Liz has a had a couple new tunes for a while, she stopped over today and we wrote a great new one out of thin air, very cool to have friends to make music with. The music industry is changing so fast... if a local band... say...Wicked Liz & the Bellyswirls were to put out new music...would you most likely buy a CD? Download it online?
 It's always cool to have actual "product"...but it's also expensive....anyway, we're a ways off before another relase, but just trying to form our own opinions here---share yopur thoughts if you would...
---Thanks in advance! -Leo

Music Fans---
 Wicked Liz plays Uptown in Bett. Fri---Bonne Finken is our opener--I think starting at 7pm---from what I understand, her full band will be there...worth dropping in for...please enjoy the article below.

(Wicked Liz & the Bellyswirls also play Saturday nite JAn 31 in Muscatine @ the Missippi Brew opener Supefly Samurai)

*****************************************

from the paper in Des Moines---Bob
 
Empowered Finken finds anything is possible
 At age 28, singer Bonne Finken has weathered challenges. A survivor of
cervical cancer, Finken is a single mother raising her 9-year-old son
while working a full-time job in the insurance industry and finally
playing in a band, the Collective, which performs her own music, after
singing other people’s songs in cover bands like Final Mix and the 3 AM
Band. Add the pressure of having left her apartment 14 months ago to live
with family and friends so she could use the rent money she saved to pay
for her new album, “Soul on Display,” and you might think the burden would
be too much to bear for Finken. Instead, it has strengthened her resolve.
 
“When I had cancer, it changed the way I looked at things. Now there’s
this urgency,” Finken said. “I thought I could make it as a musician and
everyone said, ‘Do it.’ So I went for it.”
 
The result is an album’s worth of nine original R&B, pop, rock and Hip-Hop
songs of empowerment [plus one cover, “Do Right Woman”]; a contract with
Des Moines-based Authentic Records; a handful of out-of-state gigs with
The Nadas (owners of Authentic Records) — including a performance in March
at the South By Southwest Music Conference in Austin; and the satisfaction
of doing things her own way.
 
“I’ve been through hard things and I’ve seen people struggle, but I’ve
learned you can do it,” Finken said. “That’s the underlying theme of my
record. Sometimes I sing it to be kind and other times I sing it out of
frustration.”
 
Nearly three years ago, Finken was a frustrated songwriter. She was
playing in a cover band that wouldn’t perform her songs, making her doubt
her ability to write them; she turned down the chance to participate in
the reality television show “Rock Star: Supernova” only to find herself
singing in a local disco band that also wouldn’t perform her songs; and
then she got an offer from another local label/studio to sign a contract,
but she wasn’t convinced musically it was the right move.
 
“Then a light bulb went off in my head and I thought, ‘If I’m good enough
of a performer to be on ‘Rock Star’ and good enough of a songwriter to
have people want to pay me to make my record, maybe I’m good enough to do
this on my own,’” Finken said.
 
An ad on Craigslist looking for musicians to start her own band netted a
suggestion from The Nadas’ Jon Locker, who told Finken to visit the Sonic
Factory, a Des Moines recording studio used by some of the pop acts on
Authentic Records. It was the beginning of a musical and business
relationship with Locker that ultimately landed Finken on Authentic
Records.
 
“When I met Locker, I knew I wanted to use him in the studio,” she said,
adding that The Nadas’ bassist sometimes fills in with the Collective,
which includes keyboardist Josh Schryber, bassist Jamie Mahan and new
drummer Adam Ross. “But I also knew I wouldn’t have enough money to record
there unless I moved out and saved money on my rent.”
 
Now that the record has been released, Finken said she is looking to rent
a home in Knoxville where her son’s father lives, to ease her son’s
schedule. She also hopes to hit the road more in 2009 to support her new
album.
 
“The making of this album has brought me and my son closer together,”
Finken said. “He is my world and why I do everything. And I think he got
to see something different in me about why I sing than he did before.”

NEW YEARS TORRENT OF UNREALISTIC GOALS AND FALSE PROMISES TO SELF
2009
I am tired of sensible resolutions.... Let's face it, I did not lose 145lbs last year or stash away $275,000 in emergency funds ala Suze Orman ...my great American novel goes unwritten and my jazz-fusion guitar showcase is as of yet unrecorded...alas I did not swim with dolphins or climb any mountains....even my plan to organize my closet totally failed in 2008--- and I am out $124,453.37 in hangers and shelving...let's take another approach....
 
