Fernie based roots / bluegrass group Shred Kelly will take your breath away.
I haven’t been this impressed with a roots group since I first heard the Duhks (formerly Scrüj MacDuhk.)
Their infectious, toe-tapping live energy is captured perfectly on their new CD ‘Goodbye July,’ within the first few bars of the title track which features frenetic claw-hammer banjo from lead vocalist Tim Newton (who also plays ukulele, guitar and lap steel) that immediately hypnotizes the listener and yet makes them want to move.
The band sets down an intense and addictive groove throughout, which would make them right at home playing around a campfire or a folk festival drum circle.
The CD sounds like a group of friends gathering around a ski lodge after a long day on the slopes, hoisting a few pints and maybe smoking a little something, whipping out their guitars, mandolins, harmonicas, anything handy, and just jamming the night away. Between them, the five band members play an impressive array of instruments from accordion and xylophone, keyboards to ukulele.
There are a lot of highlights on the CD from the slacker anthem ‘I Hate Work,’ to the eerie ‘Ghost Inside My Head.’ which features haunting vocal harmonies from Sage McBride who also sings almost jazzy lead vocals on ‘Disillusioned,’ which also features a psychedelic guitar solo and that unstoppable banjo.
The banjo also makes the epic ‘Tornado Alley,’ which has another unstoppable beat. While the recording quality isn’t the best as the vocals are relegated to the background, the CD definitely captures their talent. So Shred Kelly’s CD is an endlessly fun listen for ski bums and folk music lovers alike.
CD: Goodbye July
Band: Shred Kelly
Genre: folk
Record Label: none
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