Music Review: Kel Elliott & Her Three-Man Orchestra presents ‘Truth and Tall Tales’ – Trinity Centre, Lickey
Although missing the intro and opening song (a Good Samaritan’s trip to Kidderminster Hospital), I was nevertheless fully sated when the metaphorical curtain came down on this third offering by the Lickey Community Group, a joint venture between two parish councils.
As I had arrived a tad late (reasonable excuse already tendered), it wasn’t until the feisty Kel Elliott stepped away from her double bass that I spotted her cultivating 34-week bump; apparently number three in the current series. However, this small matter hadn’t foreshortened the full commitment to her set.
Well and truly supported by her three boys, the description of Kel as a “sassy double-bass playing singer” isn’t the half of it. Adding a generous helping of “songwriter/lyrics maestra” may approach the truth.
Speaking of which, the evening was entitled Truth and Tall Tales, with the songs book-ended by captivating stories. Tall, or otherwise, they were highly amusing and included bubble bath solution and everyone’s favourite woolly farm animal (sheep).
Later, I confronted Kelvin, Kel’s songwriter-collaborator and the chief bearer of all things daft, specifically about a yarn about his granddad.
Having discovering an old tape recording of him singing, it was used to accompany the band in Wheeziana. The very “Cholmondley-Warner” voice seemed too perfect to be real, but I was categorically assured that it was 100 per cent genuine.
Joining Kel on stage was Kelvin on everything, Adam on practically-everything and Alex on whatever was left – their instruments included saxophone, sousaphone, keyboard, accordion, drums, flute/piccolo-thingy, electric guitar and a ukulele.
Even the washboard with fully-working bicycle bell and invisible horn was a riot.
Wonderful stuff – it’s just a pity it was only experienced by an “intimate” audience. More publicity and more seats filled, please!
Review by Keith Woolford