I am not gonna make my appearance on AMERICA'S BIGGEST LOSER, be ridiculed..celebrated on TMZ  or get a decent VH1 reality program unless I make some drastic changes....a few ideas off the top of my head:

-More snack-cake foods---Sarah-Lee you are looking good honey...let's make 2009 the year we GET IT ON!

-Really how bad could crack be? Steven Adler didn't make his reality show come-back w..o a good dose of pharmaceutical poisons.

-I gave up Coca-Cola a few years ago--really there's no drama in it---but I bet if I got into a 5th of Jack a day, things be popp'n!
 
So yes, I plan 2009 to be the year I embark on a total downward spiral into gluttony-druggery-and alcoholism....the bright light being in 2010...or 2011...or maybe even 2012 I can make my Mickey Rourke..Danny Bonaduce..Marie Osmond-like comeback!!! 

From Bellyswirl Bob (aka Bobzilla!):

O.K. So I used to have this friend in college who claimed to be a
> pyrotechnic expert. His name was/is Danny Levine, and he only had 3
> fingers on his left hand. Anyway, I was always uncomfortable when he'd
> come up with some plan to do something, or hitch-hike somewhere or skate
> down the 4th street trolley. I wouldn't be uncomfortable with the plan,
> per se , but when he'd end it with "trust me, I know this will work" I got
> nervous. Life is like that I guess.
>
> Just the same, my story about Danny doesn't really relate, except for the
> fact that sometimes things don't work out the way you hoped they would.
> Wicked Liz & the Bellyswirls were supposed to play a show in Dubuque for
> New Year's Eve, but due to some construction issues, the show had to be
> canceled.
>
> So Superfly Samurai is going to be playing at Kelly's Irish Pub in
> Davenport on New Year's Eve. Kelly's Irish Pub is on 53rd Street between
> Eastern and Jersey Ridge. More Details on the show as they come to us.
>
> Here's a warning about THIS FRIDAY:
> Shenanigan's on the corner of 3rd Street and Harrison Street in Davenport,
> Iowa is having Superfly Samurai play. It's their 3rd Anniversary party,
> and Greg's Birthday Party! That's right! We're celebrating GREG'S
> BIRTHDAY!!! So come out and enjoy a few drinks, listen to your favorite
> Samurai sing a song, and beat the cold! Anyone who's seen Greg on his
> birthday knows how much fun this will be.
>
> Oh yeah....if you are around this Sunday and you're looking for something
> to do....our Friends Bob Dorr and The Blue Band are playing an early show
> (5p.m.) at the Redstone Room.
> http://www.theblueband.com

Reclusive singer Axel Rose will delay the impending Chinese Democracy Tour indefinitely to focus on his latest project, Suing Dr. Pepper soda pop company.  Last year Dr. Pepper VP of Marketing Tony Jacobs stated if the 17-year in the making Guns 'N Roses album Chinese Democracy ever came out his company would give everyone who bought it a free soda. On the release last week of Chinese Democracy, Dr. Pepper servers were overwhelmed with site visitors and crashed.
Rose stated, "I am livid that the delivery of the free sodas has been delayed...my fans deserve better than that. To make them wait for their free soda in unconscionable".

Upcoming Shows:
Friday Oct 31 Wicked Liz and the Bellyswirls @ Missippi Brew, Muscatine IA -Costumes..Birthday Fun!

Ola! It's the LEO KELLY BIRTHDAY edition!!!!

Wow--this past week has been  tour-de-force!

Okay, battling a massive head-cold...but still soldiered on thru a pretty cool week...
Thursday saw Wicked Liz & the Bellyswirls at the Capital Theater for the River Cities Reader 15-year Anniversary. This was an great event, saw some very cool bands for the first time Rude Punch a great reggae band (I speak w.. their grandma at the local Hy-Vee in the morning so it was finally nice to know what I was talking about!). Also saw the One Nite Standards for the first time...I can't believe I waited this long! Instrumental-Surf-rockabilly--- I love this stuff! Scott the guitar player w a weird old Mosrite guitar was fantastic! I am a fan! Of course our friends Jim the Mule were there as well--they are just terriffic Americana..roots music.

