Americana | Country Blues | Rock
The heavyweight prewar solo guitarists Charlie Patton, Son House, and especially Robert Johnson, receive the lion’s share of attention from contemporary fans. However, string bands with fiddles from the twenties and thirties were enormously popular “back in the day." Their expansive styles are still a joy to hear while also providing a misty window back to the pastoral roots of American music. Multi-instrumentalist and singer Kelly Carmichael embraces both genres with equal facility and boundless enthusiasm, while creating recordings that are likewise relevant and vital in the modern era.
No less amazing is the fact that Carmichael also played guitar in the heavy rock bands Pentagram and Internal Void, with roots in Blue Cheer and Black Sabbath. Born in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and later relocating to Frederick, Maryland in 1980 and heard the recordings of Robert Johnson. Carmichael had found another “calling” and began performing solo in 2001. He released his blues debut Old Stock, in 2005 to rave reviews.
Carmichael’s second offering Queen Fareena on Dogstreet Records in 2009, reveals his continuing mastery of authentic “olde tyme” styles ranging from ragtime to country, “hokum blues” to Delta blues and even a touch of Dixieland jazz. Carmichael sings with wit and expression, picks guitar and banjo, tickles the xylophone and even rattles the bones. Music this uplifting and energizing should be dispensed like a tonic to a grateful public.
by Dave Rubin
Guitar Edge Magazine
In 2018 Carmichael revisited his heavy roots and self produced his 3rd solo release Heavy Heart, featuring Carmichael on electric guitar, vocals, bass and piano while teaming up with Jesse Shultzaberger on drums.
Relocating to Austin TX in 2020, Carmichael is currently wrapping up production on a new album of all original Hard-Country-Blues-Rock.
