“Somewhere out in Middle America /Halfway between late and lonesome…” So sings singer-songwriter Caleb Keith on the song “Middle America,” propelled by the deep honky-tonk twang of his band, the Calaveras. It’s is the lyric from which the Athens, GA outfit’s debut offering, Between Late and Lonesome, extracts its title, and fittingly so. Caleb’s music is a collection of songs infused with themes of wanderlust and lost love, informed by Caleb’s upbringing and subsequent departure from a place that falls squarely within the region defined in the title: Champaign, Illinois.
In this interview feature, we speak with Caleb about music, influences, the new project, and more.
Full Q&A, links, and a stream of Marie below.
Let’s dive a little deeper into Caleb Keith, the artist, and your music. What attracted you to Americana?
I think I’m attracted to the honesty of Americana: the emotion, the storytelling, the real instrumentation of the music, and the connection to American roots music. I know it’s not the coolest thing to say, but I grew up listening to the Eagles and mainstream country, both of which were on heavy rotation in my parents’ music collection. I really liked that stuff when I was little; something about the twang really spoke to me. I got away from that for a bit and listened to pop music, alternative rock, jam bands, you name it. But, when I stumbled upon Whiskeytown, the Jayhawks, and the Two Dollar Pistols, I felt like I found something that really resonated. I started digging into traditional country, as well as the blues and bluegrass, and that’s when my love affair with Americana really started. Americana is a genre in which nostalgia and modernity seem to coexist and mingle.
What led you into this journey with music? And further, what drives you to push it out to the public?
I grew up with music constantly playing in my house, records, 8-tracks, cassettes, the whole deal. I guess the Eighties experienced the shift of several different forms of musical media. Anyway, my mom has a great singing voice and she was always singing around the house and my dad would sing me to sleep with songs by the Dire Straits, Devo, Paper Lace, and George Strait. Neither of them played an instrument, but I remember a lot of music and singing. So, singing was always pretty natural for me. I got into playing the guitar somewhere around high school and started making up songs not long after that. I think I got really into the idea of being a songwriter and performing my songs seemed to be the best way to get them heard. After getting a taste of performing, I never stopped. I played in bands through college and haven’t really looked back.
Who or what influences your creativity? Have your tastes in music changed over time?
I draw influences from a lot of the world around me. Lived experience is a definite influence. But, I also love movies and TV, and a read a ton, so I think I absorb influences from those media as well. Plus, I love music, so I’m constantly seeking out new music. I love Buck Owens and George Jones; I can’t get enough of either of them. I also love Dwight Yoakam and a whole host of songwriters in East Nashville. And, yes, my tastes in music have changed over time. I don’t know that you can understand country music or Americana until you’ve been kicked around a little bit, made some dumb decisions, and had some heartbreak. Like I said, I’ve listened to all kinds of pop and rock, a lot of stuff I’m almost embarrassed about, but now I really know what I gravitate to and like.
Were you trying to accomplish anything specific with the Calaveras? Creatively or otherwise?
Honestly, I was looking for some guys who could play and help me make what I was hearing in my head come to life. You know when I write a song, I usually do it with an acoustic guitar. And when I do that, I’m basically hearing a full band in my head, so I need some players to help make that a reality. The guys have done that and more. Chris, Mark, Chris, and Jay are all great players and I’m lucky to get to make music with them.
What spurred the move from the Midwest to Athens, GA?
Graduate school. It didn’t help that Athens is a musical magnet for indie music, and I was drawn to the South. I’d like to spin a better yarn than that, but the answer is graduate school. I’m currently working on my Ph.D. Athens is a great place to do both.
What was the last song you listened to?
Too Many Nights in a Roadhouse by Junior Brown
Which do you prefer? Vinyl? CDs? MP3s?
They all have their place in my world. I’m a collector, so I love vinyl. I love the look, the feel, the sound the whole thing. Plus, I like the idea of albums – coherent collections of songs – so vinyl resonates with me. I dig CDs because a lot of music isn’t on vinyl and so that medium is still one that exists for albums. MP3s make lack in sound quality, but it sure is a lot easier to transport a fully loaded iPod on a roadtrip than carting around a ton of CDs. I like having music at my fingertips, so MP3s lend themselves to that. But, if I’m at home, I’m spinning vinyl.
How about this one…. Do you prefer Spotify? Apple Music? Bandcamp? Or something else? Why?
I’m honestly a bit indifferent about this one. I know a lot of folks have really heated opinions about sites like these. And, I get it. Sure they aren’t profitable for artists or songwriters, but I do think they can help with exposure. Personally, I’ve discovered a lot of bands on Spotify, listened to all their stuff, and then bought tickets to see them live and bought shirts, albums, and other merch. That’s where the real money is. If I had to choose out of those, I might say Bandcamp. It has allowed me to put money in other people’s pockets pretty easily.
Other than the digital era overwhelming us with access to an abundance of music, what is the biggest challenge you face when trying to connect with or find new fans?
Yeah, you pointed out a huge challenge. There is so much music out there. You have to fight to get noticed. But, beyond that, I think the idea of genre and descriptors can be challenging. At the heart of it, I consider myself a country musician, but that label can be problematic. Without getting into the debate about mainstream country vs. alt-country vs. “put-your-descriptor-here” country, I have a hard time explaining my music. It certainly isn’t what’s played on country radio, so I often find myself having to qualify the music I make. I wish I could just call it country, but that gets confusing. Americana is probably just as a confusing because it can mean so many things to so many people, but it seems the best descriptor. This is a topic I could sit and talk about for hours over coffee or a beer.
Where is the best place to connect with you online? Discover more music?
Right now, it’s probably Facebook. There’s a Caleb Keith & the Calaveras page that’s a pretty good clearing house for gigs, videos, and other news. I’m also on Twitter and Instagram and try to update as much as possible. I’ve got plans to get a website going, but Facebook is probably the best place to connect and interact for now.
Anything else you’d like to add before signing off?
I hope people check out the album and connect on social media. That’s one of the great things about music, connecting with other people. Thanks a lot – this has been fun.
