By Andrew FickesOn Jan. 25 at Neumo’s on Capital Hill, Guy Keltner’s scorching garage blues rock band Fox and the Law did not disappoint.
The Wednesday night show was the first introduction to the 2012 version of Fox and the Law.
This quartet has gained a lot of heft and weight and raw power in the way of its music mastery of the blues rock American Songbook, while delivering original song after original song to the audience laced with a definite Seattle flair.
Keltner is an unabashed fan of Detroit garage rock titan Jack White. The more I watch Keltner, the more I see that Jack White wild abandon come out of him. But it’s not something Keltner is simply recycling; he’s making it his own.
Like White, Keltner, too, is a very resourceful musician with a “take no prisoners” mentality to song craft.
Before long, Keltner will be a household name in Seattle and soon across the national music industry.
Some day soon, Fox and his Law will be destined for the Grammy for “Best New Artist.”
This is what rock ‘n’ roll needs right now. A resurgence of rock ‘n’ roll ethos and DIY work ethics.
Keltner is an artist still in his 20s but who clearly, already, owns the stage. I had a kick watching Keltner belt his heart out on the Neumo’s stage. From quite a ways back, I could still visibly see the thick veins on his neck pulsate and flex as he stretched his vocal chords to the limit in order to deliver the purest and most refined product possible. And the audience, in turn, ate it up like a homestyle cooked meal.
While Keltner can clearly hold his own and has passed the audition, his music partners (the Law) are equally awesome. Ryan on guitar provides great support and beautiful blues rock layers to Keltner’s guitar. Ryan’s vocals, equally, provide a pleasing balance to Keltner’s more raucous vocals. On bass, Patrick keeps it all together with stylish licks and solid foundations. And Dan on drums cuts through it all with striking fills.
Fox and the Law will soon release a debut full length album, produced by Martin Feveyear of Jupiter Studios. And in the spring, they will make the journey again to SXSW in Austin.
Stay tuned for what this band has in store coming up, which includes a documentary and a possible spot on the NBC Seattle affiliate following SNL on Saturday night. No matter how you look at it, there is no denying. Fox and the Law are blowing up—Big Time!
PHOTO CREDIT: RAY SPADDY
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