The Warm Up with Casey Shea

We’ve been hearing great things about Casey Shea from our friends at Family Records for a few years now. So, when we heard he was stopping in Memphis to play Kudzu’s in support of his new album, In Your Head, we knew we had to invite him to Ardent to record some songs.  And of course, we were thrilled to take him on his first tour of Stax.

Shea is playing solo on this outing, playing the vintage blues riff he was brought up on. You can hear the classic rock influences in his voice,  but the songs still have a modern flare. Check out our podcast and you’ll hear what we mean. We also chatted about the price of Rock and Roll versus gas these days, and about listening to the audio book Life by Keith Richards on those long and winding roads.

Following the release of one self-produced, home-recorded album and the mellow full-band follow-up, Love Is Here To Stay, Shea’s third full-length effort, In Your Head, is a deliberately cleaner, harder edged version of what his fans have come to expect: irresistible hooks, airtight melodies, and masterfully crafted, heartfelt lyrics. In Your Head is the result of a year dedicated to honing a cohesive, genuine rock n’ roll sound, and the final product is ultimately a mix of classic and modern rock calling to mind The Beatles, Kings of Leon, and Tom Petty. A self-proclaimed explorer of genres, he effortlessly moves through time periods and styles, all the while staying true to his own unique songwriting voice.

Having fronted numerous rock bands in Nashville and Tallahassee, Shea has established himself as a New York staple, both as a solo act and frontman of his five-piece rock outfit. A gifted performer with undeniable charm, he is known for engaging his audience and filling the stage with a charismatic performance that knows no boundaries. He is at once quirky and heart wrenching, and the result is a rare treat that is both musically gratifying and raucously entertaining.