There were a few first time “K-Dubbers” at last week’s Keller Williams show at Club Congress. They were the ones scoping out the stage before the show – and wondering just how three guitarists, a keyboardist and a drummer were going to fit onto the sardine can of a stage.
Until the epiphany that is Keller Williams strolled on stage solo and in succession, laid down a drum beat, bass, rhythm guitar and any other instrument he might need with the help of his Gibson Echoplex Digital Pro looping unit.
The obligatory band intros for one of Williams’ shows would go something like this: on lead guitar – Keller Williams…on bass guitar – Keller Williams…on drums – Keller Williams…on harmonica, without a harmonica – Keller Williams. You get the picture.
Throughout the astounding show, the one-man jam band created spontaneous backing loops, showing himself to be the unparalleled master of musical improvisation.
And though Williams’ virtuosity extends through his phenomenal instrumental technique and range of vocal styles and effects, he never allows his supreme musicianship to get in the way of the pure joy of the music. He’s just a guy that loves to play.
“No. I’ve always considered myself a music lover first and a musician second,” he confessed in a recent interview. “You know, the love of all types of music is there.”
“My ‘day job’ would be playing solo and so the side projects would be to play around with different bands and that’s where the real fun comes, because I get to step out of my solo thing and into another world of music. It’s always a blast to get up there and do something completely different.”
Williams didn’t wait long to display his amazing dexterity on the eclectic guitar as he kicked the show off with the whimsical fan favorite “People Watchin’,” singing “Let me be your dog, and you can be my master” in 2-Keller harmony. Listening to him haggle in his laid-back tenor, the obliging crowd no doubt found Williams especially fetching.
He stunned the crowd with some remarkable trumpet work on a solid cover of Van Morrison’s “Moondance” – remarkable in that he played with his lips – but without a trumpet. Williams showed off his scat singing on the tune – or maybe he just forgot some of the words. Either way, the song was one of the highlights of the evening.
Williams displayed his talents as a master storyteller on “Elephorse,” his science fiction fantasy about riding a two-headed dragon, chasing a flying cross between an elephant and a horse, then surfing a wave from Hawaii to Alaska. Did you follow that? No matter, the vocals and instrumentals were rock-solid on the country/bluegrass melody.
K-Dub channeled a “peaceful” Snoop Dogg on the blues/funk tune “Back of the Bus.” Williams took the crowd to school with thumping bass riffs that had the fans dancing – and whistling.
He broke out his trusty harmonica – you guessed it, played with a guitar – for a bouncy version of “Uncle Disney.” “The first time I heard ‘Uncle Disney’ by Patterson Hood,” said Williams about the song, “I was taken with the lyrics. I learned it to play it at my show in Anaheim, California at the House of Blues – the venue sits in the middle of Disney Land.”
Williams followed with another fantastic tune, a countrified cover of Gramercy Park’s “Sex and Candy.” He sweetened up the crowd with his smooth vocals and tremendous rhythm guitar.
On “More Than A Little,” Williams played a nimble-fingered guitar solo and admonished the fans to “dance like nobody is watching.” In these challenging times of economic uncertainty and political polarity, are there any better words to live by?
With his insightful, clever lyrics and versatile musicianship, Williams consistently showed throughout the concert that he “gets it.” As do his fans.
As competitive as the music industry is, artists can sometimes lose perspective by focusing on the “almighty dollar.” Cash may be king, but Keller Williams, the self-professed “music lover” finds that letting the music reign o’er him makes him a better performer.
“Oh, 100 percent. There’s always some kind of music going on in my head and to be able to perform is definitely a great relief. And I actually enjoy what I’m doing and if I wasn’t able to play songs all the way through on stage, I’d probably go really, really crazy.”
The fans at Keller Williams’ exceptional show last week at Club Congress were happy to help with his “therapy” – and fortunate to witness his musical brilliance.
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