A Night with Kellar Williams and His Invisible Band (Live at City Limits, Delray Beach 1/28/09)
Every musician has either played solo or had the desire to perform alone at some point in their musical careers, no matter what scale. Some people get started that way and others are driven to the solo gig for reasons like disputes or conflicting visions with band mates.
Of all the solo artists I’ve witnessed none shall surpass the impression that Keller Williams made on me at City Limits in Delray Beach on January 28, 2009. Walking into the venue the music had already begun and Keller was playing an extended version of the ever popular Moon Dance by Van Morrison. I looked at what appeared to be dozens of guitars hung upon the makeshift pegboard walls surrounding the stage. I also noticed a cash register and a sign that said “Open”. Keller had a music store as his backdrop and the closer I looked the more details popped out, like the green price tags hanging from the headstocks of all the guitars. There was also a wall filled with strings and other accessories. I thought to myself this guy has some sense of humor.
Keller’s comedic side that was seen through his stage setting comes out in his lyrics as well, half his songs are laced with inside jokes and far out themes. He has one song about swimming down Alligator Alley, trying to make it out in one piece. Another chunk of his set is interesting takes on old favorites like Wanted Dead or Alive by Bon Jovi and Steve Miller’s Joker which he played on a double bass. My favorite part of his set is made up of marvelous original instrumentals, which highlight his quick finger picking and dynamic musical arrangements. I think featuring this great variety of music is key in keeping people around to see what this guy will do next. I’m telling you the nearly sold out venue was packed throughout the night as he played for almost three hours.
One thing I neglected to mention is that he plays with a ghost band generated and manipulated by him. During a reggae version of Johnny Be Goode Kellar sung “You’re going to be the leader of an invisible reggae band”. This was funny because throughout the entire show Keller would start a beat on a drum pad and loop it, walk over to a bass guitar on a flexible stand lay down a funky bass line to accompany the beat and loop it, next the guitar he would loop and top it off with some live guitar playing, singing, beat boxing and even mouth trumpet. The majority of his set was arranged this way and he looped his way into having a full band from one song to the next, I was amazed at this great feat. Although I had never heard his music prior to this event I became an instant fan.
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Keller is amazing. I saw him play in Mishawaka(probably spelled it wrong) park in Colorado and he blew my mind. One of the best concerts of my life.