EP 214: Ron Keel Interview

The Metal Cowboy Ron Keel is back baby! This time to discuss the Ron Keel Bands latest release South X South Dakota. From the word go Ron is off discussing his thoughts on Covid-19, being a proud upper Midwest prepper, the struggle privately owned music venues face, whether or not the Eagles should be considered Southern Rock, his duet with Jasmine Cain, the ill-fated Australian Melodic Rock Fest, his move to High Volume Music, the 35th Anniversary of the Keel record The Right To Rock. And believe it or not, MORE!

Available now at http://ronkeelshop.com & https://www.highvolmusic.com/store/
Ron Keel Band has released their new album SOUTH X SOUTH DAKOTA, a celebration of southern rock classics featuring the music of Skynyrd, Allman Brothers, Outlaws, Blackfoot, Molly Hatchet, .38 Special, Creedence and more, on the HighVolMusic label.

During recording sessions for their 2019 original album release FIGHT LIKE A BAND, the band warmed up each day by ripping through some of their favorite southern rock classics; what started as a fun way to loosen up in the studio has now become a powerful musical statement.

“At first, we didn’t even know Mike (producer Mike Dresch) was recording,” Ron says. “We were just having fun. But of course, Mike records everything we do, and when I started listening back I realized that we had something special on our hands.

“South X South Dakota is a really cool way to pay tribute to those southern rock heroes that provided such a big part of the soundtrack of our lives, while introducing a new generation of fans to these timeless songs.”

The album’s first single and video is “Red White & Blue,” originally recorded by Lynyrd Skynyrd. Dealing with the “social distancing” required during the global 2020 Covid-19 pandemic, the band members were each filmed at separate iconic locations including Mt. Rushmore. Another featured track is “Don’t Misunderstand Me,” a hard rocking duet which pairs the Metal Cowboy with the powerhouse vocalist Jasmine Cain (2016 Nashville Music Awards “Artist Of The Year”).

RKB’s cover of the Outlaws classic “Ghost Riders In The Sky” (produced by Henry Paul) was the debut single and video when they were known as the “Badlands House Band,” and “Homesick” (originally recorded by Atlanta Rhythm Section) was their 2017 summer single. Both of those recordings are included in the new SxSD collection.

“For 10 years during the 80’s, Hollywood was home,” Keel reflects. “But I was born in Georgia as the son of a construction worker, and Nashville’s where I got my start as a recording artist. My fans as well as my critics all know that I have one foot on either side of the tracks; there’s a common thread here that ties it all together – toughness and twang as Metal and Country collide on sacred southern ground.”

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