If Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan had two spiritual daughters, they were easily Ms. Liz Melendez and Kelly Richey.
Very strange words indeed. However a fitting analogy when these bands both played at Darwin's in Marietta, GA on the night of May 14, 2005.
It was the brainstorm of Liz Melendez to arrange this guitar summit. For the price of $12.00, listeners would get an audio assault of blooze rock guitar explosions shaking the rafters and reducing the stage at Darwin's to smoldering ash.
For a first time performance at Darwin's, The Kelly Richey Band took no prisoners and barrelhoused their way through a highly amplified set of blues rock that relied on heavy doses of speed. Richey is clearly a blues shred diva who doesn't hold back. The guitar wasn't so much an instrument but a lightning rod channeling mystical powers. Gonzo guitar playing was the norm and tunes like "Brick" and "Leave This Town" saw Richey embodying slash and burn ethics construed as high threat levels to any guitarslinger wanting to go toe to toe with this girl. "Hey Joe" was the perfect Hendrix tribute and Richey playing guitar behind her head pushed the envelope of her showmanship skills and left no stones unturned. There is nothing subtle about Kelly. Her musical attitude is hammer and tongs and God's mercy who gets in the way.
Liz Melendez who has been garnering her own reputation as a serious axe mistress pulled off an admirable set. Like Richey's band, Liz operates a power trio of her own and unfurls six string Strat Magic. Whether she was performing her own material, pulling off a stunning cover of the Allman Brother's "Southbound" or telephoning Carlos Santana with Latino instrumentals, Ms. Melendez willingly leapt through rings of fire. If you are going to follow the Kelly Richey Band, there is no backing down. Liz earned a medal for hot chops.
And the real deal was about to go down.
After Liz' set and a short break, Melendez hooked up with Richey to produce some of the most explosive jamming ever heard at Darwin's. Joining Kelly with her band, the jam session opened up with "Red House" that saw these two dueling it out with their guitars screaming in orgasmic fury. Energy that remained unabated through old standards like "Further On Up The Road" and "Crossroads." Though many in attendance didn't get to see the Cream reunion concerts at the Royal Albert Hall, Clapton surely would have gotten a kick at seeing two young females powerboosting this classic with Fender fire.
The mutual admiration society between Kelly and Liz came to the forefront when Kelly's musicians turned the equipment over to Liz and her gang. Performing the title track "Mercy" from Liz' first cd, Richey caressed a gentle solo that impressed Liz so much that even she was at a loss for words.
And to really emphasize meaning on girls night out on the town, singer Diane Durrett came on stage to belt out "Rock Me Baby" as Liz and Kelly got into call and response mode, interchanging rhythms, leads, and shooting musical dice on the Blues Monopoly Board.
After seeing a night like this can spoil you. The bar has been raised. And I don't know if I could go back to Darwin's anytime soon after witnessing this guitar summit that had two girl guitar players who threw down their gauntlets and proved that blues isn't a territory reserved for men only.
Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan sired two daughters, in the shapes of Liz Melendez and Kelly Richey. I said that earlier didn't I?
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