The Key Studio Sessions: Kicking Down Doors

In many ways, Philly-area country folk combo Kicking Down Doors got together by accident. Singer / lyricist Autumn Walden came across singer-guitarist Ernie Tokay at his Little Spiders Have Big Dreams Studio in Chester County; before they’d even known each other for a day, they’d already written a song together. The two musicians clicked so readily and had such a productive streak of writing music together that the project quickly became a functioning band; first a trio with bassist Michelle Lynn, and later a five-piece with Josh Steingard on drums and Stacy Weathers on banjo.

Last year the band released its debut record, The Record, and performed at the Philadelphia Folk Festival. Their songs are introspective and personal, addressing tragedy loss as well as the strength found in perseverance. For their Key Studio Session, Kicking Down Doors was joined by local guitar god Mike “Slo-Mo” Brenner – he played on their album and added a vibrant lap steel twang to the performance.

Listen to the set below, download it over at Soundcloud and catch the band this Saturday night at Boot and Saddle, where they’ll share the bill with like-minded folk-rooted Philadelphians Black Horse Motel; they’ll also be part of Lynn’s annual Winter Doldrums Festival at World Cafe Live on Saturday, February 7th, a benefit for the Philly chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Tickets and information on both shows can be found on the XPN Concert Calendar.