I once asked Tauranga artist Tony Warnes if he was having a good day.
'I'm an artist,” he replied, 'Every day above ground is a good day”. And I tend to agree with him. Being someone unable to recognisably draw even the cats at the Watusi Country Club ('I'm not that fat” one of them told me, as she clawed at my head after the last attempt), I can hardly lay claim to the title of 'artist”; but I'm with Tony: 'Every day above ground...”
That happy thought had me planning another ‘Reasons to be Cheerful' column, but I struggled to fill it. And one of the things currently making every day a good day is the re-emergence, after a long winter, of asparagus. But I wrote about that exactly one year ago and have learned absolutely nothing extra in the meantime about those delicious little spears. (Note to self: must find something new and interesting about asparagus.)
So...one gig. That's all I've got.
But it's not just any old gig – this is something rare and special.
It's happening next Wednesday (November 21), at the Tauranga Art Gallery. I've heard a few bands in the gallery now and it's a great spot for a gig; even if the pristine surroundings seem a little at odds with ‘A night of Americana'. But worry not about aesthetic clashes, because next Thursday Kelly Joe Phelps is coming to Tauranga to play the blues.
I'm gobsmacked
Now, for anyone who's ever heard of the man, or his music, that statement would be enough to have you jumping for joy. I know I was a bit gobsmacked when I heard. 'The Kelly Joe Phelps?” I asked, which is a bit dumb, for several obvious reasons. What I really meant was 'In Tauranga?”
And yes, it is The Kelly Joe Phelps (not all those other Kelly Joe Phelps' who live out Maketu way), the one who plays stunning acoustic blues and has been slowly broadening the boundaries of Americana for nearly 20 years. If you know who he is then you'll have stopped reading by now and gone to buy tickets.
But if you've never come across KJP – and there's no particular reason why you should have, since he doesn't exist on New Zealand radio or television – here are a few tasty details...
High praise
Kelly Joe's promo sheet has a potted history then a slew of reviews, as is the way. Then there are endorsements, various people praising his talents. The various people are Steve Earl, Bill Frisell, Leo Kottke, The Edge, Cameron Crowe and Tim O'Brien. Not a bad start to a fan club. In the 1990s ‘Acoustic Guitar' magazine called him one of 15 Artists of the Decade, alongside such luminaries as Ry Cooder, Beck, and Gillian Welch.
Okay. It's random info time: KJP has been recording since his debut album in 1994 mixing American roots musics – old-time country, bluegrass, blues, and jazz – into his unique 'new traditional style”. He recorded with Townes Van Zandt, has toured with BB King, Lucinda Williams and Madeline Peyroux; and has appeared at such prestigious events as Australia's East Coast Blues and Roots Festival, The Montreal Jazz Festival, and The Cambridge Folk Festival in the UK.
The real deal
Kelly Joe Phelps is very much The Real Deal, whether you're looking for intricate acoustic guitar picking in the vein of John Fahey, or gospel blues reaching back to Blind Willie Johnson (as witnessed on his latest album, Brother Sinner and the Whale.)
And Kelly Joe's not alone at the Art Gallery. With him are Caleb Klauder and Reeb Willms, who explore another side of Americana with their harmonious take on early country and bluegrass songs, from the Carter Family to the Louvin Brothers.
With guitars and mandolins, both Caleb and Reeb are also part of the internationally-acclaimed Foghorn Stringband, a group that has helped propel the current old-time revival, alongside the likes of Old Crow Medicine Show.
The pair has been performing together since 2008 and has played at the Newport Folk Festival and the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival among others.
So, how does that sound to you? The show's on at 7.30pm, tickets are $35 from eventfinder.co.nz (Or ph: 0800 289849).
Go have fun!