Keller Williams creates good vibes at Infinity Hall

Submitted by Abby Wood on September 14, 2010 - 9:56am

Keller Williams

Infinity Hall & Bistro

Norfolk, CT

September 12, 2010

Keller Williams served up a heaping helping of his jam-rocking, humorous tunes Sunday night at the Infinity Music Hall & Bistro in Norfolk, Connecticut, which blended nicely with the lovely aromas drifting down from the bistro’s coveted mezzanine seats.

The cozy hall was definitely a perfect setting for Keller, whose music thrives best when experienced in an intimate performance space—the kind of spaces we are so lucky to have an abundance of in the Berkshires. He acknowledged this halfway through the show when he paused and said, “It’s places like this that make my job so incredibly awesome.”

If you’ve never heard Keller Williams before, he is (quite literally) a one-man jam band, with a side of mash-up artist tossed in for good measure. This makes his live performances quite intriguing and entertaining to watch, even if you are not a fan of jam band music. Using a technique called looping, he melds together layers upon of layers of musical lines, crafting a full-force jam session live right before of your eyes.

Keller had a rather stripped-down selection of instruments on stage compared to his usual set-up, probably to accommodate the small space. He jumped back and forth between three guitars and one bass (with one strapped to him, one set up behind, and two on stands set at just the right height for him to walk up and begin spontaneous play), a drum machine, and an assortment of electronic gadgets and auxiliary percussion.

Using distortion and digital technology, Keller Williams can make pretty much any sound come out of his guitar strings—at one point, he emulated playing a flute through the neck of his guitar as the stings magically sent forth the sound of the woodwind.

Keller’s catalog of songs from over the years consists heavily of clever, fun lyrics that tell some ridiculous story about life on the road or poke fun at life’s every day, mundane events. His set at Infinity Hall included favorites “Kidney in a Cooler” and “Freeker by the Speaker.” He even premiered a tune from his upcoming children’s album, Kids, appropriately titled “Mama Tooted”; and “Can’t Shit on the Kings,” a parody taking a jab at rock band Kings of Leon for their July 2010 departure from a outdoor concert after just three songs because pigeons were defecating on the bassist from the rafters, was a pleasant (and hilarious) surprise.

Keller also whipped up a nice collection of random cover songs, another usual occurrence at his live shows. He offered beefed-up acoustic versions of the Stone Temple Pilots, the 1990s staple “Sex and Candy” by Marcy Playground, and Amy Winehouse’s “Rehab.” He ended the night with an encore performance of his own “Boob Job,” a definite crowd-pleaser.

He may not have the most impressive singing voice you’ve ever heard, but the other sounds that come out of his mouth are incredible. Keller is a skat-tastic, beat-boxing, instrument-imitating machine. Drums? Check. Cymbals? Check. Heck, how about an Australian didgeridoo? Check. Whatever instruments Keller can’t make come out of his guitars, he’ll create on his own. His most frequent mouth-instrument is the trumpet. For a taste of his talent, take a listen to his version of the Pink Panther theme here (there are no real instruments used in this recording, only Keller’s own voice).

Keller is also one of the most expressive guitar players I have ever seen. Each song is a physical performance—he dances, twirls around the stage, and tells a story with his facial expressions. It’s like watching a kid in a candy store as he skips around the stage from instrument to instrument, figuring out what cool sound he can create next. He is genuinely enjoying what he is doing, and it shows; this is what keeps his audience so engaged.

Keller Williams is just plain entertaining to hear and watch live, period. What it comes down to is that he simply produces feel-good music and a feel-really good atmosphere. Pair that together with a beautiful, intimate hall in the Berkshires, and you’ve got yourself a winning combination.

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