Kelly Joe Phelps- Spit Me Outta The Whale
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- čas přidán 23. 05. 2012
- Kelly Joe Phelps at the Artiste Sanctuary Concert Series at St. Jude's in Cedar City, UT
05/12/12
www.kellyjoephelps.net/
It's as thin as the edge of a razor, the road separating Heaven from Hell, sin from salvation, redemption from despair. It's a lonely road to go down and like the old gospel says, you've got to walk it for yourself. Kelly Joe Phelps has been doing lot of soul searching since his last record, 'Western Bell' came out in 2009. Three years later, his journey has wound its way to a recording studio in Vancouver, and Kelly Joe has once again beaten a path to Steve Dawson's door with a new batch of songs tucked into his satchel that reflect both the new insights gained along the journey as well as things that have been dropped by the wayside. Together Phelps and the veteran producer embarked on a three day recording odyssey that marked their fourth collaboration since Dawson played slide on 'Slingshot Professionals', produced 'Tunesmith Retrofit' and released 'Western Bell after it proved too daring for Rounder Records. The result is 'Brother Sinner and the Whale', a record that may very well come to be recognized as the best of an already very impressive body of work.
Since his debut album 'Lead Me On', came out in 1994, the Pacific Northwest based singer and songwriter has written and performed some of the most compelling slide guitar based music ever recorded. Though he spent his early years playing free jazz, he has never strayed too far from the roots music world that has become his passion. "I'd spent all this time learning improvisational music, but I'd always had an attraction to folk based music forms. So, I was listening to a lot of Chet Atkins, Merle Travis and some of the newer people like Leo Kottke and John Fahey. My music is a reflection of all the music I loved and steeped myself in. There's a space and openness in rural music that makes sense to me." Playing a lap slide in a style that both evoked the sounds of the ancients and pointed towards new possibilities for the instrument, Kelly Joe's music seemed to originate in another time as he sang with the voice of an old soul, weary with experience, yet excited with all of the prospects that life brings.
After several years of exhaustively exploring the potential of his slide, Phelps' attention gradually shifted from instrumental virtuosity towards an emphasis on songwriting. "I wanted to keep moving forward, so I began to spend more effort thinking about my songs and not so much about the guitar because ultimately, I got bored with it because I felt that I had found all I could for myself within that sound. So, the work felt finished to me."
Phelps' inquisitive mind and restless spirit have always carried him forward to new forms of expression, but experimentation is not without its costs. When 'Western Bell' baffled his record company, puzzled some fans and failed to create new audiences for his work, Phelps pulled back from recording to search for a new direction. Unexpectedly, inspiration came through a re-¬examination of his Christian roots, and resulted in an unexpected flurry of creative activity that gave birth to a whole new set of songs and a reinvigorated approach to playing the guitar as Phelps opted to play bottleneck rather than his customary lap slide to achieve a sound that wouldn't have been out of place on a classic John Fahey or Reverend Gary David record.
With song titles like 'Talking to Jehovah', 'I've been Converted' and 'The Holy Spirit Flood', there's no escaping that something has grown and changed in Kelly Joe's world. Phelps' lyrics fuse poetry from the Book of Jonah and the vintage gospel blues of Mississippi John Hurt with aspects of the early gospel work of Bill and Charlie Monroe thrown in for good measure to create what surely must be the most literary gospel songs recorded since Bob Dylan's incendiary Christian albums came out three decades ago. - Hudba
Saw KJP twice. Once solo and then as a guitar , bass drums combo. Superb both times. RIP Kelly Joe.
Unbelievable musician. Such a loss, RIP KJP
Had the privilege of seeing him live in the UK 20 years ago, what a fantastic musician and unique singer. Sadly missed.
Crying for Kelly tonight 😭 the greatest
KJP has been an inspiration to me since 1998. He's a blessing to the music community and the community as a whole. Keep playing, brother.
Just discovered this guy , this is amazing
One of the strongest arguments there ever was, for wearing the slide on your pinky finger.....
superb, as ever, from KJP.
sweet lord this playing is incredible
Just picked my jaw up from the floor...stunning!!
Great, thanks from Switzerland
Just an incredible talent
GOOD. GOD.
He sure makes it look way easier than it is!
God be with you Kelly. All the best
Another brilliant sermon by reverend maestro Kelly Joe Phelps...Amen!
(edit addition 7/3/2018) I was worried that KJP had disappeared the last few years, but now he's back, which makes me rejoice, and listen to all his recordings again. The first one, "Lead Me On", is still my favorite, but every one is righteously brilliant, and inspired by the Creator. Reverend Kelly Joe Phelps helped bring me back to God and Jesus Christ. If I ever meet him again in Portland (OR), The Gibson FJN he inspired me to buy and convert to a lap slide guitar is his - seriously. Come play at the Aladdin again brother, and I'll reverently give you this guitar to play. If you love it too, then it's yours - seriously,. I wish that I'd been able to buy you two Leo Kottke Taylor guitars, 6 and 12 string, because they have to be full of your mojo. The black JC Martin does sound better, and the resonator sounds great too, but the sound you got on "Lead ME On" is still my favorite. I must have listened to that recording at least 100+ times, and I love it more now than ever. THANKS brother, for you music, and for bringing me back home to God and Jesus Christ..!!
Lead Me On is a cultural masterpiece.
Fantastic! Absolutely fantastic!
So good so good and moving
This is one of the most versatile modern bottleneck styles and expressions I've heard the last time (picking and fingering wise, behind the slide etc.). Really love the melodiy of this tune! Great performance and all that.
Really miss his brilliance.
Amazing.
Can't believe KJP is coming to Topsham, Exeter UK next month and I have tickets! Have loved his music since being introduced by a friend about 10 years ago.
Incredible.
Bless ya KJP
Merci !
this is amazing
RIP
What Kate McGarry said times 2
Enjoying watching these videos. Great musician! Someone please tell what model resonator(?) he is playing and what the tuning is! Greatly appreciate! Cheers!
It’s a National Style O
He’s using open G tuning
Brilliant as ever, does anyone know of any tab available?
You will need to take much more than one Tab to play like this !!
They've been workin' on it for three years non-stop and can't catch up . .
Guitar?
tasty
no matter how many times i try slide, it still sounds shite lol :)
Not that you asked, but I have a suggestion: besides using an open tuning, you'll notice that Mr. Phelps mutes slightly with the index finger of his slide hand. This will avoid a lot of the jangle when it's not wanted. You might also like to try a glass slide once in a while. Keep 'er tuned, my friend!