Geoff Kessell - ProfilesArchive

About Me

I was raised on a steady diet of pop music, record store jobs, and basement bands, absorbing all the sounds my addled brain would hold. As I learned to play guitar I tried to replay songs from memory, got them wrong, and created my own in the process. After years of writing for other singers I finally decided to learn to sing in my own voice and write for myself. But first, in the mid-to-late nineties, I took a sabbatical from music to own and operate an independent St. Louis-based business called Whiz Bam! While running the store, I released two collections of early demos called "Pop-Gun" and "Instant Karma Sutra." After closing the shop in late 1999, I resumed writing, recorded and released my first "proper" album, "Songs for a Caustic Guitar," and played frequent solo shows, opening for some of my favorite artists, including Graham Parker, Steve Forbert, Marshall Crenshaw, and Peter Case. In 2000 I assembled a compilation called "Musaic," featuring tracks from the first three CDs, plus previously unreleased bonus tracks. In 2003, I released a holiday e.p. called "Holidazed," which included, as a bonus, low-fi live recordings of many songs from my forthcoming album, "Funfair for the Drowning Man." In 2005 I stopped playing live, for what was intended to be a couple of months, to focus on "Funfair for the Drowning Man." Instead it dragged into several years, thanks to job and life stuff. At long last, the album is FINALLY done (except artwork, manufacturing, and distribution). I still love it, which is rare for me since I usually get sick or bored of my music. I can't wait to share it with whoever cares to listen, and to start to play live again. Hope to see you soon. gk - 01/08

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 11/29/2007
Band Website: geoffkessell.com
Band Members: Geoff Kessell with occasional help from Mike Cracchiolo, Andrew Driscoll, Mark Easter, Gary Sudin, and Cornelius Washington, Jr.
Influences: The Banana Splits, Richard Barone, The Beatles, The Beau Brummels, David Bowie, Brill Building songwriters of the sixties, Jon Brion, Lindsey Buckingham, T-Bone Burnett, Murray Burns, The Byrds, David Byrne, Peter Case, Petula Clark, Lloyd Cole, Edwyn Collins, Alice Cooper, Julian Cope, Elvis Costello, Marshall Crenshaw, Del Amitri, Howard Devoto, Don Dixon, Dog Trumpet, Dremble Wedge and the Vegetation, Stephen Duffy, Bob Dylan, Mitch Easter, eels, The Everly Brothers, The Farmer's Boys, The Feelies, Felt, Neil Finn, Steve Forbert, Bobby Fuller, Peter Gabriel, Sir Guy Grand, Gruppo Sportivo, Roy Halee, Terry Hall, John Wesley Harding, George Harrison, Boo Hewerdine, Buddy Holly, Tommy James and the Shondells, Jellyfish, Greg Kihn, The Kinks, Tom Lehrer, John Lennon, Love, Nick Lowe, Magazine, Paul McCartney, Roger McGuinn, Mental As Anything, Morrissey, Shadow Morton, The Move, Graham Parker, Sam Phillips, Gene Pitney, Cole Porter, Emitt Rhodes, Jonathan Richman, The Rubinoos, Todd Rundgren, Rod Serling, The Shangri-Las, Sandie Shaw, Simon and Garfunkel, P.F. Sloan, Sly and The Family Stone, The Smiths, Jill Sobule, Phil Spector, Dusty Springfield, Cat Stevens, Suede, The Sweet, Matthew Sweet, The Teardrop Explodes, A Thousand Clowns, Pete Townshend, Trash Can Sinatras, Loudon Wainwright III, Andy Warhol, John Waters, Paul Weller, The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band, Brian Wilson, The Wonder Stuff, XTC, Warren Zevon, The Zombies, and many others.
Sounds Like: Hmmm... I think something like a cross between Banana Splits, Richard Barone, Lindsey Buckingham, Marshall Crenshaw, Dog Trumpet, Bobby Fuller, John Wesley Harding, Tommy James and the Shondells, Jellyfish, Graham Parker, Gene Pitney, The Shangri-Las, Jill Sobule, They Might Be Giants, XTC, Brian Wilson, and The Zombies.
Record Label: unsigned
Type of Label: None

My Blog

Even more comments about Funfair for the Drowning Man

I've received a few more "offline" email comments about "Funfair for the Drowning Man" so I thought I'd post them. Send me your feedback and I'll post it too, unless it's negative.° Scott A. says "Dam...
Posted by Geoff Kessell on Sat, 12 Apr 2008 10:05:00 PST

The album is done!

At long last, my new album, Funfair for the Drowning Man, is finished (except for the artwork). I am thrilled and relieved. I have posted a few final mixes for your enjoyment. I will rotate the songs ...
Posted by Geoff Kessell on Fri, 25 Jan 2008 04:40:00 PST

Album update!

My long-pending new album, "Funfair For The Drowning Man," is really finally near completion! My good friend, drummer, and longtime musical cohort Mark Easter and I spent Saturday mixing eleven tracks...
Posted by Geoff Kessell on Tue, 08 Jan 2008 07:42:00 PST

My Best of 2007...Parts 1 & 2

I'm stuck at home with a nasty sinus infection, it's snowy and cold outside, and I'm wrestling with a fever and "cabin fever." Since I have free time, I figure I'll do what all self-declared music cri...
Posted by Geoff Kessell on Tue, 18 Dec 2007 03:16:00 PST

a special holiday treat from geoff, with love

For your festive listening pleasure, I've posted my 6-song "Holidazed" e.p. from 2003. This heart-warming chestnut was a limited release that spotlights my folkier side (meaning sparse and acoustic)....
Posted by Geoff Kessell on Wed, 12 Dec 2007 07:55:00 PST

NYC - Jan 18-22

John and I will be in NYC for a quick vacation Jan. 18 - 22, 2008. Any tips on shows and other cool happenings will be appreciated. Thanks! gk
Posted by Geoff Kessell on Sun, 02 Dec 2007 08:13:00 PST

Blue Rodeo, iPod, CDs, cassettes, and LPs

As part of my reluctant amble into the 21st Century, I finally caved and bought an iPod. (I know, I'm a total consumer whore!) I haven't broken the shrinkwrap on the box yet, but still, I shelled out ...
Posted by Geoff Kessell on Sun, 02 Dec 2007 09:08:00 PST