Keneally has toured as the keyboardist for Joe Satriani, composed complete piano transcriptions of Steve Vai's complex guitar work, fronted the Metropole Orchestra performing his own compositions and delivered scream-heavy death metal licks on guitar for Dethklok, the fictional band featured on the Cartoon Network's animated series "Metalocalypse."
But Mike Keneally is probably most recognized for his role as the last stunt guitarist for composer Frank Zappa. Considered "the leading progressive genius of the post-Zappa era" (Allmusic), Keneally is definitely not tied to that genre. Mike has played with or produced many bands to showcase his multi-instrumentalist skills. He has released 13 albums of his own music since 1992, the most recent a collaboration with XTC's Andy Partridge called "Wing Beat Fantastic." With this release Keneally has exposed the most pop-centric music of his career.
On this visit to the 88.1 KDHX studio, Mike is joined by longtime collaborator Rick Musallam on guitar and vocals. This session shares songs going back to the beginning of Keneally's career. "The Wreckage Was Large" is from the live album "The Tar Tapes Vol. 1" by the band Beer for Dolphins. "Frozen Beef" comes from the album "Sluggo!," his first exploration of his solo voice, which led to his first solo release, "hat." Rounding out the performance is the title track from the newest offering, "Wing Beat Fantastic." Mike Keneally may be considered the sideman to the stars, but he is doing just fine on his own.
