Local indie rock group Keek says the most they want from their July 8 Bluesfest slot is to make some new friends and fans. And maybe even chill with Down with Webster.
Keek is made up of lead singer Conor Whitehead, bassist Matt Belanger, guitarists Marek Luban and Mitch Malboeuf, Kyle Williams on keys, and Kyle Megill on drums. Most of the six-man troupe shares in the vocals too.
“I’m just hoping to see a lot of new people who are into it,” says Belanger.
The pop rock band always interacts with an enthusiastic crowd and they want the same from the audience at their Bluesfest debut.
“You remember when you’re inside your room trying to write down these words and what they meant to you,” says Luban. “And then it gets to a point where people you don’t even know are singing them back to you. It’s crazy. I would love to see that.”
They learned a lot on their first tour. They sometimes found their music style didn’t mesh well with some audiences and it took them a while to find their crowd. But they still try to make the best of a slot regardless. If they look like they’re having fun, the crowd will loosen up and join in the band’s party atmosphere.
Luban says he has no idea what the crowd will be like but Belanger adds that they’re not worried about it.
“Most people tend to adapt well and they open up to us,” says Williams. A few months ago, the band’s pop rock act even won over some metal heads at a show.
“I love getting home from shows and seeing messages from people who you’ve never met before who are saying, ‘I’ve never seen you guys before but I really loved it,’” recalls Williams. “It’s kind of cool to spark those new relationships with people who started off as total strangers.”
And what about meeting up with other bands? “Down with Webster seems like they have some pretty sweet personalities,” says Luban. “It would be awesome to chill with them for a little bit, maybe.”
Keek will play a 45-minute set of new songs on their July 8 Bluesfest bow. They played a set at Canada Day, opening for Kim Mitchell, but the band is not used to playing a long track lineup. Still, they say there are upsides to playing a longer set. “Everything goes so fast-paced when you’re playing ‘cause you get into it,” says Luban. “It starts and then it stops.”
Keek has another Ottawa show coming up on July 27 and is set to tour southern Ontario in mid-August.