Friday nights in College Park usually follow the same predictable pattern of beer, bars and boogying. So it’s a nice change of pace to welcome singer-songwriter Josh Kelley to Santa Fe Cafe tonight.
Kelley’s latest musical endeavor, Just Say the Word, was entirely written, performed and produced by the artist, raising Kelley’s status as one of pop music’s most multifaceted performers.
Just Say the Word, Kelley’s third album, is a diverse collection of musical styles, ranging from catchy pop tunes, twangy bluegrass instrumentals and soulful blues crooning. The album has already spawned “Pop Game,” an upbeat hit commenting on America’s obsession with meaningless celebrities (Paris Hilton, anyone?).
Georgia native Kelley broke on to the pop music scene with his debut album, 2003’s For the Ride Home. The album’s biggest hit, the infectious “Amazing,” became a top-five chart smash and is still on constant rotation at radio stations around the country. The album also produced the top-10 hit “Everybody Wants You.” After a string of hits like that, it seems like everybody does want Kelley.
After a short hiatus (Kelley left Mississippi for Los Angeles, although the Southern influence can still be heard in much of his music), Kelley released his sophomore effort, 2005’s Almost Honest.
The album received accolades from across the music scene, proving that the “sophomore slump” doesn’t always hold true.
Entertainment Weekly called Almost Honest, “soulful, folk-informed, and unflaggingly melodic,” while People magazine dubbed Kelley, “the real deal, a genuine talent who brings sincere emotion to his straight-forward pop rock.”
Just Say the Word was prereleased in June and became an instant iTunes hit. Kelley’s first independently produced record is, he said recently, “a direct reflection of my growth. I had a vision for this record and finally there was only one cook in the kitchen.”
Despite his efforts to be a “non-celebrity” celebrity, Kelley has lately found himself in the gossip magazines playing the “Pop Game” after becoming engaged to Grey’s Anatomy star Katherine Heigl.
You’re sure to hear “Amazing,” “Everybody Wants You” and other catchy tunes when Josh Kelley comes to Santa Fe Cafe tonight. Doors open at 8 p.m.; the show starts at 10 p.m. Tickets are $20.
