Kelly Richey
At The Thirsty Ear
Sweet Lucy #606041240322
If blues/rocker Kelly Richey was making her mark in the '70s, the chances are she
would be as rich as Bonnie Raitt. Her guitar collection would be auctioned off on ebay and
an easy retirement would be lying in the wings. Kelly's guitar playing comes out of a time
when bell bottoms were in, blacklight posters were the rage and gas cost next to nothing.
She would be heralded as the riff queen who stomped the terra and showed no mercy for
slackers struggling with Pentatonic Scales.
The listener only needs to check out the live CD release of At The Thirsty Ear. Rounding
out The Kelly Richey Band are bassist Jimmy Valdez and drummer Dave Clawson. The CD is 60+
minutes that will revive the air guitar fanatic of fans who like their riffs meaty and
bluesy.
Richey holds nothing back. Guitar gymnastics are the rage and they coil with the essence
of Jeff Beck, Roy Buchanan, Stevie and Jimi. Kelly's guitar does it all: Whistles,
screams, feedback, sustain and moan. No notes are wasted.
Mixing originals with great covers, Richey scalds her way through "Crossroads,"
eulogizes Nina Simone's "Nobody's Fault" and turns Hendrix's "Red
House" into a decibel assault of notes that could have a listener check into the
nearest psycho ward.
Blues has always been associated with back-porches, hobo jungles, mojo's, blackcat bones,
whiskey and doing time at Parchman Farm. So it's up to Richey to synthesize these loose
fragments, up the ante, give the music some steroids so it can become a Tazmanian Devil.
It's not for everybody. It's a Kelly Richey Ouija Board. And not everyone can sleep with a
monster.
- Gary Weeks -
Southwest Blues CD Review - April 2007
Current Reviews - 2007 Reviews - available at our store
