Keller Williams Lands in GJ

Walking On The Moving Sidewalk      At The Airport      Moving Faster Than Everybody Else    Walking On The Moving Sidewalk         At The Airport      Just Like Life     The Left Side Is For Passing      Put The Pedal To The Metal And My Head Flew Back    Pedal To The Metal And My Fair Flew Back   Put The Pedal To The Metal And My Head Flew Back    Pedal To The Metal And My Fair Flew Back    Walking On The Moving Sidewalk     At The Airport     Suitcase On Wheels In Tow , Close Behind    Walking On The Moving Sidewalk     At The Airpot     Please Step To The Right   Right Side Is For Standing 

Keller Williams 

Home 2003 

FOLLOWING:

First time I crossed paths with Keller , he was dancing next to a lobby speaker in Las Vegas at the Thomas Mac Arena. The String Cheese Incident were about to perform their most legendary concert on Hula-ween 2003. That Hula-Ween  Freak-IN-Convention stands the bar of time for all who were lucky enough to have been in attendance. Pretty sure that show will be my #1 Cheese show on that list that doesn't appear anywhere of my top five Cheese shows. Anyway , Keller was dressed as the "Freaker" by the speaker stacks and was handing out painted car keys. You know , your own personal key to freak freely. SCI Baby 

The Cheese obviously blew my mind during that first set. Opening the show with Shel Silverstien's Freakers Ball was astonishing. And here comes Keller Williams covering Ani DiFranco's Freakshow on the hand drum only to open the spellbinding second set. The Cheese immediately bring the vibes of Being for the Benefit of Mr Kite while Keller methodically smacks the Sh*T out of that djiemde drum. Now , never hearing of Nelly , The Cheese in full on funky jam back up mode , Keller begins singing Hot In Herre. I highly recommend clicking HERE and have a listen to 'in Herre'. while you continue to read along. Or , if Nelly isn't your jam , click HERE and listen to Pink Floyd's Instrumental Money Jam while you read away. Then the Colorado Famous Liza Oxnard roller-skates out to let us all have it during Ozzy's War Pigs with The Cheese playing a dark A$$ nasty version of the song. I have never heard anyone since cover War Pigs by Black Sabbath like this collaboration did that night. Oh , and the videos on the three long screens behind the band were flipping outrageous. Burning Man meets Robot Chicken meets Historical Events meets Rodeo Clowns meets UFOs. Mind Bending 

October 31st 2003 ( Yes , the CD above is still wrapped in its original plastic ) and November 1st 2003 hooked me good and touring was on my radar for the next 15 years. Not just touring with The Cheese but all the Jam Bands from Radio City Music Hall in The Big Apple to the Convention Center in San Fran. Every venue here in Colorado during that time frame for sure. Those stunning three night runs at Red Rocks with The Panic , floating rivers with New Monsoon & Yonder , to late night super groups in T-ride , Salt Lake City , Chi-Town , San Diego , Madison Square Gardens , Santa Fe New Mexico , Greenville South Carolina , and the night we ( The Blue Z & I ) snuck up to the VIP Lounge at the Hard Rock Casino in Vegas to witness Jason Hann joining The Cheese officially. Spent something like 5 back to back August shows at the Mishawka with Moe for the lead singer Rob's birthday. Sure wish I could produce all of those ticket stubs from back then. Souvenirs 

Anyway , it was rather difficult to comprehend the news when this show was announced that Keller would be playing the Mesa Theater. He previously played in Palisade with The Keels ( I still have those photos from the rail on my phone ) during the Palisade Bluegrass Festival years ago. But his first performance here in GJ??  And I Was Stoked 

This barefooted bard middle aged looper rolled out onto the stage finessing a skateboard around the stage for the Sunday night crowd. Keller toggles from acoustic guitar to electric bass to a righteous drum pad that is obviously way easy on his hands. The first set was a crowd pleaser as a majority of the concert goers knew the lyrics to those covers , I was thrilled beyond all words when he busted out an instrumental looping phase for gradually morphing into Moving Sidewalks , and then smoothly transitioned into The Grateful Dead's Sugaree , Chad "Gravy" Graves joined Williams. I knew nothing of this cat on the Dobro but he brought a new dimension to Keller's already multitalented sounds. Bitchin 

The second set topped the first set in every way shape and form. Keller rocked out all the recognizable tunes from long ago. Gravy joined Williams for FREAKSHOW by Ani DiFranco and basslines created by the late Phil Lesh. These two honored The Grateful Dead in a magical way without overplaying or loosing touch with the atmosphere or us standing there in awe. Freaker by the Speaker , Doobie in my Pocket , and a heartfelt Freshies made the cut for a Sunday night. Bad A$$

Another moment for me was his latest rendition of Gatecrashers!! The photo below is when he was singing this song and I couldn't even begin to put a number on how many times I have heard this song live by Keller. But on this night , he mentioned the Peace and Love attitude , how he really isn't mad anymore , and how he was able to incorporate the audience participation along for the ride. "Just the ladies" - "Just the boys" - Just the right side of the room" - "Now you all on the rail" - "Now just whistle along" 

Thankfully for all of us old timers , this show was an early 8pm start , an hour and five minutes first set , a 22 minute set break , and an hour and twenty-seven minute second set including an encore. And for the life of me , showing my age , do not recall what the Encore song was. No Clue 

But I know I throughly enjoyed that last tune. I most likely sang along. Pretty sure I even yelled out. Willing to bet that I shouted ," Love You Keller." Technically , I believe that it was ,"GJ loves you Keller." Who Knows 

Thank You Keller AND PLEASE COME BACK ,

Cheers