Last year, Pittsburgh son Zack Keim finally fulfilled his promise with his album Battery Lane (released on Action Weekend Records). It was an album that was definitely worth the wait, feeling as though it was dipped in sepia hues; rose-tinted tales that harked back to simpler times. To promote it, Zack is over for his first English tour. He takes a break from driving across Europe to answer a few questions.
Congratulations on the album that you put out last year. It seems like it was a long labour of love. How was the process for you of getting it all together?
It happened pretty slowly. I was putting singles out while touring a lot and eventually realized there was a larger body of work there. I’d be out playing shows for a few weeks, come home, work on songs, then leave again. Over time those songs started pointing toward Battery Lane. I never really sat down thinking I was making an album. It kinda revealed itself over time. Playing shows and writing songs is what I care about most.
You have played in Spain a couple of times, both solo and with Nox Boys, and are getting quite the following. What does the place mean to you?
Spain’s become a really special place for me. I first came over around 2022 and kept finding reasons to come back. The audiences have always been really great. There’s something about playing here that feels very connected. It’s become part of my life at this point.
Do you have any special memories that stick out from your previous visits?
A lot of memories honestly. Late nights after shows. Meeting people. Long drives. I really love Madrid. Santander too. Some places start feeling familiar after enough years. You come back and recognize faces. That’s always a good feeling.
You are also about to do your first English tour? What are you expecting from it?
Yeah, first proper UK run. We’re playing London opening for The Jack Cades and hitting a few other cities too… Brighton, Manchester, Liverpool. My bass player and drummer both live over there and I’ve wanted to do it for a long time. A lot of records I grew up listening to came from England so it feels cool to finally bring these songs there. Mostly I’m looking forward to showing up and seeing what happens.
How did it feel once again putting your name to an album instead of a full band?
I don’t think too much about the distinction honestly. I just try to make things that feel real to me and follow wherever the songs naturally wanna go.
You have played with various band members now. What do you look for in your collaborators, and who is over with you this time out?
Mostly people that care about the music and wanna put everything into it. Touring’s a strange way to live sometimes so being around good people matters. This time around I have a couple of guys from the UK on bass and drums and a friend over from Cleveland too. Everybody comes from a different place musically which keeps things interesting.
Dates:
05/06– The Water Rats, London
06/06 – The Oak, Brighton
07/06 – The Rat and Pigeon, Manchester
08/06 – Jacaranda, Liverpool
09/06 – Dublin (venue tbc)
Battery Lane is available from Action Weekend Records.
Zack Keim is on Facebook, Instagram, and X.
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Words by Nathan Whittle. Find his Louder Than War archive here.
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