Kevin Salem

• Genre: Roots

About

In addition to assuming guitar and vocal duties for Dumptruck, Matt Keating, and Miracle Legion through the years, Folk-Pop artisan Kevin Salem sings, jangles and whittles warm, natural songs of his own. Carefully plucked vintage electric guitars and twilight-driven, heartsick melodies tell stories over rich, rattling drums. Despite his songs' full, layered guitar production, there's still plenty of room for weeping lap steel and Salem's honest, blustery harmonies. Even guitar solos don't bite off more than they can chew, with bent, dissonant notes echoing his songs' bittersweet temperament. Few artists handle Roots rock this sharply.

- Kelly Bauman