Keith’s Musical Background:
Keith has always loved music, and began playing saxophone in the school band as a child. After some piano lessons and finding a passion for the guitar while in high school, Keith finally got a banjo in his hands while in college, and hasn’t looked back since. Perhaps surprisingly to most podcast listeners, Keith used his multi-instrumental abilities during his 8-year stint with a regionally touring Pink Floyd tribute band (with laser light show and everything), performing on guitars, keyboards, saxophone, lap steel, and more.
Keith’s banjo playing is best recognized from his time performing and recording with Lindsay Lou & the Flatbellys, Mark Lavengood’s Bluegrass Bonanza, and many other appearances on stages and recordings as a sideman. Keith also gained plenty of banjo-related knowledge and experience while working ten years as Showroom Manager and teaching banjo lessons at the world famous Elderly Instruments. Keith has taught as banjo faculty at the Midwest Banjo Camp and Great Lakes Music Camp.
Keith currently performs with Wilson Thicket, based in Southeast Michigan. Go to www.wilsonthicket.com to check them out!
Podcasting/Sound:
Keith has always been interested in the technology of sound, starting in his undergraduate audio production classes at Michigan State University, which included an internship with Grammy Award-winning Producer/Engineer Glenn Brown. He went on to always be the guy in his bands that was in charge of the P.A., eventually owning his own sound system for freelance work doing sound for bands, venues, and events. It was this familiarity with the gear and technology of music that gave him a lot of confidence that he would be able to create a professional-sounding podcast when he started The Picky Fingers Banjo Podcast in early 2018. Since then, he has done additional podcast editing work for Osiris Media, recorded and produced studio music for himself and others, and continues to do freelance live sound work, on occasion.
Instruments:
Keith’s primary instrument is a 2004 Sullivan Bardstown Custom. It has a Tony Pass rim, and a radiused ebony fingerboard. Keith uses and prefers the Gary Price straightline tailpiece, Tim Purcell and Scorpion bridges, Hoffmeyer and Propik fingerpicks, Propik thumbpicks, Rickard tuning pegs, Kat Eyz capos, and is endorsed by GHS Strings and Sullivan Banjos.
Keith’s live performance setup varies from gig to gig, but usually includes a Sennheiser e904 mic clipped onto the banjo, an EMG ACB Barrel pickup, and a Grace Design Felix Blender. And maybe some stompboxes here and there.
Other banjos include a 5-string solid body electric banjocaster custom made by luthier Scott “Stretch” Reinsmith, an Ome resonator banjo tuned to open E (Hartford tuning), and a 1964 Epiphone long neck.
Meet The Host (Keith Billik)
Keith’s Musical Background:
Keith has always loved music, and began playing saxophone in the school band as a child. After some piano lessons and finding a passion for the guitar while in high school, Keith finally got a banjo in his hands while in college, and hasn’t looked back since. Perhaps surprisingly to most podcast listeners, Keith used his multi-instrumental abilities during his 8-year stint with a regionally touring Pink Floyd tribute band (with laser light show and everything), performing on guitars, keyboards, saxophone, lap steel, and more.
Keith’s banjo playing is best recognized from his time performing and recording with Lindsay Lou & the Flatbellys, Mark Lavengood’s Bluegrass Bonanza, and many other appearances on stages and recordings as a sideman. Keith also gained plenty of banjo-related knowledge and experience while working ten years as Showroom Manager and teaching banjo lessons at the world famous Elderly Instruments. Keith has taught as banjo faculty at the Midwest Banjo Camp and Great Lakes Music Camp.
Keith currently performs with Wilson Thicket, based in Southeast Michigan. Go to www.wilsonthicket.com to check them out!
Podcasting/Sound:
Keith has always been interested in the technology of sound, starting in his undergraduate audio production classes at Michigan State University, which included an internship with Grammy Award-winning Producer/Engineer Glenn Brown. He went on to always be the guy in his bands that was in charge of the P.A., eventually owning his own sound system for freelance work doing sound for bands, venues, and events. It was this familiarity with the gear and technology of music that gave him a lot of confidence that he would be able to create a professional-sounding podcast when he started The Picky Fingers Banjo Podcast in early 2018. Since then, he has done additional podcast editing work for Osiris Media, recorded and produced studio music for himself and others, and continues to do freelance live sound work, on occasion.
Instruments:
Keith’s primary instrument is a 2004 Sullivan Bardstown Custom. It has a Tony Pass rim, and a radiused ebony fingerboard. Keith uses and prefers the Gary Price straightline tailpiece, Tim Purcell and Scorpion bridges, Hoffmeyer and Propik fingerpicks, Propik thumbpicks, Rickard tuning pegs, Kat Eyz capos, and is endorsed by GHS Strings and Sullivan Banjos.
Keith’s live performance setup varies from gig to gig, but usually includes a Sennheiser e904 mic clipped onto the banjo, an EMG ACB Barrel pickup, and a Grace Design Felix Blender. And maybe some stompboxes here and there.
Other banjos include a 5-string solid body electric banjocaster custom made by luthier Scott “Stretch” Reinsmith, an Ome resonator banjo tuned to open E (Hartford tuning), and a 1964 Epiphone long neck.