Kelly Willis

Tuesday 24th July, The Lexington, London, Kelly Willis. The heatwave continues in London as we welcome Kelly Willis for apparently for first ever solo show in our town.

Thankfully the aircon is working tonight as the alternative doesn’t bear thinking about. Before the review a word to The Lexington for consistently putting on great shows. I have not seen a bad gig there, the sound is always perfect, the atmosphere is always good as are sightlines in what is my favourite small venue in London. PS props to Green Note for putting on another great gig showcasing top quality female country talent. See also my review of Whitney Rose earlier this year.

Onto Kelly Willis. In the heart felt introduction the promoter name checks Bob Harris who claims that Kelly is the voice of Austin, Texas. After witnessing tonight’s gig I think that description is doing her a disservice. Now my musical palate may not be sophisticated enough to distinguish between Texas country, Nashville country or the burgeoning Carolina’s country but I know what is good country. At a time where there is an abundance of super talented new country princesses such as Margo Price, Nikki Lane, Jaime Wyatt, Ashley Monroe, Kacey Musgraves, Maren Morris, HC McEntire, Amanda Anne Platt and the aforementioned Whitney Rose to name a few, it has to be said that Kelly Willis is one of the Queens of country sitting firmly at the top table.

She possesses a beautiful traditional country voice, full of range, lifting and soaring then bringing you back down with the right amount of twang with each song delivered in her own way. She is ably supported tonight by a three piece band who are understated and provide the perfect foundation for Willis to layer he voice over.

Over here to promote her excellent first solo album in over ten years ‘Back Being Blue’ we are treated to most of that plus selected tracks from across her back catalogue. The new album is a bit of a throwback and is definitely steeped in traditional country roots and whilst good on record and I know it’s a cliché they really come to life live.

A strong songwriter in her own right her albums are riddled with covers, co-writes with others and her husband Bruce Robison and even tonight weirdly a song co-written by both of her husbands. Name checking all of the writers of each song giving them their full credit she still makes them all Kelly Willis songs.

Highlights tonight for me are ‘Find another Fool’ and from the new album ‘What the Heart doesn’t know’. It’s all over too quickly and we are left hoping that it’s not another decade before her next record and trip across these shoes.

Keep on country rockin y’all

Wow! I am so glad I did not miss this show. It has been a long time since Kelly Willis has been in the northwest and she and the band did not disappoint. Kudos to Western Oregon University for including her in this season's Smith Fine Arts series.