Tour Dates

09/11 Madison, WI – High Noon Saloon
09/12 Ames, IA – Maximum Ames Music
09/13 Chicago, IL – Thalia Hall
09/14 Cleveland, OH – Happy Dog
09/15 Buffalo, NY – Mohawk Place #
09/16 Toronto, ON – Adelaide Hall
09/17 Montreal, QC – Pop Montreal
09/18 Boston, MA – Great Scott
09/20 Woodstock, NY – Bearsville Theater
09/22 Washington, DC – U Street Music Hall
09/23 Columbus, OH – LC Pavilion
09/24 Royal Oak, MI Roal Oak Music Theatre
09/25 Rochester, NY – Anthology
09/27 Philadelphia, PA – Johnny Brenda’s
09/28 Baltimore, MD – Ram’s Head Live
09/29 Raleigh, NC – The Ritz
09/30 Athens, GA – Georgia Theatre
10/01 Birmingham, AL – Iron City
10/02 Jackson, MS – Duling Hall
10/12 Tucson, AZ – Rialto Theatre
10/15 Las Vegas, NV – Boulevard Pool
10/16 Los Angeles, CA – Wiltern Theatre
10/17 Los Angeles, CA – Wiltern Theatre
10/18-10/19 Treasure Island Music Festival
11/06-11/08 Austin, TX – Fun Fun Fun Fest

Emmett Kelly proves that you can’t judge a book by its jangle-pop cover. Who knew that this skinny fellow with a mop-top haircut had chops that could put Yngwie Malmsteen to shame? Last night at the Turf Club, Kelly and his band The Cairo Gang played an hour of blissed-out songs before he jumped ship with drummer Marc Riordan and joined headliner Mikal Cronin’s band for a set that definitely thrilled and melted a few faces, too.

The Cairo Gang took to the stage single-file and instantly stirred the folk-rock kettle, highlighting tracks from the band’s newest album Goes Missing (Drag City). Kelly, equipped with a sweet Rickenbacker 360, was assisted by Riordan (who was probably the night’s VIP) bassist Ryan Weinstein, and new member, guitarist Jeff Harms. The band said little, but there was plenty of grinning going on. With all the warmth and color pumping out of that Rickenbacker you would really have to fight to keep a scowl on your face. Though the Cairo Gang’s catalogue reference a vintage 60s sound, there were plenty of tunes that had faster, punchier tempos and one that would have fit in on a Psychedelic Furs album (the song that Harms wrote). And maybe I’m crazy, but I swear they did a cover of the Descendants’ “She Don’t Care.” Did I hear that right? Did that actually happen?

Also I’d like to note that Kelly is wise to put a percussive giant like Riordan behind the kits. A lesser drummer would have gotten swallowed up by the kaleidoscopic melodies, but Riordan pounded through and anchored the songs with each powerful strike. He provided a solid structure for the guitars to play on.

Although Mikal Cronin has worked with the king of noisy psychedelia, Ty Segall, Cronin’s own solo output has been more of a teenage dream than teenage wasteland. Cronin’s songs are energetic and unabashedly jubilant; they sprout legs and jump around and cast quite a spell. From the moment the first song, “Turn Around,” the opening number from the recently dropped MCIII (Merge Records), came crashing out of the amps, fans were dancing all over the place and shouting their adoration. Cronin has an excellent live band (Casey Hanson on keyboards and Mike Anderson on bass) that was made even better with the addition of Riordan and Kelly, the latter really blowing my mind with a guitar prowess I can only describe as “wicked.” While Cronin wailed passionately into the mic and the band doled out exciting and dynamic surf-rock, Kelly slid and pounded his fingers along the guitar strings like he was in a speed metal band. Midway through one tune, Kelly dropped his guitar pick and in one fluid motion he fell to his knees, recovered the pick and was back to drilling out some insane solo.

Mikal Cronin is a must-see performer with serious talent and with the release of MCIII he’s being rightfully showered with accolades (you should go out the band’s May performance over at KEXP). But honestly, I walked away from the gig thinking I can’t wait to watch Emmett Kelly shred again!