Page 27 - ION Indie Magazine JulyAugust 2020

I have always strived to cover original material with ION Indie Magazine. Every blue moon
or so, I get blindsided by something that needs to be reviewed. Most of us are familiar
with Ron Keel, who fronted the bands Steeler and Keel back through the 80’s and 90’s.
The Ron Keel Band is one of those “blue moon” bands.

As I laid home sick for a week in May, I received a call from Ron on a Tuesday evening.
Actually, I didn’t answer either of the two times he called. I listened to his voice mail and
returned his call. I had talked about an interview with Ron with his management for the
Ron Keel Band, and a creative light went on in my head. I had another idea as we were
in the middle of a pandemic.

When I talked to Ron, I said, “Listen, I
have an idea, if you would indulge me.” My
idea was to review the new album for this
edition and do an interview for our
September/October edition. This is a
completely different approach than is
customary for our publication. Why do I
believe in this? Because the album has
just been released and by the time we hit
the next edition, we will hopefully be
beyond the COVID-19 pandemic enough
to have some tour dates to announce and
many more positive things to talk about in
the world of music, and hopefully, the
world in general.

He thought it was a great idea. I got the blessing of our Editor In-Chief as well as his team
at HighVol Music.

Ron Keel Band’s new release of classic songs is like comfort food for my musical soul. It
brings back fond memories of music past. While breathing such new life into some of the
music, it feels like it’s the very first time of ever heard it. Also, incorporating ION Indie
Magazine’s great friend and past spotlighted cover artist, Jasmine Cain, into the mix, was
surely a stroke of genius.

“South X South Dakota,” released April 24, 2020, is swept by a brush of Americana,
beginning with the opening track “Train, Train,” Blackfoot’s classic track. From the
harmonica at the beginning, to the bass popping through as the song progresses, to the
vocals…while this version is not as gravelly as the original, they still drive the song down
the track.