   Wicked Liz the person and the band excel at these mixer type events, as a group, we love to see other bands and meet people. Hastily we threw together a "greatest hits set"...it is very cool to play 45min of your own stuff and have people recieve it so warmly. Also awesome to have Chuck, Suzi, Izzy and Sydney Stanger stop down for the show and get everyone dancing in the aisles! Much congrats to Todd McGreevy and all the staff on their success and to Shawn Eldridge for putting on such a great event.

Afterwards Bob and I headed out to Blueport Junction in west Davenport hoping to catch the end of a Natty Scratch reunion gig...we missed! Got there as they were hauling stuff out...did get to speak briefly w.. Pat Ryan visiting from Alaska--I used to take lessons from Pat when I was a kid, he is just an aweome guy-a lot of enthusiasm and patience-and a true love of the blues and rock... Sounds like he is very busy playing around Anchorage w.. his band Silver Train.

I blame most of all this musical frenzy on Billy Grogan introducing me to his older sisters Who and Stones albums and learning guitar licks from Pat.

Friday I spent most of the day in bed or worried about live sound or both.... not fun.

Saturday took Spatterdash to Aledo IL and a cool little place called Scooters. Let me tell ya, I got a little Mellencamp blood, I love a small town!!! In a small town you are the only game in town...except this past Sat when half the town was at a wedding!  None-the-less Spatterdash put on a great show! Man can Chris and Matt sing their hineys off or what? Roadtrip from our Truth Serum disc was in the line-up---thats a great song, we need to play it more...and I'll even remember the bridge! (yiiikes!) And as always Sean and I have a lot of fun playing up the endings and rocking out. Before the gig we met the owner Scott (41) who a week ago had a heart-attack! 41??!?!? Heart-attack?!?!?!

Man that gets yer head spinning! Especially on the eve of yer OWN birthday!

Sunday there was a fundraiser for guitarist Nate Nicholson of Funktastic Five at Uptown in Bettendorf. Nate had a double lung transplant...he is looking great. I was a little scared to be too close to him w.. my cold. Superfly Samurai heeded the call and wound up opening the show at noon..(to say I was a little tired is an understatement!-Vocals are a little rough when you've only had 3hrs of sleep)...but my fingers were still warmed up from the nite before...lucky for me Greg and Bob were in great form-is Greg not ever "on"?...Bob really took over w.. a Bob Kelly Greatest Hits Set: 8 Miles a Gallon, Conastoga Camptown Shuffle, Bridget Riley (are we REALLY calling it that?!?!?! What will the neighbors think?) and closing the set with Get It On In The Back Of The Bar (-do us Irish guys like drinking songs or what?!?!?!)...good times...a good cause....

A week or so ago I would say I was bummed about my birthday concert extravaganza falling apart--no Clapton like extended run of dates....our pals Pike couldn't make the trip from Cincy and a few other things fell apart...but this cold is taking it's toll....hoping to get some sleep and recover...and if the downside is going to see AC..DC in Chicago w.. Jake (13) thats not a bad deal at all!

Here's my closing and sappy birthday remarks--- The last week I have seen some folks and heard of some illnesses and problems that are heartwrenching...so whatever little ordeals  I go thru, I know I am exceptionally lucky to have friends and family like I do. I get to play in some great bands w.. phenominal people...how cool is that? My wife and family are very supportive of my musical..artistic endeavors...how cool is that? In the 7th grad I ate 34tacos and won the Holy Family Eat-O-Lympics...so really...what's left to "prove"?

Just hearing about the Jennifer Hudson deal yesterday another strong reminder that some folks can seemingly "have-it-all" and yet in an instant have nothing.
 
Bellyswirl drummer Greg Hipskind is teaching drums, you can check him out here:
http://www.qcdrummer.webs.com 
 
Take care---we're still tweaking and trying to figure out what the focus of www.theleokelly.com 
 
is ...you can stop and look around....it's  a work-in-progress...isn't everything?


