Kelly’s Lot – Live in Brussels | Album Review

kellyslotcd Kelly’s Lot – Live in Brussels

 FC Music – 2011

 www.kellyslot.com

 Sixteen tracks listed with a total running time of 1:10:26

 Live in Brussels is the latest CD release by the L.A. based band Kelly’s Lot. On this recording the band consists of Kelly Zirbes handling the vocals, Perry Robertson on guitar, Rob Zucca also on guitar and bringing up the rhythm section is Matt McFadden on bass with Robert Dill on drums. While there are 16 tracks listed on the cover there are actually 14 songs with two intros. All songs were written by Zirbes and Robertson with the exception of track #7 which is “Crossroads” written by Robert Johnson.

The band was formed in 1995 as a trio and it seems blues was not the main focus at that time. Now, eight CDs later, its seems Kelly’s Lot is still a blend of sounds/influences and not necessarily a straight ahead “blues band”. They have opened for Blues greats such as Tommy Castro and John Mayall on the festival/concert circuit.

The band seems to have a penchant for tempo changes and display that inclination throughout the recording. By track #6 “Better Way” picks up the pace with a rumba blues number that is a warning to all that “…nobody will ever me hurt again…” Zirbes’ voice has quite a range and she can belt a number when needed while speaking lyrics occasionally. “Come to This” (track 7) is a bouncy tongue in cheek blues lament of how some women end up with men who, shall we say, don’t exactly meet up to expectations. For the slow blues shuffle lovers the band offers up track #9, “Tired” – a 12 bar standard that logs in at just over 10 minutes.

Other highlights include the up tempo “Right Now” (track #11) with some sweet driving guitar licks. “Pistol” (track #12) has a bit of a country feel and mixed with Zirbes’ sultry vocals its message may leave some male listeners longing to check out her loaded pistol.

Kelly’s Lot appears to be a hard working band with extensive touring and festival experience in Europe as well as America. By the looks of the web site if you want to see then live any time soon it will be in Southern CA or wait till the end of July when they’ll be in France.

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