My next movie star musician is Mr. Kevin Costner, who has fronted a band called Modern West since 2008. The country rock outfit has released five albums, the most recent in 2020.
While the band’s first three albums steer clear of their lead singer’s movie career, the next two are companion pieces to his TV work: 2012’s Famous for Killing Each Other [Music from and Inspired by Hatfields & McCoys] and last year’s Tales From Yellowstone.
My very cursory exploration of Modern West’s music reveals they are very much in the Bruce Springsteen/John Mellencamp lane, minus the songwriting chops. This is the sort of band you’d hear playing a bar in Nashville, an enjoyable backdrop for a night out with friends but not something you’d pay to see in concert.
I am impressed by the earnestness and sensitivity displayed by Costner as the lead singer and co-writer here. This is clearly a labor of love and a different kind of creative outlet, and more power to him for putting himself out there.
Counting everything from one to 14
Over roads where them sunflowers grow
I can see from here to eternity
And I’ll see you around, I’m gone, I’ll see you around
I’ll see you around, sometime in the sky, hey
I’m ninety miles from nowhere
Living in this dust bowl dirt
Baseball, buddy holly, black tennis shoes
Dirty old t-shirt
Streets carved out of caliche
Ace of spades in my bicycle spokes
Well, I can ride from here to Amarillo on my motorbike
It’ll take me anywhere I want to go
And I’ll see you around, I’m gone, I’ll see you around
I’ll see you around, sometime in the sky
Roll down the window of that family car
Wind comes rushing in
Take me back, yeah, thirty years ago
Say goodbye to my best friend
I never made it to Amarillo
Though I tried it just for kicks
The ace of spades, well, it must have broke
Somewhere along on old highway fifty six
So long goodbye and adios, I’m gonna miss this town
You stood there waving in the wind until I turned around
We laughed so hard, I thought I’d cry
Until the day I died
I feel like Superman, flying over muddy rivers
Counting everything from one to 14
Over roads where the sunflowers grow
I can see from here to eternity
I’ll see you around, I’ll see you around
I’ll see you around sometime in the sky
I feel like Superman, I feel like Superman
I feel like Superman, I feel like Superman
Meet Me In Montauk 
I didn’t know Kevin Costner could sing, and this doesn’t even sound anything like his speaking voice, but I’m diggin’ what he’s laying down!
You go Kevin. Loving it❤️
Thanks for opening my ears to another part of Kevin Costner’s creative life here on planet earth.
I knew he was a big fan of country music and curates a Yellowstone playlist on Apple Music, but I didn’t realize he had his own band! I look forward to Kevin Bacon showing up at some point this week! 🙂
I knew Costner was a huge fan of country music, but I didn’t realize he had his own band! I follow a playlist he curates for Yellowstone. Meanwhile, I hope Kevin Bacon makes an appearance this week!