PEACE!- Leo

Now for some riffs from my head:

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Short term goal: Not to poop myself in the big meeting

Long Term Goal: Not to develop man-boobs

Do we really need hourly television ads promoting Wheel of Fortune? Don't the shut-ins KNOW it is on every night?

You are like a Koala bear… they get angry when they don't have dope too.

Weird chick at work---touting her mom's cookies for months…brings them in on her birthday…  I kid you not…they were Chips Ahoy! ("My mom is so accurate, she can make each one EXACTLY the same size! With EXACTLY the same amount of chips in each!!)

I have a co-worker who is maybe abusing "sick leave"…… so everyday they are gone, I put out a box and  have started to collect non-perishable food items for them. (most popular items: lima beans & canned pumpkin)

  My recent references to "Little Lord Fauntleroy", "Foghat", "Solid Gold Dancer's", "Stretch Armstrong" and Evil Knievel may have given away the secret that I am actually 80years old.

Britney Spears twisted her knee here at the Mark of the Quad Cities, that was towards the end of the tour…she cancelled the rest of the dates, married K-Fed, made babies…ladies and gentlemen,  I propose Britney was felled by the Quad Cities! U.S.A.! U.S.A.!U.S.A.!

I would love to taxidermy a cat…then plant a voice box in it saying " I want an autopsy!".

Does Oprah have power? All mention of Steadman Graham have been erased from the Bible!!!

THERE'S NO JUSTICE IN TV: 7 years of ACCORDING TO JIM, 2 years of  ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT?!?!?!?!?

CABLE NEWS HEADLINE: Are lead toys from China making our kids fat and giving them ADD?

Confusion at Pharmacy w.. Dr Prescriptions: "Looks like 50mg of Crack Cocaine!"

My funeral is planned, it will be a simple thing (we will need a professional pyro technician, 14 dwarves and a 36 foot tall steel cross-this could be part of a long list of things)

Cross examine Dog: " Why poop on the floor, when clearly, you see no one else doing so!?!?!?!"

Sample Lady in the store gets in my face, asking why ...WHY?!?!?! I didn't buy what I sampled THREE times!!

Horrible fate if you are in a crash and your arm is severed on the highway…and you come upon  a farmhouse full of kids watching a zombie movie.

Older women on talk radio always call in w.. " I am just very upset" and then sprinkle it thru  the conversation " I am just so upset"…and then things like " I know the father" …do you realize 0% of the population care if you are "so upset?"

This actual radio show was the lady calling in as a  soldier coming back who doesn't have visitation rights… " he has served his country"…we applaud his service to country, but if he doesn't have visitation rights, what did he do at home?

Newscasters doing accents on Spanish names…why don't they do that on Irish names ;;;"we're covering George O'Cloooooney, next up Conan O'Brrrrrien"

I like fresh green bean casserole… that's why I get canned green beans, canned baked onions and a can of Campbell's French Onion Soup.

Wow! Just when you thought summer was over! Traditionally for us, most summer fests sort of drop off mid-August...this year finds us with a bounty of great giggage all the way up to Labor Day weekend. We couldn't be happier...maybe a little tired...but still happy none-the-less!

Trying to "keep it real" I'll drop little nuggets about daily life as well...sometimes your gigging, and folks want to party...and we like to party---but weekends like this-with  3 days in a row of gigs...we have to keep-a-lid on it...face it...no one is luxuriously riding in a tour bus"...we don't get to sleep til game-time...we have to wake up, mapquest, make sure all ur equip is ready...make set-lists, try to eat decently so we can put on a good show...trust me....nothing is better than an ice-cold one after a gig...but you want to show up "ready to play". Alright enough of the lead up...

