Music
Press
Kevin Conley and the Blue Tornados "Walk In Love"
June 2007
“Their playing is crisp and crackles with expression.”
What we have here is the debut album by Kevin Conley and The Blue Tornados, a Northern California band that pays visible homage to the roots of rock and roll, while coincidently possessing the smarts to sling refreshing thoughts and ideas onto the canvas.
The title track of the disc mines a dreamy, soulful domain that immediately tells us the magic of Motown artists like The Temptations and Smokey Robinson and The Miracles has not been lost on this banner band. Navigated by steamy funk flavorings, "She's My Whole World" and "Inside or Outside Your Love" channels the ghost of Stevie Ray Vaughan to monumental effects. The guitar playing is fat and fluid and the vocals are incredibly passionate and assured. Professional and rehearsed but flexible enough to be earthy and earnest, Kevin Conley and the Blue Tornados are taut and constantly attuned to each other. Their playing is crisp and crackles with expression. The purring hum of a keyboard is also a prominent factor, which furnishes the band’s well-written and structured material with an occasional moody touch. Sporting an agreeable assortment of soul, blues, funk, pure rock and roll and even a splash of reggae, "Walk in Love" has something for everybody, no matter what their musical tastes may be. By all means, Kevin Conley and the Blue Tornados is a band to watch for.
Beverly Paterson
http://www.lancerecords.com/news2.htm#d
- Lancer Records
“A promising debut. Sounds like a breath of fresh air. One of the most original and captivating new releases. Conley is one of those rare artists whose work truly defies categorization.”
Mike McDowell, Editor/Publisher, Blitz Magazine
- Blitz Magazine
“This CD is absolutely FANTASTIC! Kevin's Music really sticks in your head. I really think his music is at the Major League Level. A fine piece of work. One of the best CD's in ages. Definitely something here to be proud of.”
Bob Wence The E-Types
- Bob Wence, The E-Types
“Great out of the gate. The first song just grabs you. Great guitar tones, too. This is CD of the month at Red Barn Studios.”
Stevie Heger, Producer, Engineer for Beach Boy Al Jardine
- Stevie Heger
Discography
Kevin Conley-Walk In Love
Photos
Bio
Kevin Conley and Steve Vigil have formed a new charity fund for underprivileged children and will donate a portion of CD sales from “Walk In Love”. Two years in the making, “Walk In Love” has 15 original compositions by Kevin Conley and The Blue Tornados, and utilizes some of the areas finest musical talent. Kevin Conley wants help at-risk children realize their potential by making music a choice in their lives, rather than drugs and violence.
Kevin Conley and The Blue Tornados originated in Los Angeles, but has been based in Watsonville for the past 15 years. Since locating to Watsonville, the youth-crime situation had become alarming: gangs, drugs and law-breaking are at an all time high. After working the club scene in the area for several years, the band sought a more meaningful use for their music. All they had to do was look out the front door, or read the paper: kids were at risk of gangs and criminals looking to victimize them.
The band decided to concentrate on writing and recording songs, with the intention of using sales money to “rescue children with music”. The title track, “Walk In Love”, is an inspirational song hoping to incite an embracing of our diversity, and a call for brotherly love within our community. Another song, “Slot Machine of Life”, is meant to inspire our young people to think before marching off to war. The final track, “We Need Justice”, is a call to leaders to take responsibility for their positions, and to protect us all from social injustice.
A collaborative effort, the CD Walk In Love runs stylistically between old-school R&B, Blues and psychedelic rock. Mike McDowell, Editor/Publisher of Blitz Magazine, an online music magazine offers praise for Walk In Love: “Sounds like a breath of fresh air.” Beverly Paterson of Lance Monthly had this to say about the music: “The disc mines a dreamy, soulful domain. The guitar playing is fat and fluid. The vocals are incredibly passionate and assured. Refreshing thoughts and ideas.”
With the help of his Executive Producer, Steve Vigil, Kevin has been able to realize his vision of having his music transcend the listening experience to become a fabric of the community. “There’s something about music that seems to bridge the gaps, and heal the wounds,” says Kevin. With the creation of the new charity fund, Mothers Children, a portion of CD sales can be used to help fund music education for at-risk youth. The two will combine their own contributions to start the fund, and add to it as sales of Walk In Love increase, as well as a portion of proceeds from live performances.
Joining Kevin in co-production of Walk In Love is bassist, vocalist and producer Paul Logan. Multi-instrumentalist Will Leuschner collaborated on arrangements, as well as contributing drums and harmonies. His daughter Lisa Leuschner, a finalist on American Idol, contributes some searing vocals. Otis Coen contributed keyboard work, and Fenton Murray plays Organ. Eric Gunn and Charley Hatley play drums on several tracks. Britons Dave Cartwright and Howard Woolley added guitar and keyboards to one tune. Kevin’s brother Steve contributed all Saxophones. Three of the songs were recorded in Los Angeles at an earlier date, with Australian drummer extraordinaire Dave Plenty, who also helped produce those songs.
Contact Kevin Conley and The Blue Tornados.
The CD is available on CD Baby, www.cdbaby.com. , or itunes, and is also available by contacting Kevin Conley and The Blue Tornados at (831) 768-8348, or by sending and email to straituprecords@aol.com. The band’s website is www.thebluetornados.com. Upcoming local performances are planned, as well as Television and Radio appearances.
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