There are two relative recent developments on the live music landscape that I find equally interesting and curious. One is the return of the cult heroes of my college radio years, often playing sizable venues that would have been out of their reach during their heyday. The Pixies had a lot of fans back then, but they weren’t playing big rooms unless they were opening for U2. The other thing is the emergence of single-album concerts as a viable option, with all sorts of artists taking the stage to move track by track through one of the seminal releases. Sometimes this corresponds with the notable, round-number anniversary of the album’s initial release, or it’s being done to help promote some pricey reissue as the record industry continues to disassemble itself by aggressively exhausting the bank accounts of a dwindling number of die-hard fans. Sometimes it’s one just on a lark.

Usually, I find all this a little silly, but any trend that gives Tommy Keene an opportunity to pick up a few fresh paychecks is worthwhile. He out on the road, on a tour centered around performances of Songs from the Film, his major label debut from 1986. Keene was never a huge success on college radio when I was there, but he was one of the artists that you could prove your knowledge had depth and your taste was discerning. He was a flat-out sensational songwriter, the kind of guy who sounds like he’s been making music forever, an old pro in the mold of a John Hiatt or a Graham Parker. His music had more of a power-pop tilt than those artists, but they all shared the quality of making the creation of a perfectly constructed song seem effortless.

He may be touring on Song from the Film, but it’s the follow up, 1989’s Based on Happy Times, that means the most to me. It came out during my tenure at the radio station, after all, and early on when nearly every new record was still a grand discovery to me. It was one of those great radio records, rewarding the DJ with a sharp, hooky song no matter where the needle was dropped. It was dependable, a record I knew I could always pull out and enjoy, even though I probably didn’t as often as I could have or should have. Of course, that’s the other benefit of these nostalgic tours. They stir memories of music that otherwise could be tragically forgotten. I’m glad Keene is on the road. I reminded me I can still take his music off the shelf. And it still sounds great.

Tommy Keene, “Nothing Can Change You”

(Disclaimer: I assumed Keene’s Songs from the Film tour meant that the album was back in print, but apparently not. Neither is Based on Happy Times, although it’s available for digital download. We know how well that usually works out for the artist. As I typed up this disclaimer, I finally found that there does seem to be a way to purchase this song from your favorite local independently-owned record store, so you should seriously consider doing that. I’ll stick with posting the song anyway, though I’ll gladly and promptly remove it if someone with due authority asks for that action to be taken.)