The Kellys kicking off ‘World Tour’
Thursday, February 23, 2006
Tribune Chronicle
By Andy Gray
It’s too early to tell where The Kellys’ “World Tour” may end, but it starts in the Mahoning Valley.
The Warren-area band has several CD release parties planned for its second release, “On the World Tour.”
The band has seen several changes since the release of 2004’s “Greatest Hits,” including a 50 percent change in the lineup.
Lead singer Kelly McCracken and bass player Moe Angelo now are joined by Joel DeGenova on guitar and the singularly named Civ on drums.
“My bass player Moe and I struggled for a little bit, losing a guitar player, then losing a drummer,”
McCracken said. “Joel and Civ just fell into our laps one day, and I couldn’t ask for more.
(They bring) creativity, for sure, and drive.
Joel has been in bands for years, and all he’s ever wanted is to be in a band an be secure in it, and know that we’re booking shows and moving forward.”
“On the World Tour” features eight rock songs, most of which are built around McCracken’s powerhouse voice.
She said each band member contributes in the songwriting process with her lyrics and vocals usually as the final component.
Some of the songs date back to earlier incarnations of the band, and others are more recent, but all have been audience-tested at The Kellys’ local gigs.
“‘Blink’ is going to be the No. 1 played song,” McCracken said. “We have it up on a few sites on the Internet already.
“We have a few slower songs on there that people will love too, but we don’t want to come out with the slow songs first.”
The Kellys are using its own Web site (thekellysmusic.com) and its MySpace site (myspace.com/thekellys) to promote the record, and the band started its own label, Rukus, to distribute the CD.
The first of three scheduled CD release parties is planned Friday at Cedars Lounge in Youngstown, where The Kellys will perform with The Cheats and Beefist.
Other CD release parties are planned March 4 at Club 441 in downtown Warren and March 10 at Crest Entertainment Center in Warren.
Last year the group traveled to Memphis, Tenn., where it finished third in a national Roots of Rock Band Battle sponsored by Jillian’s, and McCracken said the band hopes to expand its reach with more shows outside of the area.
“Everybody in the band is willing to go anywhere we have to,” McCracken said. “We just want to get it out there.”