From the opening "I've Got in' On My Mind" to the final notes of the "Purple Haze" finale, one thing is immediately evident and that is that Kelly Richey is one hot guitar player.
She ably proved that on September 11 at The Rudyard Kipling where she rocked into the night with the assistance of bassman Chuck Martin and drummer Chris Dile.
A native of Lexington, Richey has been earning a well-deserved reputation for her guitar work,\which she first showed off with an original treatment of the Cream standard, "Crossroads," containing a frenetic guitar break that was sorta George Benson-mellow at 78 r.p.m.
Martin demonstrated his vocal expertise with "Full Moon Baby," then Richey was back with Hendrix' "Red House," where I heard influences of Jimi, Duane and Stevie Ray, as well as her own flash.
After "Baby's Got a Black Cat Bone," "Mean Old World" and "Don't Touch Me," with Martin vocalizing, they did an original song, "Turn to Stone," which had some impressive hesitation bass during its instrumental break.
"Travelin'," another original and a rock 'n' roll medley consisting of "That's Alright, Mama" segueing into "Whole Lotta Shakin', segueing back to "That's Alright..." ended the set.
The second set consisted of the same mix as the first with songs by Clapton and Mayall as well as classics like "Farther On Up the Road" and "Serves You Right to Suffer," before concluding with an inspired "All Along the Watchtower," Hendrix' version of the National Anthem and "Purple Haze."
The Kelly Richey Band provided an evening of danceable entertainment, with fine vocals, flashy, sometime-pyrotechnic guitar, solid bass thumping and a drummer who does what he should — keeps the beat and lays a solid foundation.
The band will be doing some more gigs in area clubs, so get out there and give a listen.