Fri worked a regular day at work...rushed home w.. moments to spare before Greg and Bob were to show up to pick me up...we're trying to cure my Kelly-itis (where I run a little late everywhere!) luckily for me they were a little late-Bob has had some amp troubles and was borrowing one from our pal and Spatterdash bassists Matt Hauser....the boys and Jenny were at my place soon enough then we dropped by Liz's where she was in the drive-way w.. her bags and guitar...like a misplaced airline traveler! We made quick work of the drive to Dubuque for Summers-Last Blast. We arrived at a jam packed clocktower area...got a little police excort to the stage area and had more help than we could shake a stick at....a big "THANKS" to Steve, Pam and everyone who pitched in. We were sandwhiched between Jabberbox (great hard rock) and Love Monkeys (great reggae-party rock)...DBQ is always very awesome---lots of old friends lot of folks knowing our tunes....very much one of our fave places. We were slated early enough that we had some toddlers get up on stage to jam a few tunes -we're not the loudest band on the block, but you do worry a little about their ears...you could toddle yerself right in front of a Marshall stack!!!! I am no audiologist, but that might not be good!

We have some great friends up there Chad & Jennifer and Jake & Kristy all getting married in Sept--and we will be unable to be there on their big day, so we were relieved when we got to see all of them. Sounds like plans are coming along fine for all of them (imagine our dissapointment-we've PLAYED weddings where no one knew us---and here we are stuck that some of our biggest supporters..nicest folks have their big day and we can't be there!)
Okay---so SUMMER's LAST BLAST totally rocked...a big stage in front of a huge audience---we jumped and climbed and rocked and sang and had a wonderful time (Thanks to Scotty T for lining up such a cool event!)

Saturday came...and I've been working on singing and trying to learn about "vocal recovery" I slept... I slept my butt off! I slept for a looong time.... how long? So long I had to use exta "o's" in the "long" back there.... some putzing around home and then it was time to head to Wilton Iowa...which w.. the street all done up and the carnival rides looked like a Mellencamp video. We passed a soda fountain that has been open since pre-civil war! Bob nabbed a little snack from there called a "naked turtle"...it was delish! Had some tacos from a street vendor...got to hear a great group of locals play before our set...my guess they were 50-80yrs old and fantastic...lots of classic tunes (The Flintstones theme, Jailhouse Rock, Rock Around The Clock all come to mind) a great pedal steel player and terriffic energy from all...Greg joked "that will be us before we know it!"...he may be right!

(Side Note: Just as "google" has become a term everyone uses...we're trying to get the term Zest-fully" more widely used!)

Wilton Street fest started a little slow (did  I mention our pal Phil Maas was on hand to record?) but once it blossomed this was a heck of a shindig---Liz was in exceptional voice and gave world-class zestfull performance--- I am anxious to hear the tapes.... Our version of Seal's CRAZY was thru the roof! Saw my very dear and old friend Charlie Bledsoe and his gorgeous new girlfriend, they had just moved to Wilton. He couldn't have picked a better town-a zestfully great small town. We have to thank our pal Dale for lining this event up. I have to thank Bob, liz and Greg as I literally laffed myself to sleep on the zestfull drive home---all very funny people, great traveling companions.

Sunday came all to fast---Bob, Greg and I strike out as Superfly Samurai sometimes... it has helped scare us into being better singers...and we had a gig lined up 1-5pm at Poopy's in Savanah IL...this led to 9am wake-up calls after getting home at 3am...ouch! (Greg's fresh, zestfully fresh brisde Jenny was startled to see him up so early...like the old Duncan Donuts "Time to make the Donuts" it was "time to rock and roll!!! again!!!) I had never been to Poopy's, but it is near legendary...and didn't fail to amaze--a hummongous bar...a zestfully huge bar!!! With a great outdoor area and a stage---not a small platform stuck in the corner but I nice concert-sized zestfully large stage. Better yet enough power to run a band!!! We got to play to a  nice Sunday afternoon audience , most there for lunch and drinks and obviously, a zestful Sunday afternoon drive..  Some coming from chicago and parts far away...obviously, it is a destination trip for a lot of folks. We were lucky to get some great weather ...a cool breeze...zestfully cool! Long story short, we rocked our behinds off! Got a very good reception...you know what kind? A zestfully good reception!  Food looked awesome...unfortunately I only got to sample some steak fries ...which were cut thick and crispy---perfection! I am hoping we will be back there soon so  I can sample more of their chow. Saturday could have been Liz's best vocal performance of the summer, lots of great ad-libs and just really hitting some stellar notes...Bob took the challenge and really brought his "A" game Sunday--he was very funny and in the groove....we uncorked a few new covers.....which you will probably hear soon enough as we head to Conesville Thunder In The Sand this Friday...hope to see you there!!!
Rock on! - Leo

