TREEFORT 2018 / Bay Area to Boise—Madeline Kenney (Oakland)

Photo: Unknown.

I was quite taken by the strength and confidence of Madeline Kenney's performance when she opened for Dent May at the Rickshaw Stop in San Francisco back last August. Her voice, at turns halting with emotion, nonetheless communicated clearly, and achieved deft articulations through incorporations of pedal harmonies. As she was breaking down after her set, I made a point of telling her she should try to get into Treefort and am delighted to find her on the line-up. She's in the first wave of performers to open Treefort, playing Wednesday, March 21, 2018, 9:15PM at The Olympic.

03/18/18 Update: I've just learned that Kenney will be performing live at The Record Exchange in conjunction with Boise State Public Radio on Wednesday, March 21, 2018 from 5:30-6:00. If you don't have a Treefort pass, this is a free performance to take advantage of.

Her bio for Treefort reads: "Madeline Kenney is a renaissance woman. She has a degree in neuroscience, is a skilled artist, painter and knitter, was a baker for over 9 years, and makes ends meet by nannying during the day. One might wonder where she finds the time for music, but not only has she been a musician since the age of three, but she also writes and records her own material, currently teaches voice and piano lessons, runs a small record label and is learning how to produce and engineer at the Women’s Audio Mission—the only women-built and run studio in the world.

"Kenney moved to the Bay Area in 2014 to pursue a career in baking, but ultimately found a supportive local arts community that inspired her to return to her musical roots. A chance encounter with Toro Y Moi’s Chaz Bear resulted in her debut EP Signals, which was produced by Bear and released on his label Company Records. Immediately after its release, Kenney began working on her debut album. As with Signals, Bear was on hand as producer, but with Kenney as the writer, arranger and key creative force. Kenney also appears on a track on Toro Y Moi’s latest album Boo Boo.

"An accomplished full-length debut, Night Night At The First Landing is a cohesive record balanced by serene beauty, cathartic breakdowns, Kenney’s powerful voice, and masterfully complex and emotional lyrics. Night Night is unavoidably dreamy, dipping into sweet fuzz while sailing through smooth, crystalline production. Though Night Night At The First Landing is technically her first full-length, music has always been a key part of Kenney’s life. Singing came naturally to the bold-voiced Kenney and she was singing loudly before beginning to study piano at the age of five. To call this record a 'debut' is something of a misnomer, as those who know Kenney best might note: she’s always made music. And for the sake of music lovers, she hopefully always will."

More of her music can be sampled at Soundcloud and I'm happy to share these videoclips from her Rickshaw Stop performance.

 Madeline Kenney / Rickshaw Stop, San Francisco, California / Wednesday, August 23, 2017 / No. 1 ("Rita"):

 

 Madeline Kenney / Rickshaw Stop, San Francisco, California / Wednesday, August 23, 2017 / No. 2 ("John in Irish"):

 

 Madeline Kenney / Rickshaw Stop, San Francisco, California / Wednesday, August 23, 2017 / No. 3:

 

 Madeline Kenney / Rickshaw Stop, San Francisco, California / Wednesday, August 23, 2017 / No. 4:

 

 Madeline Kenney / Rickshaw Stop, San Francisco, California / Wednesday, August 23, 2017 / No. 5: