Search - Keller Williams :: Live

Keller Williams Branches Out and it Pays Off Big!

The Captain | Bridgewater, MA | 09/19/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"After having formed a rather successful career as an individual performer, Keller Williams came to the realization that the time had come to branch out just a bit. No, a new genre a music would not be delved into, rather, Williams has sought out the assistance of other talented musicians to create a live album worth checking out. With a relatively expansive name recognition, Williams does not need to rely on others to prove that the music of Keller Williams is worth listening to. But considering some of the friends he chooses to keep, his music may have just gotten a little bit better.



Joining Keller Williams on the album Live are Keith Moseley (String Cheese Incident) on bass, Gibb Droll (Brandi Carlile) on guitar and Jeff Sipe (Aquarium Rescue Unit) on drums. Though outside of this live album the four represent a tight knit group of friends, the professional demeanor shown on this album shows that not only are they friends but they also serve as the perfect complement to one another musically speaking.



And though the music of Williams is simply good enough to stand on its own two feet alone there is something remarkable about the music that is invigorated by the presence of the three other musicians. Of course there is the obvious addition of the stage presence growing but it is something more than that. It is almost as if the music has morphed into a more developed and more brilliant sound, and that is by no means meant to knock the solo music of Williams. It is just that the infusion of these three additional musicians make the music whole and in turn really, really good.



On the very first track Same Ole' there is a clear expectation set for the listener as to what the rest of the album will entail. There is a funky rhythmic bass accompaniment to the track that serves as the feet to the legs of the rest of the music. The guitar play on the track is dynamic and energizing and truly gets the listener pumped about the rest of the album. There are times when the guitar has a classic rock sound and other times when it transitions seamlessly to a much different sound.



Look At Where We Are is a very different track in that is slows down the pace of the music for almost the entire track with a beat that at times seems like a waltz and other times reminds one of a blues song. The lyrics become very paced to match the music nicely and the vocals on this track shine through in a way that truly substantiates the fact that the vocals when paired to a solid musical backing become simply more robust in sound and execution.



On the track Lonesome Angel the music takes on a sound that sounds like the child from a marriage of perhaps old school Americana music to the feel of Fleetwood Mac. The music is paced with a drawl sound to it and the vocals are very much reminiscent of something that would draw the entire crowd in to sing along with the band. There is a very methodical approach taken with this track and the music is not meant to impress because of speed or strength but the track holds its own with a very real sound that perhaps branches out further than the other tracks on the album and shows the true expanse musically that this group is capable of.



There is nothing missing on the track Still Wishing to Course as it serves as the musical buffet of the album. The listener is taken on a magical trip with this track as there are so many musical avenues that are explored. There are times where the guitar turns the track into a dynamic metal rock sort of sound and then the band breaks into a cover of Porno for Pyros hit song We'll Make Great Pets. Though your mind might be left scratching its head as to what you just experienced, what you have indeed experienced is an amazing mashing of different sounds into one dynamite track.



Disc One:



1. Same Ole'

2. Skitso

3. Casa Quetzal

4. Tribe

5. Breathe

6. Thin Mint

7. Look At Where We Are

8. Reinhardt Rag

9. Newness



Disc Two:

1. You Are What You Eat

2. Killer Waves

3. Lonesome Angel

4. Still Wishing to Course

5. Temple Balls

6. The Juggler

7. Play This



Though it really wasn't a risk for Keller Williams to seek out additional musicians to jam with for a change, hoping that a live album would pay off was certainly a bit of a leap to take. There needed to be a certain level of confidence that Williams could pull it off and do it so well that the album would be one that would not only appeal just to his hardcore fans but to new fans, as well. The album is a true testament to the notion that good musicians are one thing but good musicians joining forces and rocking out is a completely different beast. Yet this beast is soft and cuddly yet will still musically rock your world and this album is one that you will want to have playing at all times.



Live is on the Sci Fidelity Records Label.



For more information about Keller Williams, check out the website www.kellerwilliams.net.

"

Keller Williams Grows

E. Boles | University Center, MI USA | 12/07/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In my mid-40s, I had grown tired of my 1970s and 1980s standard and new wave collection(Stones and Zep to ELO, Talking Heads, Cars, etc.), progressive (Floyd, Yes, Genesis, P. Gabriel), jazz (Coltrane, Miles Davis). Was in Japan during 1990s, so I missed Phish, but found Paul Simon's later works from Graceland to present (all excellent), along with David Byrnes' albums (the Latin _Rei Mono_ and lately_Everything .._ w/Eno), and so on.



Never got into the Grateful Dead, but like Muddy Waters and the roots music. A friend last year played Keller William's "12," a compilation with a song from each of his past albums. It was quite refreshing and fun - the best place to start with Williams. So I got most of his albums. Williams is light-hearted and eclectic all the way through, but has developed tremendously. His earlier albums (Spun and Buzz) have good songs, but many sound alike, though to be fair, that's because at that point in his career he was a solo singer-songwriter. In his later works (Breathe, Laugh, Home) the music and songs develop, combining more eclectic genres and sounds. Laugh and Home are the better of these, though I haven't picked up Dream yet.



But this album blew my socks off - it's Williams at his best in my view. The above reviewer is right on the mark: the music has "morphed into a more developed and more brilliant sound." It's like Williams got a tighter-than-Phish band not just behind him, but with him. It's not just that this adds a stronger rock sound, but the band develops his sound. Every song seems more meaty, eclectic, and developed than the studio versions, with just two exceptions (Tribe and Breathe are better in studio). Among the wonderful surprises of what this excellent band does for Williams, for example, is "Lonesome Angel," the haunting vocals remind me of Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young. I only hope he continues in this direction, as this is among my favorite live albums in my collection."

"Live" is Jamband Bliss

The Delite Rancher | Phoenix, Arizona | 12/22/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This isn't the same ol' Keller Williams. Keller's usual bag is to play alone in a musical environment that is acoustic, yet digitally supplemented with loops and effects. This is electric, organic, rockin' Keller. This quartet has a fantastic sound with strong improvisation and a great chemistry. The songs are an enjoyable collection of some old favorites and new nuggets. In particular, 'Breathe' sounds familiar yet transformed. Hidden within the set is P*rno for Pyros' 'Pets.' The song structures are as would be expected in a conventional jamband environment. In terms of the drums and bass, Jeff Sipe (Leftover Salmon) and Keith Moseley (String Cheese Incident) hold the fort down. The guitar work is superb. Gibb Droll's guitar work pays homage to Jerry Garcia without being a copycat. Keller Williams' guitar work and singing seem energized and rejuvenated in this project. As far doing the electric jamband thing, Keller has of course done this before. The obvious comparison for this project is his collaboration with the String Cheese Incident. Through the years, that project had some memorable highlights, but I've always had the sense that their achievements were less than the sum total of the parts. In contrast, this ad-hoc band seems to consistently bring out the best in everyone. With "Live," Williams, Moseley, Droll and Sipe created a gem that seems to fly below the radar for many listeners. This is unfortunate since "Live" comes across so well, that it could be considered a musical ambassador for the genre."