From YouTube to a stage near you: Andy McKee

— No one has to persuade acoustic guitarist Andy McKee about the power of the so-called “social media.” McKee, who will be performing Saturday at Juanita’s, put up some of his videos on YouTube in 2005, more or less as a lark, and watched in awe as the video for his song “Drifting” soared to the front page of the Internet video site.

“Success there certainly has been a help,” McKee says with a laugh when reached on the road. “It made it possible to go out touring. It helps when calling clubs and telling them what I’m all about. They can see what I do instantly.

“At the time I was giving guitar lessons and selling some sheet music. We had 20 orders the day after we became the talk of You-Tube.”

McKee, who released his debut recording in 2001, has gone on to release five more albums, performs more than 200 shows a year and was featured on Josh Groban’s Christmas album, Noel. He has also recorded with 6 String Theory, which also featured B.B. King, Slash and Neal Schon of Journey.

Still based in his hometown of Topeka, Kan., McKee has built his career as an instrumentalist, which to him means not having to explain lyrical matters. He mostly performs originals,with a smattering of cover songs, such as Tears for Fears’ “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” on his latest CD, Joyland, named after a defunct amusementpark in Topeka. Razor & Tie Records, a major recording label, also home to musicians Dar Williams, Joan Baez, Brian McKnight, Hill Country Revue, The Irish Tenors, Michael Mc-Donald, Zappa Plays Zappa and Simply Red, released the album.

A sticker on the album, which includes a bonus DVD that contains live performances and instructional segments, indicates McKee’s YouTube videos have garnered “78 million plays.”

As a teenager, McKee first decided to take up guitar after hearing Eric Johnson play guitar on the radio. The late Michael Hedges further inspired him.

“I started off more interested in electric guitar,” McKee confesses. “I was listening to Metallica, Iron Maiden, Pantera, andthen when I moved over to acoustic, I was listening to Michael Hedges and Preston Reed.” A devotee of tapping the guitar while also excelling at fingerstyle technique, McKee has heard of former Little Rock guitarist Richard Leo Johnson, another master of tapping his instrument.

“For those of us who use tapping, it’s almost more like piano or drums,” he says. “We are doing two different rhythms.”Andy McKee Opening act: Johnny Dickinson 9 p.m. Saturday, Juanita’s, 13th and Main streets, Little Rock Tickets: $12 advance, $15 day of show (all ages) (501) 374-3271, juanitas.com

Weekend, Pages 35 on 05/27/2010

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