2010 has been a fantastic year for Portland-based band, Keegan Smith & the Fam. Smith won Male Artist of the Year for the second year in a row at the Portland Music Awards after his band took home the award for Best Live Performance last year. The band recently got back from showcasing at the 9th annual 2010 Florida Music Festival in Orlando and received rave reviews from attending industry reps and festival organizers. Jim Abbott, music critic at Florida's Orlando Sentinel says Keegan Smith & the Fam were “a captivating surprise from the Pacific Northwest” and “the find of the festival.” Keegan and the band were also featured in each televised pre-game show during the 2009-2010 Portland Trailblazer season.
Keegan is the charismatic front man of an extremely talented group of veteran musical heavyweights, producers, and bandleaders from the Northwest's thriving music scene. The fundamental instrumentation of the Fam is comprised of: Tyrone Hendrix (drums), Chris Chard (bass), Josh Wuerth (guitar), and Justin Dodge (keyboards/producer), however they frequently feature all-star performers on various other instruments such as brass and percussion. Together they create an energetic and entertaining sound that captivates audiences of every age. Orlando Sentinel's music critic again says, “this is a band of monster players.” Portland's Willamette Week reviews the Fam saying, “[their] stuff is like musical summer” and “life's a little sunnier when listening to them.”
"Special Delivery", Keegan Smith's 2009 studio album release, documents the hardships, physical struggles, and pure, unabashed joy associated with being a new parent. The album displays Smith's art form poetically, while stylistically flowing between the genres of acoustic pop, disco-funk, and reggae-blues, all while infusing an electronic backdrop to create an ethereal, ear-pleasing experience. "Special Delivery" has won three different categories in the World Wide Effigy Awards: Best Adult Contemporary Song ("Morning Comes"), Best Reggae Song ("Just Fine") and Best Adult Contemporary Artist. They were nominated for Best Adult Contemporary Song ("Smile") in the 2009 Hollywood Music in Media Awards and walked their first red carpet at LA's famous Kodak Theater in November. The song "Smile" was also a finalist in this year's Pop and Adult Contemporary categories for the Great American Song contest.
In the time between touring, playing festivals, and holding down their long-time Monday night residency show in Portland, Keegan and the Fam are writing and recording material for a new live and studio album to be released later this year.
Adjustments to line-up can vary depending on the needs of the venue/client. Keegan can come as a solo act, a 2 piece electronic DJ/MC style performance, the classic bass/guitar/drums trio, all the way up to a massive collage of drums, bass, guitars, keys, brass sections, and strings or any combination of those elements.
- Smith’s most common complete ensemble includes:
- Keegan Smith (Guitar/Vocals)
- Chris Chard (Bass)
- Tyrone Hendrix (Drums)
- Justin Dodge (Keys)
- Josh Wuerth (Lead Guitar)
This largely depends on the venue and performance ensemble. While we prefer venues that are already equipped with a comprehensive list of sound equipment and staff to operate it, the band possesses a several flavors of full PA systems suitable for small and mid-sized venues complete with microphones, cables, amplifiers, monitors, equalizers, etc. The band has in-house engineering staff that can be provided if necessary as well.
For already equipped venues, please find more detailed information including stage plots and back line requirements in our rider.
Electronic Press Kit, live and studio audio, videos, bio, and other promotional materials at:
sonicbids.com/keegansmith
Telephone Contact
For booking and press related matters only, you may contact us by telephone at 503.793.1515 if you prefer.