Bio
Bio By: Doc Wendell and updated by Chad Ellis 6/12/24
For the past 40 years, how often have we lamented, "That's not Rock n' Roll!"? Whether through bland recordings or uninspired live performances, today's so-called "Rock n' Roll" often lacks the poetry, effort, and throat-grabbing charisma that once defined the genre. There's no story, no raw energy—just a bashfully blushing bloke who gets all the girls and doesn't want to make a scene.
Enter Kevin Kelly. From legendary venues like CBGB's to the Whisky A Go Go, and in lonely cafes, dive bars, and clubs across America, there he is, furiously strumming his acoustic guitar, stomping stages until they shake in hypnotic glory. Kevin Kelly bleeds for his songs, pouring his soul into every performance. He sings for "the toothless men silent this evening in chairs reserved for the dead" and the blanketmen starving for a taste of long-lost freedom.
A Kevin Kelly show or album is an unforgettable experience. Like a great bluesman, Kevin has endured heartbreak and walked through the gutter, living to tell his story with both romantic beauty and primal irreverence. His lyrics, reminiscent of Dylan, Springsteen, and Tom Petty, paint vivid pictures of truth—both his and ours—in his own inimitable way.
Kevin Kelly is the Rock n' Roll traveling poet troubadour we've been waiting for all these years. With relentless energy, he sings and writes verse after verse, thrusting himself upon the savage Hollywood nights like a rabid poet beast, avoiding the mortality of sleep and the safety of the calm. In both music and film, Kevin Kelly's presence is a force of nature, leaving a lasting impact on all who witness his artistry.