[Cover photo credit to Cole Ferguson (@coleferguson)]
New Orleans-based guitarist and vocalist Steve Kelly has channeled some difficult and life-threatening experiences into his 8-track debut solo album, Here’s the Thing. Kelly’s songwriting explores “life’s cycles, candid struggles with mental health and the perils and pitfalls of substance abuse and addiction” and more, while assuming a hopeful attitude.
The record will be available via Regime Music Group in February 2025. Now, audiences can get a taste of what’s to come with the release of the lead single “How Are We Here Again.”
In 2015, Kelly started working with Robert Mercurio and Ben Ellman of Galactic on a record with the band Gravy, of which Kelly was a founding member. With a new manager, new agent, and new record under their belts, tragedy struck and Kelly was hit by a drunk driver. Kelly broke his pelvis, leg, ribs, nose, and ankle, spending a week in the hospital and over four months at home recovering.
Upon recovering, he learned that their new agent had gone MIA, the manager didn’t have the bandwidth to uphold both his duties & booking, and the rest of the band was ready to pursue new directions in their lives. With the band fizzling out, and major life changes happening in his home and personal life, Kelly opted for embracing change.
After many more adventures and pivots, he began working with friends on his debut album.
Having worked together on several projects over the years, Kelly brought these new songs to longtime collaborator Robert Mercurio.
Kelly shares:
What started as a way to work with my friends, put some money back into the local economy at a pivotal time, and work out a few ideas turned into one of the most fulfilling musical endeavors of my life. This record was an incredibly collaborative project, with several different musicians on almost every track—it’s a veritable who’s who of local and national players that I get to work with and call my friends. And I think all of that comes through in the music on this record, that we’re all honestly just pals in the studio goofing off and trying different ideas.
Musicians on Here’s The Thing include Kevin Scott (Govt. Mule), Isaac Eady (Tedeschi Trucks Band), Stanton Moore & Robert Mercurio (Galactic), Gabrielle Cavassa (Joshua Redman), Andriu Yanovski (The Rumble, Boogie T.Rio), Anjelika “Jelly” Joseph (Galactic, Tank & The Bangas), Josh Kagler (Galactic, Irma Thomas), Noah Young (Naughty Professor), Sam Kuslan (Slugger), Andrew Block (Gramatik), Scott Graves (J. & The Causeways), Kelly Pratt (David Byrne & St. Vincent, Father John Misty, Arcade Fire) and more.
