Bridget Kelly Band review…June 1, 2016…

THE BRIDGET KELLY BAND

OUTTA THE BLUES

ALPHA SUN RECORDS

GONNA STAY HERE–SPELLBOUND–IF YOU SEE MY BABY–SWEET RIVER BLUES–BALTIMORE WOES–DANCIN’ WITH THE BLUES–DANGEROUS MAN–UP AND GONE/SMOKESTACK LIGHTNING–LONELY NIGHT IN JUNE–WHEN THE NIGHTTIME COMES–HARD TIMES IN THE CITY–SOMEONE’S HOODOOIN’ ME–DOUBLE CROSSED–ROCKET TO THE MOON

Everyone knows the Gainesville, Florida, area has a strong Southern-rock and blues presence.  One of our favorite groups from that region is The Bridget Kelly Band, and they are back with another powerhouse set of fourteen good-rockin’ blues and soulful ballads entitled “Outta The Blues” on Alpha Sun Records.

Bridget’s on vocals, with the set’s producer, the venerable Tim Fik on guitars, with the rhythm section of Mark Armbrecht on bass and Alex Klausner on drums.  They were Semi-Finalists in both 2015 and 2016 at the IBC’s down in Memphis, and keep that hot streak going with this sweet set.

They lead off on a strong note, as Bridget tells a no-good lover to “travel on, baby–I’m Gonna Stay Here with the blues!”  Tim’s slide gives this one  a Duane Allman feel, and Bridget revisits that theme a little later, as “tonight I’m goin’ Dancin’ With The Blues.”  And, she knows all too well about that “Dangerous Man”—“I shoulda walked away, or, better yet, ran!”  The guitar here is vintage Southern-rock, and Tim takes a fiery, extended solo.   “Up And Gone/Smokestack Lightning” incorporates the Chester Burnett chestnut into a message that tells a lover that “when you come back home from Memphis. I’ll be Up And Gone!”  Another cool midtempo groover finds Bridget being troubled by that ol’ “unseen eye,” and knows that “Someone’s Hoodooin’ Me!”

We had two favorites, too.  Bridget’s soulful side always shines on the slow-bluesers, and she really turns up the heat on the broken love affair story of “Spellbound,” over Tim’s blister-string riffs.  The set’s most powerful piece deals with “a mother crying for a son that just ain’t there.”  It is “Baltimore Woes,” and takes a poignant look at the strained relationships all over the USA between law enforcement and inner-city youths.

The Bridget Kelly Band makes authentic, good ole Southern-fried boogie blues, and tour all over the Southeast at clubs and festivals.  “Outta The Blues” is sho’ nuff “outta this world” good!  Until next time…Sheryl and Don Crow, The Nashville Blues Society.