“the only truth is music.”
JACK KEROUAC
This is ARTE…
Arte Kenyon's musical journey began in Lowell, where he discovered his passion for music as a teenager, strumming his acoustic guitar on porches with friends. Since then, he has spent over 20 years playing in local blues and rock bands, always gravitating back to the roots of music that resonate with him.
He started his musical career in the Lowell-area bar-band scene, gaining confidence in front of live audiences with the rock and roll band Outrageous Accent. Their energetic performances epitomized the spirit of rock n roll.
During his time with the blues band Swanky Moes, Arte delved into the art of professional musicianship and immersed himself in the blues. He was captivated not only by the music but also by the enchanting beauty of towns like Salem, Gloucester, and Rockport during the serene early evening hours before gigs.
Arte's journey led him to collaborate with acoustic singer-songwriters, notably Wendy Keith from Peterborough, NH. It was here that he learned the importance of musical dynamics, appreciating the value of creating space and not overpowering delicate voices and acoustic guitars. With his trusty '79 Fender Precision fretless bass, Arte discovered a perfect match for playing acoustic-guitar-based singer-songwriter material, earning praise for its unique tone.
A pivotal experience came when Arte joined the ContraBanditos, a fiddle band based in Groton. In this musical exploration, he immersed himself in old-time, Irish, and Cajun/Zydeco fiddle music. Not only did he master the upright bass, but he also discovered the fusion of fiddle and blues, a revelation that opened his eyes to new possibilities.
Inspired by his accumulation of songs from various bands, Arte embarked on a side project of his own, Blue Plate Special. As the lead vocalist and bassist (both upright and electric), he showcased original compositions that resonated deeply with band members and audiences, leading to performances at notable local venues such as the Stagecoach Inn, Devens Grill, and Rusty G's.
Arte's musical journey continued with his involvement in the Lowell-area blues rock band Red Devil Lye, where he further honed his bass-playing skills and contributed lead vocals on selected songs. He enjoyed the creative opportunities this band provided.
Additionally, Arte spun off with a few of his Red Devil Lye mates to provide backing for Peter Lavender, a Lowell-area singer-songwriter. Together, they formed the band the Limbo Souls, where Arte primarily played electric bass and provided backup vocals, also pitching in on songwriting.
The next station on this odyssey was joining Bob Sevigny and Mickey Roach to form the country/rock act, The Brown Boot Boys. With traditional country instruments like pedal steel guitar and mandolin, they explored country-based music and vocal harmonies, adopting country takes on some classic rock and blues classics.
For the past few years, Arte has been able to join forces with fellow musician Dave Warren creating both original music and covering some of their favorite tunes.
Arte remains grateful for the exceptional musicians he has collaborated with, as they have not only inspired and encouraged him but also shaped him into the musician and songwriter he is today.
THEY SAID IT BEST
LOWELL SUN AUDIOFLOSS BLOG
WRITTEN BY PETER LAVENDER
Arte Kenyon... Real Man
After years of playing the support role in numerous local blues and roots bands like Red Devil Lye and the Contra Banditos, Groton bluesman and all around nice guy Arte Kenyon steps into the spotlight on his debut CD Be a Man. From the opening track Red Moon in the Morning, Arte bellows his way through a collection of old timey tunes, his deep, resonating voice at the front of the mix and sounding very much like a seasoned veteran. Though the blues influence is evident throughout the album, it's the country twang of Why I Always End Up Alone and the gospel spirit of No More Crying that keeps things interesting, highlighting the many influences that have shaped and molded Arte along the way.
With a core group of musicians including Justin Beaulieu on drums, Steve Esposito on piano and local guitar great Carl Johnson playing on nearly every track, Arte also gets help from Wayne Morgan on harmonica, Carl Ayotte on bari sax and Jim LeBoeuf on guitar, the band sounding like they've been playing together for years. Studio wizard Bob Nash of Wonka Sound continues to prove he's the best kept secret in NE with another crisply engineered production.
KAD BARMA’S BLOG
THE SECRET
Apparently, when you arrange to book a show at Mickey's on a monday night, when they're not usually open, then the big screen projection tv does NOT have to be on while the music is playing. Yeah! And play it did.
Arte Kenyon brought his crew to the stage to run through the songs from his brand new cd "be a man", and it was good. Very good. Carl Johnson pulled out the resonator to back Arte's "red moon in the morning", and the train kept a rollin' right on from there. Wayne Morgan's harp was sharp. Steve Esposito's keys were key. Rick Burgess' fiddle was my-t-fine. Jen Kearney took a turn at the mic backing up Arte for the chorus of "no more crying". And arte's stand-up bass was stand-up and sweet all throughout.
It's great to see musicians playing for themselves as much as for anybody. "why i always end up alone" prompted a post-show discussion about how a simple piece of music can sound like anything you please, From the stones "dead flowers" (as was suggested Arte first introduced it to the band) to how it hit the stage last night somewhere between Eric Clapton channeling Danny Flowers ("living on tulsa time") and even the only-the-best parts of Billy Ray Cyrus ("achy breaky heart").
The other thing that struck me, apropos of "she's got a thing for me", (Arte's self-confessed one happy song, though I think he's winking when he says it), that everybody in this extended family of lowell musicians honestly and earnestly has a thing for each other in a way that few other musical families can match. (right, mssr's fleetwood and mac?) it's a treat to be able to just sit somewhere out in the audience and lean back in the chair and enjoy.
“where words fail, music speaks.”
HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSON
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