“Who in the hell is Kevin Burdick?  Episode 2.1,” finishes the Las Vegas Trip started in Episode 2 and shows several sides of touring that fans may find funny and interesting, like getting lost in the catacombs behind the bar on the way to the show.

Kevin’s Keys
‘Piano Rockstar’ Kevin Burdick proves deeper than his nickname, spooling inspirational songs from a tragic past. But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t like to party.  by: Amanda Chamberlain

Kevin Burdick with Dirty Copper, Midnight, CL Medicine Circus
When: Friday Mar. 7 at 9:30 p.m.
Where: Liquid Joe’s (21+), 1249 E. 3300 South in Salt Lake City
Tickets: $5 at the door
More Info: www.myspace.com/kevinburdick
*Burdick also plays regular shows at Sandy Station, The Huka Bar and Grill, and Tony’s.

When I opened an e-mailed press release advertising “Utah’s own Piano Rockstar,” my mind conjured up an image of a tattooed, roughed-up renegade stuffed into a dirty tuxedo, pounding out Manowar renditions on a Baby Grand. But Salt Lake resident Kevin Burdick fits no such bill. The grandma-trained pianist bares tree-trunk arms suggestive of a steady workout regimen; takes time to meticulously muss his short, dark hair; and hides his tattoos with short sleeves. And though his attire odes to rock with Affliction tees and leather wristbands, his overtures are genially devoid of organ-voiced victories and horror chords.

So what gives this 35-year-old songster the right to claim “rockstar”?

“I live part-time in a tour bus and love to have a ridiculously good time,” Burdick tells IN.

He adds that since his melodies are “straight with less of a ‘swing’ feel that a lot of jazz and big band piano might have,” they’re considered more a part of the rock genre. But he also aims for his music to inspire others, so think Elton John or Coldplay, rather than King Diamond or Lemmy Kilmister.

Burdick’s 2006 release, an E.P. entitled “In Your Cocoon,” exemplifies this piano-driven lite rock. His sweet, resonant tenor (and often, his impressively high alto) ties mid-tempo rhythm and bass to the super-melodic piano that dips into minor chords, which indeed gives it a punch of rock. The track “She Does Her Crying Alone” upholds this Burdick Standard by flowing slower, breezy lyrics through the music. “Mercy” turns it up a notch with a faster tempo, a darker root and an irresistible hook filled with enticing minor melodies and addictive lyrics (“Lordy, lordy, lordyyy/Come on girl, have a little bit of mercy” — see, I’m still singing it).

Burdick has also released two full-lengths: 2002’s “Deep Blue America” and 2005’s “True Stories and Other Fairy Tales”; the latter album holding content of a deeply personal nature. The song “Too Good For This World” reflects on Burdick’s loss of his infant daughter Dempsey Sue Burdick in 2003 from complications during heart surgery.

“Sharing that kind of personal tragedy with people really helps them to connect with me when I perform or when they listen to a CD,” Burdick says.

He’s taking the very same attitude while writing his upcoming album (due this June). The track “At the Fisher House” touches on wounded veterans, namely his manager’s brother, a Marine in Iraq who lost his legs a year ago due to a roadside bomb. He has interviewed him and met with his wife to more fully convey their message.

“I really believe this one will touch a lot of people,” Burdick says.

But this side of Burdick may never be experienced by curious MySpace surfers who only quickly scan his profile. They might huff “Diva” and navigate away after seeing his army of street teams, big-time reviews and — perhaps the most “no-he-di’n’t” notion — an FAQ saying he doesn’t have time to sign autographs. But really, this is all just Burdick testing out his “as-if” theory

“I think that any up-and-coming musician needs to act ‘as if,’ ” he explains. “Act as if you are already there; you are already famous; you have already made it! I don’t mean acting like an asshole — but if you carry yourself with the confidence that you have already arrived, it will be just a matter of time before the rest of the world sees it, too.”

