Kelly Joe Phelps
Tin Angel
Philadelphia, PA
November 14, 2004
01. Jericho
02. Gold Tooth
03. Not So Far To Go
04. That's Alright
05. Tommy
06. Capman Boatman
07. Clementine
08. The Prodigal Son
09. Fleashine
10. pre-encore applause
11. Window Grin
Total Time: 76:37
Core Sound Binaurals=>Sony PCM1=>POC-DA12MP optical link=>Philips CDR 880 Stand Alone Burner
Recorded by Zackman 20 feet from the stage. Very clear, precise recording. At one point, you can hear a waitress clink two glasses together as she gathers up the empties. The sound turns your head and makes you hold your breath, as if she may drop them to the floor. Which pretty much sums up the way Kelly Joe Phelps plays the guitar. During this solo tour, Kelly played straight acoustic finger-picking guitar - no lap slides, no accompanying musicians. Don't let that fool ya. Try and count the notes in "Capman Bootman". Go ahead. While you're in tears from trying, DO NOT listen to "Tommy". Madness will ensue. The only cure - repeated listening to that ol' chestnut "The Prodigal Son". There's a reason this recording sounds like a soundboard - the audience was full of drop-jawed acoustic blues aficionados who were mesmerized by Kelly Joe's strong singing and perfect plucking - for the most part they held their collective breath for fear of exhaling for a second and missing thirty notes...
Kelly plays a hundred times a year - go to his website, find out where he is next, and bring your gear!!!
NOTES: OutSTANDing acoustic-blues-mutha-ffinger-picker. Just when you thought they don't play them like that any more, along comes a Prodigal Son like Kelly Joe Phelps, captured here with all the intensity and twisting, turning, foot stretching, leg stomping, primal grimacing, down at the corner of the mouth, whiskey-soaked elbows and greasy, snarling, gutteral blues.