The Kathy Kallick Band has received some blush-worthy reviews of their latest release, Horrible World. Derk Richardson (who also hosts a radio show on KPFA) made the album a pick in Oakland magazine and provides a nice summary:
“As a founding member of Good Ol’ Persons, Kathy Kallick pioneered a place for women in bluegrass. Some 20 albums and several major awards later, the singer-songwriter/guitarist approaches her music with the same irrepressible enthusiasm. On Horrible World, you’ll marvel at the individual virtuosity, the group cohesiveness, and several beautifully sung Kallick originals that express both timely pessimism and tireless hope.”
More than 200 DJs around the world seem to agree, spinning tracks from the album and contributing to its success on both the FOLK-DJ and National Bluegrass Survey charts. (Something that almost never happens, BTW.)
There has been lots of airplay for Kathy’s originals, which range from the ironic title track to a saga about an actual anti-hero to a hopeful prayer. But the band’s distinctive covers of lesser-known songs from the Carter Family, Bill Monroe, and Bob Wills also sparkle. And Jerome Clark in Rambles magazine was particularly taken with their unique treatment of a standard:
“Amid all the superior music and musicianship, ‘Cotton Eyed Joe’ is the standout, brilliantly reinvented … Just about everything I love about American folk music is in that song. Kallick and companions lay down an adaptation for the ages.”
After six months away from NorCal, the Kathy Kallick Band – Kathy, Annie Staninec, Greg Booth, Tom Bekeny, and Cary Black – is fired up to play these (and other) great songs for us. Their shows are engaging, moving, and memorable – and Big Fun. I hope you can get to one!
– April 4 (7:30 pm): house concert in Mountain View <http://www.fifthstfarms.com
– April 6 (7:30 pm): Pacifica Center For the Arts, 1220 Linda Mar Blvd., Pacifica http://pacificaperformances.org/upcoming-concerts
– May 16 (7:30 pm): Cloverdale Arts Alliance, 204 N. Cloverdale Blvd., Cloverdale http://www.cloverdaleartsalliance.org/americana-night
– May 17 (7 pm): Side Door, 2900 Franklin Blvd., Sacramento https://www.thesidedoor.net
– May 18: Berkeley Bluegrass Festival 1 pm: kids/family concert- 8 pm: double bill with The Earls Of Leicester https://www.thefreight.org/event/1794178-berkeley-bluegrass-festival-berkeley/
– May 19 (3 pm): house concert in Santa Cruz <spalazzo@cruzio.com>