Kevin Article Coverpage . Kevin Article Page 2 . Kevin Article Page 3

Interview: Kevin Burdick 

Hometown and City of Residence:
Hometown – St. Johns, Arizona
City of Residence – Salt Lake City, Utah

What’s your musical history?  I started piano lessons when I was 6 years old.  Music has always been in my family – My grandmother was in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and my parents were in musical theater.  I started writing my first songs in the 7^th grade and it’s just grown from there.  I’ve been in countless bands through high school and college, either as the singer or on the keyboards.  In 2006, I released a 4-song EP called In Your Cocoon.  Prior to that, I released my first solo album in 2002 called Deep Blue America.  My second album, True Stories and other fairy tales was released in 2005.  I think the True Stories album was really my arrival as a musician of note – I started writing about myself and making myself more vulnerable as an artist and people began to respond.  For example, track 5 from that album, Too Good For This World, was about the loss of my daughter – sharing that kind of personal tragedy with people really helps them to connect with me when I perform or when they listen to a CD.

How often do you play piano?  Well, I try to play everyday.  I have a piano in my room where I sit and write and practice.  Lately, I’ve been playing a lot, as much as 2 or 3 hours a day, as I am finishing up the writing on my new album.What can people expect from a Kevin Burdick show?  Depends on the venue and the crowd – for my bar shows locally, I tend to get a little more crass and vocal about things I wouldn’t discuss in a show for a high school for example.  In all my shows, you’ll see some improv – me and the band make up songs on the fly about audience suggested topics – and then a variety of songs from my 3 album collection, along with the stories behind the songs.  It’s usually one part inspiration, one part entertainment, and one part unpredictable with an occasional cover song thrown in – usually done in a way the original artist never intended.

I see you have studio members listed on your site, and you also tour with a band, correct? So is Kevin Burdick actually a band?  Well, just like Elton John and Billy Joel, I have musicians that play with me at my shows.  Some shows have just been me, piano, and a microphone.  I’ve also done shows with a drummer, bass player, violinist, guitar player, and percussionist.  It really depends on the venue and the audience as to which group I bring.  I have a number of drummers, bass players, and guitar players I’ve played with depending on the show, availability, and venue.What gives your piano that “rock” element alluded to in “Rock Pianist?”  There are a number of piano styles – jazz, classical, blues, and rock.  Rock tends to be played more ‘straight’ and possibly even a little sloppier – what I mean by straight is less of a ‘swing’ feel, like a lot of jazz and big band piano might have.  Don’t get me wrong, I have elements of jazz, classical, and blues that I occasionally throw into songs, but mostly I’m just straight rock.  In general, Rock Piano songs are very melody driven and in my case, and in the case of many of my predecessors, very story driven.

Do you think you have the lifestyle that the title “rockstar” connotes?  And what lifestyle would that be??  Well, I don’t know if I do or not.  I live, part-time, in  a tour bus and love to have a ridiculously good time, but I think I’m a lot more approachable than a lot of rockstars – I’ve lived the wild life and worked through a lot of my demons and mostly, barring drinking too much on occasion, I try to set an example of living a good life and setting a positive example of someone who goes after their dreams!!What kind of attitude do you feel you need to have as an up-and-coming musician?  I think that any up-and-coming musician needs to act ‘as if.’  What I mean by that is act as if you are already there, you are already famous, you have already made it!  Now, I don’t mean acting like an asshole – but what I do mean is if you carry yourself with the confidence and, uhm, nobility I guess, that you have all ready arrived it will be just a matter of time before the rest of the world sees it too…  You also have to have thick skin, I’ve been told too many times over the past 30 years that I wasn’t ‘good enough’ for a lot of things, and although I try to learn from criticism – especially from knowledgeable people – I only let it sink in ‘so far.’

Congrats on the new RV purchase. How does it feel to have taken that step—to now have your own tour bus?  It’s a really big step and it’s been a lot of fun!  But it’s just a means to an end.  Now I can easily, comfortably, and somewhat affordably (depending on gas prices), get my guys to shows all over the West Coast and beyond.  Right now, we’re really focusing on California, Colorado, and everything in between.Are you working on any new material at the moment? (If yes, may I please have the details?)  I’m planning to release a new album in June.  In fact, I’m writing the last three songs right now.  One of them, “At the Fisher House,” is inspired by our wounded veterans coming home.  Specifically, Dylan – my manager’s brother – who was a marine over in Iraq and got his legs blown off by a roadside bomb about a year ago.  I’ve interviewed him a number of times and met with him and his wife this weekend to put the finishing touches on the lyrics – I really believe this one, about a wife bringing home a wounded soldier, will really touch a lot of people.  Let’s see, the other song I just finished was actually commissioned by the Danish Naval Academy.  I played for a private party for the President of the Danish Naval Academy last May and, needless to say, they became big fans.  I’m half Danish, so this song really takes me back to my roots and heritage.  It was a lot of fun to research and write.

