This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Pat McKillen to Perform in 'the Listening Room'

On Saturday, April
19th at 8:00pm singer songwriter, Pat McKillen will perform in ‘the Listening
Room’ at the Lakeside Legacy Arts Park in Crystal Lake, IL. Tickets are $15 in
advance and $20 at the door. To reserve your tickets today, visit
www.LakesideLegacy.org or call 815-455-8000. McKillen grew up in Tower Lakes,
IL and is a recent graduate of the University of Notre Dame. He has opened for
Lifehouse, Matisyahu, and Smashmouth. “Audiences attending McKillen’s
performance at ‘the Listening Room’ have the opportunity to experience an
emerging musician on the rise,” stated Siobhan Cottone, Lakeside’s Executive
Director. “The schedule and mission of our unique venue is to showcase talent
from local to national recognition as well as bring the public a plethora of
performance genres. We hope local audiences get to witness talented musicians
such as Pat McKillen on their way to becoming famous!” McKillen was also featured
on America's Got Talent in the summer of 2013.



McKillen’s cover of Bob Dylan’s ‘Like a Rolling Stone’ was featured in ‘The New
York Times’ “Music Match” section on November 26, 2013. The New York Times
journalist and founder of www.Valslist.com, Val Haller, wrote in that article, “The newest cover is by a Chicago singer-songwriter, Pat McKillen, one of
the most versatile emerging artists on the scene, who performs all the
background music himself. In his album “Red Headed Enemy”, you might think
you’re hearing Dave Matthews or David Gray, but it’s all Mr. McKillen.”



 



After picking
up the acoustic guitar in 9th grade, McKillen began writing basic songs that
him and his fellow band mates would play throughout high school. But it was
when McKillen was playing solo at college that he discovered a knack for
songwriting and creating a fusion of sounds that fit his unique and powerful
voice. While attending the University of Notre Dame, he had the opportunity to
open for acts such as Lifehouse, Eric Hutchinson, Matisyahu, Tyler Hilton, and Smashmouth.
He graduated from Notre Dame in 2010 with a degree in Finance, but chose to
pursue music, instead.

Find out what's happening in Crystal Lake-Carywith free, real-time updates from Patch.



 



Whenever one
set of songs is finished, McKillen usually has another full album's worth
waiting in the woodworks. While experimenting with percussive sounds and
using the more folk-based sound he has developed, McKillen completed the
tracking for “The Red Headed Enemy” in the summer of 2013, which is a 14-track
album created in 2012. McKillen says he is "thrilled" with the sound
of the album.

Find out what's happening in Crystal Lake-Carywith free, real-time updates from Patch.



 



"For me,
it's not necessarily about the size of the studio or the equipment you
have," McKillen says, "The most important thing is that the sound of
the recordings come off as organic as the songs themselves. As the one who is
writing the songs, I know I'll take good care of them and get them right one
way or another through my own experimentation in the studio." Listen to
McKillen’s original works at http://www.patmckillen.com/.



 



Come to ‘the
Listening Room’ on April 19th at 8:00pm to hear the music of Pat McKillen.
Tickets are $15 in advance and can be purchased at www.LakesideLegacy.org or by
contacting the Box Office and asking for Roger (815)-455-8000. If online sales
have not sold out, tickets can also be purchased at the door for $20. Lakeside
encourages people to purchase tickets in advance. If you purchase tickets at
the door on 4/19, however, please arrive by 7:30pm. A cash bar is also
available during the concert. For more information or to purchase tickets,
please visit www.lakesidelegacy.org. ‘the Listening Room’ is located within
Lakeside Legacy Arts Park at 401 Country Club Road, Crystal Lake, IL. Lakeside
Legacy is a 501(c)3 charitable organization, and is also home to the Historic
Dole Mansion.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?