“It’s a lazy afternoon, and the beetle bugs are zooming; and the tulip trees are blooming; And there’s not another human in view– but us two!”

Those are the first lyrics we hear in the encore presentation of award-winning performer Rian Keating’s deeply personal and highly unique one-man show Songs from My Trunk at New York City’s landmark venue Don’t Tell Mama.  I never expected to hear a song with references to “beetle bugs” and “tulip trees” in 2025, but it did pique my interest. Keating’s delivery of that song was definitely NOT as delicate as the dainty lyrics would imply.  Not by a long shot.  But more about that later…  Next up was I Hear Bells: “Call me mad? Well, of course you will put me under lock and key; I’ll hear music where I’m rooming, And the ‘bong’ of roses blooming!”  After that, the audience got to hear It’s Only a Paper Moon, a song which has managed to stay a favorite standard in pop culture with its casual musical and lyrical appeal.  My first reaction after hearing this trio of offbeat classics was to ask, “What made him choose these songs?”  Shortly into the afternoon, we DO get an explanation for his playlist.  True to the name of the show, they are songs which Keating loved but which didn’t quite have room for in any particular show… so, they went back into his proverbial trunk.  Songs from My Trunk, bolstered by the piano talents of the hardworking Darryl Curry, is first and foremost autobiographical, with Keating taking us back to his childhood. Blow the Wind Southerly/My Ship and Day In/Day Out became musicalized chapters in a story of longing and emotional awakening.  (Day In/Day Out is probably the best showcase for Keating’s unique vocal style, by the way.).  Longing and emotional awakening in adolescence eventually give way to very adult feelings, which Keating musicalizes with My Foolish Heart, the wonderfully kitschy Penthouse Serenade, and the grand My Favorite Year. 

 So, about that “voix”: Keating’s voice, both when singing and when speaking, is undoubtedly distinctive.  This performer knows his range as a chanteur– and, for the most part, he stays within that range.  That said, he’s not afraid to occasionally break outside that range and take on some challenging notes, which some hardcore cabaret critics may be exceptionally critic-al of.  For the campy Another Song About Paris, he blends singing and the language of Spoken Wordese, which actually suits him very well. The main asset of Songs from My Trunk is that Rian is a gifted raconteur. He is funny with a dry-as-a-martini sense of humor.  To restate from previously, the audience gets to hear some truly wonderful stories about the singer’s childhood: growing up… uhm, shall we say, “different” in early 1970’s New Hampshire, a time when public libraries used to actually loan out record albums.  This young man’s escape, seemingly, was the magic of movies.  An innocent encounter with an ice cream man, who earns the nickname “Pistachio Boy” in this piece, was a sexual awakening of sorts. Adulthood came shortly afterward, and what does an ambitious budding performer do?  All together now… They move to New York City, the land of revival movie houses, live shows, and, of course, cabaret.  It was one of these scenarios where a lady asked him, “Have you ever thought about doing a cabaret show yourself?”  How prophetic…

Keating’s stories about ’80’s New York, including his own launch as a performer, are nostalgic but definitely NOT overly sentimental; lest we forget, New York was not always the safest place to “hang out” after dark.   Personally, I could listen to his funny stories about vintage New York City for hours, especially with such references as Margaret Whiting, Colony Records, and $175/month apartment rentals. It is also wonderful to hear some songs just begging to be heard again, such as Indian Boy by Karen Gottlieb and Michele Brourman. This song would be provocative in any generation.  It was also great to hear Keating’s shout-out/homage to such figures as Belgian singer/actor Jacque Brel, whose important legacy may have unfortunately diminished among newer generations.  Songs From My Truck is funny, fascinating, yet smartly earnest to the nth degree.

Songs From My Trunk features musical direction by Darryl Curry and was directed by Tanya Moberly. Rian Keating has additional shows coming up at Don’t Tell Mama in March and June 2025, Visit http://www.DontTellMamaNYC.com for more information and reservations.

Photos by Stephen Mosher.