Kelly’s Lot: “The Blues Remind Me” (2024) CD Review

Kelly’s Lot is a Los Angeles-based blues band that mixes in elements from other musical realms to create its own special sound. It is a band that somehow gets better with each release. They’ve been playing for approximately three decades now, and never settle for repeating what they’ve already done, what they’ve already achieved. It seems that every time the band reaches a new plateau, these guys take just a moment to enjoy it before saying, hey look, what’s up there, and striding forward once again. Their new album is their best yet. Titled The Blues Remind Me, it features all original material written by Kelly Zirbes and Perry Robertson. These guys don’t shy away from addressing current troubles, as evident in a track like “Without You,” but the main message conveyed in their music is one of healing, one of compassion. They aim to make folks feel good with their music, and there are songs on this disc that will have you on your feet and dancing. Kelly Zirbes is on lead vocals, Perry Robertson is on acoustic guitar and electric guitar, Matt McFadden is on electric bass and upright bass, and Mike Sauer is on drums. There is also a horn section on a few tracks. Another important player on this release is Mo Beeks on keyboards. His great work on keys is prominent on most tracks.

Mo Beeks also sings on the album’s opening track, “I Gotta Sing The Blues,” which he wrote with Kelly Zirbes and Perry Robertson. The track opens with him asking, “Hey, Kelly, what does the blues remind you of?” And she responds, “The blues remind me of a time way back when/When songs were learned again and again,” giving us the album’s title. Mo Beeks delivers some great stuff on keys, especially on that lead in the middle. Art Mendoza plays drums on this track. “I Gotta Sing The Blues” is followed by “Boogie Bus,” a fun number, one that seems designed to get folks dancing, as a good boogie does. It urges folks to join in the fun. “Tell the driver you want to go/To a funky electric show/Boogie woogie all night long.” This track features some excellent stuff on keys and harmonica. That’s Frank “Cisco” Hinojosa on harmonica.

“Mama’s Blues” is one of the album’s best songs. It features a gorgeous and moving vocal performance by Kelly Zirbes. It was inspired by Kelly hearing her mother singing and crying while listening to records. “What else would I do/If I couldn’t keep singing her blues/It’s my way of healing.” That is an important element in music, an important effect of music, this healing. And it’s something that many folks are seeking. This is also one of the tracks to feature the horn section, which is made up of Bill Johnston on baritone saxophone, Aviva Maloney on alto saxophone, Paulie Cerra on tenor saxophone and alto saxophone, Didier Reyes on trumpet, and Chip Tingle on trombone. And these guys deliver some great stuff. I’m particularly moved by that lead by Paulie Cerra on sax halfway through. That’s followed by another track to feature the horn section, “It Ain’t Always,” an energetic number, one to get people dancing and enjoying themselves. “Just hold me tight, darling/That’s what I need.” Then “Man In The Moon” has cool, laid-back vibe, and features a fantastic vocal performance, with a compelling intimacy. This track also contains nice stuff on keys and bass. And Gary Bivona delivers some absolutely wonderful work on flugelhorn.

“Without You” has a heavier sound, which works well with its subject. It’s a song about the narcissism and dishonesty of the man who wants again to be president of this country. This election is becoming more and more frightening. The Republican Party has chosen as its leader a guy who was convicted of thirty-four felonies, a guy who was found guilty of sexual assault, a guy who sent a mob to attack the U.S. Capitol Building, a guy who stole classified documents and refused to return them, a guy who bragged about sexually assaulting women, a guy who once made a sexual remark about a ten-year-old girl, a guy who has made multiple incestuous remarks about his daughter, a guy who cheated on all three of his wives, a guy who was sued for not allowing black tenants in his buildings, a guy who publicly ridiculed someone because of a disability, a guy who once pushed other world leaders out of his way so that he could get a more prominent position, a guy who has repeatedly praised dictators, a guy who lies as a matter of course. What went so wrong with people that they would eagerly choose that guy? Perhaps the song’s most important line is “We’ll come together without you.” I hope people will come together in November to make sure he does not get back in power. “We won’t hold up your name/And we won’t die in your flames/All you ever want to do/Is ruin everything that’s true/Our future ain’t your story/And you won’t end in glory.” This track has some great guitar work.

The first lines of the next track, “Just Tell Me The Truth,” are “Everything is crazy in the world today/So many people with different things to say/I’m willing to listen, I’ll give it a try/Just be honest with me, don’t waste my time.” Remember honesty? Well, with music like this, truthfulness is not a thing of the past. There is also a wonderful optimism in this music, as well as hope. The music seems to be looking for, and perhaps often finding, the best in people, something many of us have trouble doing these days. This track features the horn section, and some really nice stuff on guitar, including a good lead. Rob Zucca plays guitar on this one. And this track features Aviva Maloney on flute. “We gotta be honest/We gotta be real/Hang onto each other/And find a way to heal.” Again, there is the mention of healing, which this nation desperately needs.

“Blessings” has a delicious mean blues vibe and rhythm, with Kelly Zirbes delivering a more intimate vocal performance at the beginning, before she begins to belt out the lyrics. Everything about this track works so well, and this song is another of the disc’s highlights. There is both power and ache in her voice. “Blessings are born from tears.” There is some cool work on keys, plus some wonderful stuff on guitar. Then “Aces” is a lively number featuring excellent stuff on harmonica. This time it is Tomislav Goluban on harmonica. This fun track also contains a strong rhythm and some nice work on keys. The band wraps up the album with “Love And Understanding,” which has a delightful vibe, and features a wonderful lead on keys in the second half. “Without love and understanding, we’ll never win.”

CD Track List

1. I Gotta Sing The Blues
2. Boogie Bus
3. Mama’s Blues
4. It Ain’t Always
5. Man In The Moon
6. Without You
7. Just Tell Me The Truth
8. Blessings
9. Aces
10. Love And Understanding

The Blues Remind Me was released on July 12, 2024. Kelly Zirbes and I talked about this album on the third episode of my “Dogs Run Free” podcast. If you haven’t heard it, click here.