With heavy heart I am letting you know we are playing a benefit for my good friend Cindy Smith. I have known Cindy since I was a little kid...she is married to my pal Scott Smith (a fantastic drummer)...Cindy is 43 years old she has been diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma (bone marrow cancer- cannot be cured) 2nd Diagnosis: Amyloidosis (cancer that attacks the organs)
 
Benefit being held in her honor of Cindy Smith and Family at Club Mokan on Sunday August 3rd, 2008 from 12noon to 6pm.  Cindy(43) and her husband Scott have 3 children, she has been diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma (bone marrow cancer- cannot be cured) 2nd Diagnosis: Amyloidosis (cancer that attacks the organs)
 
Superfly Samurai (2pm-2:45pm) Wicked Liz and the Bellyswirls (3:00-3:40pm) and Spatterdash (3:50pm-?), will all  appear (Bring the kids and they can see us rock!) Caricature artist Leo Kelly will be on hand from noon to 2pm drawing (all donations going to the family). We will have items for raffle and auction.  There will be food and drinks for purchase as well.  This benefit is being held to raise money for the Smith family so that she may be able to pay for bills that will be charged to her during her stay for chemotherapy, which the insurance will not be covering.  We would like to invite anyone who would like to come to support a family in need and to have a great time doing it.  
 


Questions, Please Write
Thanks!
Leo Kelly

Some things fall together so easily and others are harder and harder...this weekend luckily was massively easy...Fri nite Superfly Samurai (Leo, Bob & Greg) played a great gig at 11th Street Precinct. Lots of great moments for all 3 guys...Greg (drums) been doing a stellar "HANK" a rollicking country number that he drums and sings his heart out on... people seem to ask a lot about "They Don't Write'm Like That"...it's by Greg Kihn...of the Greg Kihn Band

Saturday I ran the Bix 7 on about 3hrs sleep (this part was not easy)... I don't like "apologizing for my time...I'm no sprinter by any means...and I was wiped from the nite b4 and simply walked a few places and enjoyed the beautiful scenery and all the people  running and cheering. What a phenominal event! Got a nap in and woke up 4pm-ish and sent out a text...heard back from Liz that they were back from Minnesota, Bob reported he was up and Dale Fisher had phoned and was in Iowa . Dale had a quite a rock and roll weekend- Friday nite he was backstage w the Foo Fighters (in Cleveland I think?).

  Went down early to the Wells Fago Bix Streetfest and had chicken on a stick, a pork-chop, a corn dog and a gyro...oh...not ALL for me.. the fam was in tow. So I had plenty of help downing all of that! Bob Door and the Blue Band were on..they continue to astound and amaze us...Jeff is just a killer guitar player, heck all the guys are fantastic players...(I wonder if Bob's Central High classmate Bill Baltimore made it?)  all around a very jump'n set.

We hit the stage around 10pm..wipped out a few of our tunes and then had Bob Dorr(harmonica) as well as Dale Fisher (keys)join in... Wicked Liz and the Bellyswirls was transformed into a jump-blues band w.. myself, Bob Dorr and Dale Fisher (keys) all sprinkling solos over Walk'n By Myself and Rock Me Baby.

Liz was on fire and gave a very rocking performance of Break Me off our latest CD Hulathong (man, I hope we got that on tape!)  Wrapped up the set w.. our 3-6-9-..Hendrix..The Site..Zombie trilogy...it just wailed--with Dale there .. I laid out a little more on the verses and then poured on the crunchy guitar on the choruses...good times! We did tape the show...one of many we plan to record as we head into our 10th year... I haven't heard last nite... but we had a few sparks and some cool "newness" to some of our tunes w.. Dale singing, tambourining and keying his special sauce all over the tunes....and how about Bob Kelly and 8 Miles a Gallon? I am really digging that one!

Saw a lot of old friends...heard some others were there I didn't get to speak with....hope to see or hear from them soon! The boys and I all shuttled off to an undisclosed location w.. some drinks and plenty of stories...lots of laughs and breaking our curfews pretty heavily!

Hope we see ya soon!- Leo