Dave Keller – La Brea
Tastee-Tone -2025
11 tracks; 49 minutes
Dave Keller has established himself in the soul-blues area with a number of impressive albums over recent years. However, as he explains in the sleeve notes here, he is always writing and has a considerable archive of songs that he could not fit into an album. “The Orphanage”, as he calls that collection, contained several songs that simply did not fit into that soul-blues style, but they are all songs that Dave loves, so this album brings eleven of them together. Arguably more in the Americana style than blues, everything you hear on the album was written by Dave and brought to life in a Massachusetts studio by Kevin Barry on acoustic, electric and lap steel guitars, Tom West on keys, Jesse Williams on bass and Marco Giovino on drums; Dave plays electric guitar on just one track and vibraphone on another but otherwise sticks to vocals.
The album opens in quiet, sombre mood with “I Could Fall”, Dave’s delicate vocals well suited to this almost acoustic song. “Different Than I Planned” is a full band production with weeping lap steel and organ providing a warm backing to Dave’s story of musical experiences, from Muscle Shoals to Memphis, seeing BB King live and hearing Ray Charles on the radio, all those musical experiences tempered by a personal relationship that inevitably ends up in heartbreak – a fine song that draws the listener into its narrative. Dave reminisces about a past relationship that he would prefer to forget, but “it all comes flooding back when I think about Your Touch”.
In “Different Than I Planned” Dave admitted that the only time he sings now is in the shower, so it is a perfectly logical link to have a song entitled “Singin’ In The Shower”, both acoustic and electric guitars over a steady drum beat making this more of an electric cut, as well as a rather more optimistic song as Dave finds himself joining in with his girl who sings in the shower!
“Shiny Things don’t matter much, that’s what you said” sings Dave as he reflects on what is really important in life, what is inside, not superficial things. A slightly folky feel pervades “When You Land”, lap steel and vibes giving the tune a wistful feel before Kevin delivers a great solo on the lap steel which spurs Dave on to a really strong vocal finish to the song. Accompanied initially only by acoustic guitar, Dave explains why he is entirely happy with his lot, the rhythm section joining in subtly as the song develops: “Wherever I go, whatever I do, I’ll be OK, everyday, as long as I’m With You”. The odd title “Onions” is used as a metaphor for the multi-layered emotions of love before a longer tune that brilliantly describes a meeting between two old flames after a 20 year gap, the couple discovering what had happened since they last met; “If You Don’t Mind Me Askin’” explains how both have lost their partners, their shared sympathies and…will their love rekindle? Dave leaves the eventual ending to the listener’s imagination: “There’s more to the story, I don’t want to bore you, it’s not like I know you that well”. “The Promise” is another quiet song, Jesse Williams’ upright bass heard to advantage here, while “I’m Telling You Now” is a solo performance, Dave accompanying himself on electric guitar, understated but emotional.
Throughout the album Dave’s heart is on his sleeve vocally and he is very effective in conveying the raw emotions of the lyrics. This is certainly not a blues album, but the performances and the quality of the songs commands the listener’s attention, especially the two longer songs, “Different Than I Planned” and “If You Don’t Mind Me Askin’”, both of which are outstanding.
