Family Band.
He also represented the state of Maine on the NBC television show “American Song Contest,” which led to the release of his “Get Out Alive” on Atlantic Records and some kind words from contest host Snoop Dogg, who said of King: “I like the way he holds his own, his vocal tone and his penmanship.”
“It was really cool and definitely a special moment in my life and music path,” King said. “In the end, it was definitely worth doing – I got to meet a bunch of special people and brush shoulders with celebrity types, which is something when you are from Maine,” he added with a laugh.
But he realized that while being on a television show is beneficial, it is not really how you build a career.
“You can definitely pick up fans,” King said, “but at the end of the night what really matters is getting in a van, driving to a place you have never been before, showing up and playing for 30 people. Then going back six months later and play for 80 people. That’s how you build a following.”
The new album and subsequent tour will help build his following. The nine tracks are wide-ranging and reflect a variety of influences from Chris Stapleton styled country (“The Desert”) to Ray LaMontagne like folk-rock (“Blackbird”). To add to the overall variety, there’s the gritty rock of “Black Camaro” and we even hear a touch of soul on “Weapon.”
“I don’t like being confined to just being a singer-songwriter or someone who just plays blues licks,” King said. “I look at something like ‘Led Zeppelin III’ and it is an amazing album because it has elements of all these different genres that make up what rock and roll is, and I think that’s what I want to tap into.”
That said, the King Kyote show should appeal to a wide range of music fans.
“I would encourage people if they want something real and they want to see a new, honest singer-songwriter who is influenced by all kinds of genres of music in the Americana vein, if they want to see something new and exciting, I encourage people to come out,” King said.
“It is a little bit of nostalgia mixed in with a singer-songwriter type of thing,” King said. “I really try to encourage people to get out into a room and hear live music played – that’s where my head is at. The world is so wild, and we are constantly bombarded with so much negativity. It is really lovely to come and listen to music and share that moment.”
Tickets are $25 in advance at sheatheater.org, $30 at the door. The show is all ages and doors open at 7 p.m. Harrison Goodell opens.
Myrtle Street Klezmer closes out 1794 Meetinghouse summer series
The summer season at the 1794 Meetinghouse in New Salem will come to an end this weekend with a show from the Myrtle Street Klezmer Band on Saturday, Sept. 20, at 7:30 p.m.
The band, which consists of Jason Ditzian (bandleader, clarinet), Myk Freedman (guitar), Jesse Olsen Bay (vocals, bass, bouzouki, percussion), Bea Carlson (vocals, accordion), Doug Plavin (percussion), and Dan Baker (tuba, banjo) have been performing together since Jason Ditzian founded the band in 2021.
Their music, a high-energy blend drawing from Balkan, Greek, Arabic, rock, and jazz, as well as classic and contemporary Klezmer repertoire, is a celebration of the Ashkenazi Jewish culture. Myrtle Street Klezmer work in the tradition of the old-world klezmer musicians, singing in Yiddish, Hebrew, and Ladino. In addition to entertaining audiences, they also strive to teach them about the rich background and meaning of the music and the tradition.
The Meetinghouse schedule features a diverse range of music, and according to new director Matthew Duncan, as far as he is aware this is the first time they have hosted a Klezmer concert.
This music, with its festive and lively nature, is the perfect way to wrap up the summer concert season, so if you have been delaying your visit to the Meetinghouse this summer, now is the time to check it out. And if you can’t make it in person, don’t worry – the show will be broadcast live on OATV.
Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for teens and free for children ages 12 and under and for those with Card to Culture. For tickets and more information, visit 1794meetinghouse.org. This concert is supported, in part, by a grant from the Harold Grinspoon Foundation.
Petit Concert Series in Orange launches fall season
Now that the air is getting cooler and the days are getting shorter, you may find that you aren’t as inclined to go out in the evenings. Now you have the opportunity to enjoy music in the afternoon when Stage On Main presents free monthly Sunday afternoon concerts at the First Universalist Church on 31 North Main St. in Orange.
The first show in the series will be with singer-songwriter Tim Van Ness and will take place this Sunday, Sept. 21 from 2 to 4 p.m. Van Ness is a classically trained singer who performs in the folk/blues styles.
Next up in the series it’s Collaboration des Artistes on Oct. 19 and Richard Chase on Nov. 2.
These concerts are free but donations are always appreciated. Concerts are sponsored by the Orange Revitalization Partnership and Massachusetts Cultural Council.
Sheryl Hunter is a freelance writer who resides in Easthampton. Her work has appeared in various regional and national publications. She can be reached at Soundslocal@yahoo.com.