Kelly Keeling

"Keeling´s new music will grab your soul with intensity. The power his voice had when performing and recording with heavier rock acts in the past is still prominently evident and is now converted to pure emotion, conveying his poignant life experience in lyrics with astonishing effect. You can hear influences from Coldplay, Jeff Buckley, The Beatles and Temple of the Dog, but Kelly´s own talent in songwriting, vocalizing and instrumental abilities is the real star here." - Music Morsels

"Giving Sight To The Eye" is pure class and without doubt one of the surprises of the year. With this album Kelly Keeling and Mascot records are sitting on gold. - www.lordsofmetal.com

Reviewed by John Kindred
April, 2005

"One is always left to ponder when hearing an artists who takes out on his own, whether he can get the job done by himself or if the musicians that the artists has been surrounded by, help to carry them. Don’t be surprised when you realize that Kelly is the real deal. He is a songwriter who not only excels as a vocalist but is a great musician in his own right. He has crafted some great songs that dabble in many influences but seem always to be based on a blues-rock foundation.
In all, to date this is one of the best CDs of 2005. Giving Sight to the Eye strongly represents well constructed songs and musical ideas that flow, pushes and pulls the lyrical, vocal and instrumental concepts into a melting pot of well balanced and entertaining song constructs that make up this CD. Two thumbs up!!!" - www.hardrockhaven.net

Review by Bud Carr

I saw kelly keeling at the hard rock cafe in Atlanta Ga. The show was booked as Kelly Keeling and sun. But to my surprise when the curtain opened. It was just Kelly piano & keybaords, guitar. Starting with a haunting high piano melody then rocking into A very dramatic Sabbath, Elton John, Lennon, McCartney vibe. He did a song from the new Music Machine album Beware The Vampires that gave me chills. Especially in the chorus. A very haunting scary movie high piano melody, and an opposite to the verse low octave vocal, Beware the vampires chorus. Then Rocking again back into the verses, alone on the piano. Amazing. It was very moving and actually scared me. He then did songs from his new album and a few I had recognized form his catologue.
He later brought on a few guests to do an acoustic set.
Kelly has one of the most amazing voices I have heard able to convey so many emotions. High low, very versitile. Reminding me of Glenn Hughes at times with the power and Gillan with the range. this guy didn't need a band. I don't understand why he isn't a major star. One of the reasons could be because he was behind the scenes in so many popular bands and albums I have in my record collection. Albums I had no idea he was on until this show.
I highly suggest you check out his new album, and see him live. You will not regret it. I feel very privilaged to have experienced a very special night - www.worldofgigs.com

Review by Martien Koolen,
26 February 2005

Finally vocalist and guitar player Kelly Keeling releases his first solo album.
Who the hell is Kelly Keeling, some of you readers might wonder?? Well, here’s some information on this rock/AOR workaholic. K.K., born and raised in Louisiana, was involved in four professional bands in his hometown, namely: Warlock, Tyrant, Trilogy and Castle.
He then became the singer of Baton Rouge , John Sykes’ Blue Murder, The John Norum Band and after doing two albums with Norum he sang on the Carmine Appice’s “Guitar Zeus” CD.
He became the Michael Schenker Group vocalist, and together they made the “Unforgiven” album.
In 2000 KK moved to Stuart Smith's Heaven And Earth and he also did some work with Carmine Appice and Don Dokken.
This guy has seen and done it all… and now he finally releases his debut album as a solo artist, on which he was assisted by Don Dokken, John Norum, Kerry Livgren, Carmine Appice and Roger Daltrey.
On this album KK not only proves how well he can sing (which we already knew), but also what a great guitar player he is. “Giving Sight To The Eyes” has become a real guitar album, mainly due to the fantastic riffs and solos of KK. Right from the opener “Rising Of The Snake” you know that this is a “heavy” album. The song is followed by a rather bluesy rock track where Kelly screams like I have never heard before, and where he plays his guitar like I have never heard before; love it! The third highlight is “Ground Zero”, a Kerry Livgren composition, which clocks over 8 minutes and which could be on any Kansas album or maybe even on the new Proto-Kaw CD. It is a dramatic epic, very diverse, with piano and keys passages and most of all, great melodic guitar solos and superb vocals.
John Norum features in a song called “Nothing”, and his guitar riff makes this one the heaviest song on this album. The speedy solos and the raspy voice on “Nothing” create an extra dimension, making this one my personal favorite. “Hell Is On The Way” is a sleazy, dirty rock and roll kind of song, which is again filled with rather fast guitar solos, and I could go on like this, but I will not….. “Giving Sight To The Eye” is a fantastic album, it is progressive, eccentric, and soulful and it rocks like hell. Keep on rockin’ in the free world. Dude!! - www.rockunited.com

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