To Dwell in Keller’s Cellar — Thoughts on Keller Williams

You've got your legendary musical storytellers; Dylan, Cash, Byrne - each expertly crafting sonic experiences - rollercoaster rides - for their listeners.

But then you've also got Keller Williams - an absolutely silly and brilliant storyteller by way of intricate looping and funky, funky basslines. Like Dylan and Cash, his stories are relatable, though in an entirely different way; his stories are comprised of lost baggage at the airport, missing his wife while on tour to pay mortgage, learning to hula hoop, and at times, forgetting his mantra.

Raw, unembellished, beautiful snapshots into daily moments - reminders to look around you, find a way to appreciate the shit life will throw at you, embrace utter wackiness - this, I think, is what he preaches. That's why I love Keller Williams. That's why, months and months ago when Keller announced his 2024 west coast tour which included four NorCal dates, I made peace with poverty for the sake of a one-man loop-de-loop goofball genius and purchased tickets for all four shows - I'd figure out the details later, I reassured. myself.

Later, it just so happens, is right the fuck now. As I pull together last-minute hotel bookings and train tickets (we won't be driving for any part of our four-day Keller cruise), I am forced to pause for a moment to consider: why? Why are we catching trains at 7 in the god damn morning to trek to another small venue to see some guy who's always barefoot spin in circles, looping sound over sound over feelings - feelings of literally every and any importance.

I don't remember when I first discovered Keller - probably happened upon him at some small east-coast festival, maybe Floydfest. According to my Concert Archives (which I will consistently yell at all my concert-going friends to sign up for, it's the best concert-tracker I've yet come across), my first KW show was at a small and short-lived music festival in Maryland - LunaLight Festival - in 2015. I can neither confirm nor deny the accuracy of this due to... the general goings-ons at a music festival, but it sounds about right.

Way more importantly, the best KW show I've witnessed took place at the ole Terrapin Crossroads venue; Keller's joyful voice and twangy melodies were, and I swear, part of the air whirling above the swaying crowd. This was, sadly, at a time before I began making attempts at keeping set lists, so I certainly can no longer provide an accurate concert review (not that I'd say I do so anyway), but I do remember the feeling of my soul soaring through a cover of Talking Heads' "Home (Naive Melody)", as well as the feeling of a soul exposed, aching and raw during an original, "The Big One."

A slight tangent - not that there's a general thesis here - but worth a pause to note that this was my first time hearing "The Big One." This is significant only because it, in part, introduced me to the other Keller, the perhaps depressed, distressed, messy versions of our otherwise silly, smiley selves. If you're not familiar, give "The Big One" a listen - in comparison to, perhaps, "Doobie in My Pocket" if you're new and need a baseline - and recognize that Keller is not and should not be the picture of a life lived sans care or worry.

For further raw Keller content, allow me to recommend his interview on the most wonderful podcast, No Simple Road, during which he opens up about identifying as absolutely, unquestionably devoted to the art of live music during a time it literally was not an option (smack-dab in the midst of covid). What ensues? Listen to the interview, really - but it can be safely assumed that covid-Keller was not the wacky dude I'd met in his albums prior.

And that is another reason why I love Keller Williams - he recognizes pain, doesn't deny depression, but chooses to expend his energy embracing empathy, tiny little silly moments of life, being in love, living a life full of dogs and loved ones and trips to the beach and... damnit, still, lost luggage.

For kicks, here's a few potato-quality videos I snagged from Keller's show at Terrapin Crossroads (which also happened to be one of the last shows held at the infamous venue), not that they convey the Keller experience. I'll try harder during this NorCal run, promise.