Guitarist Steve Kelly has been a fixture in the New Orleans music scene for the last two decades, with a style that blends Americana soul with New Orleans funk.
After a long stint as the front man of the popular New Orleans Band Gravy, Steve has branched out into other projects, including the New Orleans-infused Talking Heads tribute Tchoup Making Sense, and as a solo artist.
How do you approach songwriting and composing on the guitar (e.g., melody first, lyrics first, chord progression)?
From the place of inspiration, wherever that might be. Sometimes it's lyrics, sometimes it's melody, sometimes it's a drum beat, etc.. I just make a point to follow the ideas as they come and always try to follow the better idea. I find that it's better to let the song show you what it wants to be than to to try and force it to be whatever you think it's supposed to be, if that makes sense.
What artists or bands have you been interested in lately?
Sault, The Smile, LCD Soundsystem, Prince, The Wood Brothers, Naughty Professor
What guitarist should everyone know about, and why?
Oh wow that's such a loaded question! Hahaha, man there are so many. Joe Pizzolato - he's just got incredible touch and such an interesting approach to the instrument. Ari Teitel - one of the baddest cats in New Orleans, he's super versatile and can play anything. Same goes for Danny Abel and Max Bronstein, they're mind -blowing in terms of how many things they can do amazingly well. And Ian Neville - one of my favorite players around because he's been taking the ego out of his playing his entire career, playing exactly what the song calls for, but when it's time to step up and rip a solo he will leave your jaw on the floor like where tf did this dude just come from?!
Also gotta give a shout out to Bill Daniel from Naughty Professor, who just absolutely rips and is one of my favorite people to watch and listen to. Chris Adkins from George Porter Jr's bands is another guy who is a monster player and always leaves me trying to figure out what he's playing! The New Orleans guitar community is STRONG.
Outside of New Orleans? Nir Felder and Rick Lollar are two of the most impressive players I've ever seen. Nir has a fluidity to his playing that reminds me of Charlie Parker - just complete and total mastery of his instrument in a way you don't often see in guitar players. And Rick is just a beast of a player who also happens to be a fantastic singer and songwriter and I just love everything he does. I could go on and on and on and on about this stuff hahaha, sorry!
What's the best advice you've ever been given?
Just keep playing. And you can't play your guitar if it's in the case..
What is one piece of gear your can't live without?
Right now it's my Fractal Audio FM9. It's been a game changer.
How do you manage stage presence and audience engagement during a live show?
That's one of those things that just has to come naturally. For me, personally, it's about out-working any self doubt so that I'm feeling confident and comfortable on stage so it's more like just having a convo with people in your living room. And a tiny bit of tequila never hurts.
What's the best piece of advice you have for other guitar players?
Listen to musicians other than guitarists. I love transcribing horn lines or keys parts, you can learn so much by listening to people on other instruments and how they approach them. Vocalists too, for that matter. Just keep your ears open!
What are the most effective ways you've found to market yourself or your band?
Hmm, that's a tough one. For me, I just try to make a point to be genuine and honest at all times, to just always be myself. If you're trying too hard to be one thing or another it tends to come through and people can sense that kinda thing. So I just try to be myself and let the rest take care of itself.
What does your guitar practice routine look like?
Not nearly as disciplined as it should be, at the moment honestly. I've been so slammed with releasing my solo record, "Here's The Thing", as well as writing stuff for other people that I've been neglecting the academic approach to practicing. I've been shedding tunes for gigs and that sorta thing but I need to get back into a regular routine of reinforcing existing knowledge and expanding that knowledge intentionally.
What's your favorite book (doesn't have to be music-related)?
Confederacy Of Dunces
What musical skills have had the biggest impact on your playing?
My ears - I have a learning disability that makes sight-reading almost impossible so even in high school I was learning full marching band scores by ear and memorizing them. Numbers don't make sense in my head so a lot of music theory is easier for me to comprehend by memorizing the sound of something than it is to understand the math behind it.
What's an album (or albums) all guitar players need to hear?
Miles Davis - Kind of Blue
Pink Floyd - Animals
Donny Hathaway - Live
Radiohead - The Bends
Allman Brothers - Fillmore East
What's you're favorite practice technique that would help other guitarists?
Hmm, spider exercises maybe? I'm always trying to improve my fundamentals and make sure I've got the little things right. As a self-taught guitarist I picked up so many bad habits over the years, most of the work I've done seems to be in correcting those bad habits and trying to re-train myself to have better posture, positioning, placement, etc..
Is there a specific guitar book, course, or teacher you'd recommend?
Whichever one speaks to you in a way that makes more sense than others. Everyone is so different, learning how you learn and finding the right solution for feeding that knowledge is clutch, but it's also a very personal journey that people kinda have to find for themselves because what works for me might not work for you and vice versa.
Who are your biggest influences, and how have they shaped your playing style?
My favorite players have always been the people who you know who it is just by hearing a few notes of their playing. David Gilmour with his incredibly lyrical approach. Prince with his minimalism and efficiency. Jonny Greenwood with his exploration and emotion. Leo Nocentelli with his hybrid rhythm/lead playing. Jerry Garcia with his philosophy and smile. Jimi with his swagger. This could be a huge list, TBH. This is pretty much my Mt. Rushmore of guitar though.
If you had to pick one desert-island album, what would it be?
Babylon By Bus - Bob Marley
What advice would you give to someone just starting out on guitar?
Just keep playing. Keep finding the things that turn you on. Enjoy and appreciate the struggle, because that's what makes you better. Focus on the process, not the results and you'll always end up happy.
How do you stay motivated to keep improving as a guitarist?
By listening to others.
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