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From The Desk Of Kevn Kinney: Aaron Lee Tasjan

Kevn Kinney‘s music has always been lurking in the cobwebbed corners of your mind, even if you weren’t aware of it. After making the big move from Milwaukee to Atlanta back in the ’80s, he happened to be close to Athens, Ga., the birthplace of R.E.M., when that band was really catching fire. He caught the always-open ear of Peter Buck, who produced some material by Kinney’s band, Drivin N Cryin, which would latch onto a support slot for an R.E.M. tour. Fast forward to the new millennium, and Kinney has moved to Brooklyn, where he’s cut a fine solo record, A Good Country Mile, with Anton Fier and the Golden Palominos. The new disc somehow manages to fit Bob Dylan, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Van Morrison under the same tiny leopard-skin pill-box hat. Kinney will be guest editing magnetmagazine.com all week. Read our brand new Q&A with him.

Kinney: I met Aaron Lee Tasjan in a basement party for Shayni Rae’s
birthday … He was amazing as he did a few songs with his friend and
bandmate Justin Tranter, of the Semi Precious Weapons
Aaron was a co-founder for that band
I had heard about him from my friends Tommy and Roy who have a store
here in Greenpoint called Alter.
The Weapons were doing a photo shoot in the store and Aaron noticed
Tommy had some Drivin’ N’ Cryin’ in his collection … Pretty rare up here in
New York especially for people in their early 20s … But any who …
I hit it off with Aaron right off and as I got a little tipsy, told him he should
come to Holland with me next week and sit in …
Next thing I knew … Bam! … There he was at Schipol the Amsterdam
Airport!  I love it!
We did a few shows with the incredible Tim Easton on that tour and now
Aaron tours with him on occasion as well
I love to see eager people take advantage of every opportunity … I
would like to think I did as well in my youth … But I was nowhere near as
accomplished a musician …
About two years later, Aaron left the Weapons and assembled a
new band of incredible young musicians, the Madison Square Gardeners,
all presiding in New York … And all from Ohio!! All but one that is, Bryn
Roberts, on keyboards, is Canadian!
Mark Stepro on bass, John Kengla on guitar, Rich Hinneman on
pedal steel, Rob Heath on drums … If you Google these names you’ll find
they are some truly talented inspiring musicians …
Probably on tour now in city near you … From Rosanne Cash to Butch
Walker,Todd Snider and beyond …
The Gardeners debut album, Don’t Name The Pig, is one of my
favorites … Check out “My Ex Girlfriend Is A Bad Lesbian On Drugs.” It’s awesome.
Shayni Rae created a Monday night shindig residency at a newly opened
Lower East Side club called the National Underground.
Shayni Rae’s Truckstop was every Monday night and featured myself and
Anton Fier and the Madison Square Gardeners as the anchor
bands, and then we would offer three or four song sets to a variety of
musicans on their night off … People like Patterson Hood would drop in
whenever the Truckers were in town … Aaron and myself were co-stage
managers and hosts …
It was an amazing era … It was really well thought out … And not an open
mic night … Invitation only!
We played a lot together with Anton, and Aaron is featured on my new
recording with Anton …
A good amount of the songs on the album came from working them out at
the Truckstop
Aaron is currently working in another new band called Enemies as
well as playing guitar in Taurus, has just produced his good friend BP
Fallon’s new recording down in Austin … Rumor has it Ian McLagan
dropped in for a song or two …
I would suggest you check out BP’s podcast Wang Dang Doodle as
well …
Keep your eye on this prolific talented kid … Aaron Lee Tasjan.
I just hope when he gets famous he lets me open for him …

Video after the jump.

http://vimeo.com/12325900

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