Last Saturday I attended Blackpool Cricket Club, courtesy of Cowbell Radio, to watch and photograph Las Kellies. The night itself was 7″ of Bliss with DJs Chinny, AP Moran and Percy.
Blackpool was lucky to guest Las Kellies as they started their European tour. The evening was billed as Funk meets Punk and supported by local band, The Blue Waves.
Las Kellies formed in 2005 and originate from Buenos Aires. The album, Kellies, released by Fire Records and mixed by Dennis Bovell (see The Slits, Madness, Fela Kuti), encapsulates Las Kellies, mixing catchy garage sounds with dub and post-punk that has earned them 8/10 in NME and 4/5 in BUZZ.
The band are a three piece, – comprising Ceci Kelly (guitar and vocals), Betty Kelly (bass and vocals) and Sil Kelly (drums and vocals).
Blackpool Cricket Club was busy and as the band started they urged the crowd to step closer, encouraging intimacy to an audience who clearly were interested in the post punk chicks. It kicked off and continued in a strong vein as they covered much of their own material as well as some old favorites like the B52s. The band caused a stir as all the girls in the audience wanted to be them and all the boys wanted to date them. Blackpool was clearly privileged to have such a cool band at such close proximity. The band featured recently on BBC 6 Music and have been covered in established music press such as the NME magazine.
Their new album, Total Exposure, introduces keyboards, synth drums and harmonious vocals. Piccadilly Records website compares their revised sound to Peaking Lights and Massive Attack. Strong dub influences are apparent, perhaps through the influence of Iván Diaz Mathé’s (Ivi Lee), one of the most accomplished reggae-dub producers in Buenos Aires, having worked with the likes of Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry and Mad Professor.
It was a perfect introduction to the forthcoming Alfresco, Blackpool’s regular family friendly music festival.
Photography courtesy of C J Griffiths Photography.
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