Chris Whitley/Kelly Joe Phelps
I saw Chris Whitley and Kelly Joe Phelps in concert at the Old Town School of Folk Music on Saturday night. Masters of alternate tunings -- alone onstage with nothing but a microphone and their guitar. I've seen both of them before, but they were in rare form this evening.
Kelly Joe Phelps mixes blues, roots, and folk music with lyrics that range from surreal to poignant, often in the same song. His voice is as smooth as sandpaper -- rough and flawless. And his guitar-playing is really something. He's extraordinarily fluid and his phrasing is really, really expressive.
Chris Whitley has been an obsession of mine for quite some time. He's a very unique artist who doesn't bend with the business AT ALL. His songs are a mix of raw blues and cowboy music with punk and grunge. He beats the Hell out of a 1930's National Steel dobro, while his singing goes from wailing and melodious to mumbling and indecipherable. He's got a real unique slide guitar style, and he doesn't sound like anybody else I've ever heard... His lyrics are pretty cool too. Check out the album "Dirt Floor" if you want a taste of his best work.
Kelly Joe Phelps mixes blues, roots, and folk music with lyrics that range from surreal to poignant, often in the same song. His voice is as smooth as sandpaper -- rough and flawless. And his guitar-playing is really something. He's extraordinarily fluid and his phrasing is really, really expressive.
Chris Whitley has been an obsession of mine for quite some time. He's a very unique artist who doesn't bend with the business AT ALL. His songs are a mix of raw blues and cowboy music with punk and grunge. He beats the Hell out of a 1930's National Steel dobro, while his singing goes from wailing and melodious to mumbling and indecipherable. He's got a real unique slide guitar style, and he doesn't sound like anybody else I've ever heard... His lyrics are pretty cool too. Check out the album "Dirt Floor" if you want a taste of his best work.
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