February 2007

"Y'all wish Ben (Ellman) a happy birthday," Papa Mali preached to the crowd as he strolled off the stage after a fun set of music.  It was the first night of February at the Theatre of the Living Arts in Philadelphia on its famous South Street.

Tickets go on sale this Saturday, February 10th for the 6th Annual Ponderosa Stomp, the world's only music festival with cult rocker Roky Erickson, master arranger Wardell Quezergue, soul songwriter supreme Dan Penn, rockabilly wild man Dale Hawkins, R&B soprano Little Jimmy Scott, and dozens more rarely seen – and seldom heard – American music legends in its line-up.

Over the years I have found Keller Williams' live shows to be an exciting spectacle of his unique musical talent, full of interesting and catchy songs.  However, I have felt that his studio releases have lacked the same energy and substance.  His vocal style can sometimes be redundant and his signature guitar playing has lost some variation.  With the release of Dream that has all changed, mostly in part to the dream team of artists he assembled to collaborate o