Keek

OTTAWA FIVE-PIECE INDIE pop-rock band Keek is a refreshing addition to a predominantly hardcore local music scene. Diving into a genre that’s underrepresented locally can often mean live-show suicide for a group of up-and-comers—but with almost half a dozen shows lined up before the end of April, Keek are in no danger of drowning.

For a little-known local band, Keek has impressive instrumental variety. Though their music relies on a standard guitar-bass-drums foundation, the distinctive sounds of keys, synth, and a wind instrument allow the band to really toss things up a bit. Best put to use on the bubblegum pop track “Gone,” the diversity of instruments more than adds to the beat—it carries it.

In addition to a great sound, Keek makes excellent use of four different vocalists to keep their songs from becoming repetitive. One vocalist is usually given precedence, but the other three form an excellent retro-style chorus that makes even the backup sound positive and upbeat.

Though the band has only three tracks currently posted on their MySpace page, two new singles are expected to be released by early summer. Keep your eye on this quirky quintet—they’re definitely going places.

Sounds like: An indie-rock Alphabeat.

Check it out: A small sampling of tracks from the band’s repertoire can be heard at myspace.com/keekmusic. - The Fulcrum by Jaclyn Lytle

Local pop act Keek profess their ambition to be the next princes of the charts

Initially envisaged as Conor Whitehead's solo project, Keek rapidly grew into a full-fledged, six-member ensemble: After recording his rookie EP with a guitarist and a bassist, Whitehead extended the lineup, which - as of a few days prior to the release of Keek's sophomore effort, Stories - consists of Marek Lubanski, Mitch Malboeuf, Kyle Williams, Matt Belanger and Kyle Megill."I would never want to be a solo artist. My objective was to create a band of brothers based on the equality of all members," elucidates Whitehead.
The term "keek," a British colloquialism for a state of intimacy with an attractive individual, was actually chosen by Whitehead as an allusion to his childhood nickname. "Everyone has always referred to me as Keek," he reveals. "It's even written on my high school shirt." The juvenile, zestful aura of this anecdote is a lot like the band's current sound - their second EP, swarming with boy-meets-girl lyrics, would be a great soundtrack for a light-hearted 1990s American teen flick.

In an attempt to create a collection of foot-tapping, ear-catching songs, Whitehead's squad has carefully studied what makes the most popular pop tunes so unforgettable. "I would listen to The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's on a daily basis. Then, I moved

to some more recent artists such as Lady Gaga and Nickelback. Ultimately we want to make American history; we want to be this major act whose melodies people are going to be singing forever." - Ottawa XPress by Jean Thomas Tremblay

He may voice dissatisfaction with his record label. He may lament that his latest work is misunderstood. He may speak of growing weary of life on the road, of having to play the same hits night after night, of a lack of privacy and the evils of piracy. But your average rock star is not about to go back to his dayjob.

One need not remind Conor Whitehead of that reality. Fresh into his 20s, the local singer and songwriter has spent nearly half his life preparing for warts-and-all rock and roll stardom.

“It’s been my goal since I was 12,” he frankly admits as he, Marek Lubanski and Kyle Megill crowd around a small table at a downtown coffeeshop to talk up their band, Keek. “I want to be on a record label. I want to be touring. I want to be in a band. I want to be top of the Top 40 charts — to have hits all over the world.”

To that end, the multi-instrumentalist released an EP of infectious songs a year ago, billing his vehicle as Keek and assembling a proper band along the way. Today, Keek is up to a sextet, with vocalist Whitehead flanked by drummer Megill, guitarists Lubanski and Mitch Malboeuf, keyboardist Kyle Williams and bassist Matt Belanger. And that lineup’s opening salvo is a new EP, Stories, which will be introduced Friday at a sold-out show at Mavericks. Five songs, from ballads to rockers, each a finely honed slab of Top 40 worthy pop.

Take, for example, the opening track, Fourteen Ninety-Six, a midtempo celebration of friends, girls and “the best party ever” — complete with whoa whoas, invitations to dance and a call to clap your hands. It is, as Keek well knows, the stuff hits are made of.

“We’re still young,” Whitehead says, “so I can’t really pinpoint how you write a hit song, but a lot of it is just trying to write from personal experiences, lyrically. People have to be able to relate to it. It’s got to be timeless, and it’s got to be catchy. It’s got to get stuck in your head. Timeless, to me, that’s the main thing. Like, we’re still singing Beatles songs, right?”

Sentimental Keek numbers like Closest to My Heart and Waiting convey the band’s quest for that timeless quality. And if attaining the timelessness of The Beatles’ catalogue seems a lofty goal, Whitehead and his bandmates seem OK for now with “baby steps” towards it. With sold out shows and a sparkling new EP, so far so good. Just ask their predominantly female following.

“Our target audience really is high school kids,” Whitehead muses. “But we want to hit every range, really. I get 12-year-olds telling me they love Keek; I get 70-year-olds singing along to songs. But as for the girls, like, I think we’re all right looking guys, we play in a pop band… It’s kind of a band thing.”

Certainly, as his bandmates nod their heads in amusement, no one here is complaining. That can come later. - The Wig by Allan Wigney