I see you have several MySpace fan sites and don’t generally have time to sign autographs, do you think you’ve “made it” as a musician?  Not even close – my goals are enormous.  I want a platinum album, I want to play a sold-out Madison Square Garden, and I want a string of number 1 hits.  Until I can say that I’ve accomplished those things, you probably won’t hear me ever use the words, “I’ve made it.”  It’s still a long road.Do you also have people working for you and your music? (manager, etc.)  I’ve got a ton of people who are part of the team, either as contractors or as regular employees.  Ken Gray is my business manager and handles a ton of business items for me.  Joel Pack is my producer and handles things creatively for me on the music that I write.  Both of those guys mean a lot to me and are two sides of the same coin.  We have several local and national booking agents that work under contract, we’ve a number of local promoters, web-designers, internet promoters, PR people, marketers, videographers, and graphic designers who are all a part of the family.  Not to mention some of the great, and amazing local musicians I have had the privilege to play with.  It takes a village I guess.

Do you have regular/reoccurring gigs? If so, where and when?  I play Huka Bar, Liquid Joe’s, The Station in Sandy, Tony’s, and a few other venues quite a bit here locally.  They are pretty regular, and all of those guys have treated me really well.On your site, you have stories about people being inspired by your music. Do you intend for your music to have such effects?  I definitely do – I generally write about things that truly inspire me and so it makes sense that those songs would also inspire and help other people dealing with similar problems or situations.  I guess I’ve always felt a responsibility to other people in using my talents to try and make the world a better place.

I noticed that you have testimonials from people associated with Impact Trainings. I’ve actually had some experience with Impact, what’s your involvement with them? What are your thoughts on it?  They hired me to come out to a retreat and do a live performance for some of the youth.  It was a really meaningful time performing my music and also sharing some of my tragedies and triumphs with them and hopefully inspiring all those there to really reach for what they want in life and not let trials or bad choices hold them back.  As far as my thoughts, any time I’m able to use my talent to try and make difference I am all for it.What are you doing when you’re not performing/recording/touring?  I am a movie buff and lately I’ve been reading a lot – I just bought a copy of the Koran and books on palm reading and dream interpretation.  I figured that I’d expand my horizons a bit.  I do date on occasion, but I’m so picky and I’ve been so hurt in the past, that it’s just easier for me to have great and close friends.  I also spend a bit of time out and clubs and also supporting other local bands.  I also LOVE to eat good food – good sushi especially.

What’s your favorite outfit?  Besides being naked?  Just kidding – truthfully, I’m a clothes whore and I love wearing edgier, torn-up comfortable stuff.  I also love jeans – I think that a good pair of jeans is worth its weight in gold.  So I guess my favorite outfit would be a great pair of jeans and a comfortable torn up t-shirt – throw in a silver necklace and a cool ring and bracelet, and I’m ready for the prom. What are some of your favorite local places (be them landmarks, businesses, clubs)? You might find me on any given night at the Huka Bar or at the Century 16 Movie Theaters or Go Sushi on 33^rd South.  One of my guilty pleasures is that taco stand on Main and 8^th South – that is some delicious stuff and you don’t need hepatitis shots to eat it!!  During the summer months, I’ll take the occasional hike up Mill Creek or go to Liberty Park.  Most afternoons you can find me at the gym, either 24-Hour Fitness or Gold’s Gym – like any good artist, I try to keep myself sexy for my fans and my ass from going flat from sitting at the piano all day.Anything at all you’d like to add?  No, this was a lot of fun and I thank you Amanda for taking the time to get to know me and for helping more of Utah get to know me.  Hope to see you out soon!!