Singer-songwriter Kenneth O’Meara swept the hearts of the public and the judges during the Spring Singer-Songwriter showdown earlier this year. As a former classroom student of musical craftsman Andy Wilkinson and a distant spiritual successor to Tom Russell and Guy Clark, Kenneth’s vivid imagery and comfortable hooks appeal to both fans and critics of original Texas music.
Such a balance is hard to maintain; after all, music that appeals to the masses seldom appeals to the intelligentsia, but Kenneth manages to make his mark on both ends of the spectrum with unwavering brilliance. His songs scored top honors with the judges during the Blue Light Live spring Singer-Songwriter Showdown and raised thunderous applause from the hundreds of listeners in the crowd who willingly lent their ears to the outpourings of nearly twenty hopeful writers every night.
As panelist Wade Parks emphasized, “songwriting is not a competition” and we at the Blue Light wholeheartedly stand by this statement; songwriting as an art form is subject to the tastes and prejudices of the listener. Little wonder then, that this rare confluence of crowd and critic would speak as highly of our listeners as it would of our performers: yielding Kenneth O’Meara as the first songwriter to be awarded with radio airplay and the production of a free E.P. to help further his songwriting career.
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that song headsick highway is the best song i have heard in a long time. it is even with johnny horton songs.
Loving the song. Keep them coming Kenneth!