JOE KELLY & THE ROYAL PHARMACY – A SIT DOWN WITH JOE KELLY

JOE KELLY & THE ROYAL PHARMACY – A SIT DOWN WITH JOE KELLY

By Ralph Beauchamp

Welsh folkster/rocker Joe Kelly he just released a two-song single with his band Joe Kelly & The Pharmacy. “Little Fears” is dramatic and edgy. It is filled with dramatic textures that leaves the listener in a sonic haze. Kelly's voice is intensely ethereal while the harmonies are rich with heavenly tones. The whole composition is reminiscent of 60s hits by The Zombies or The Byrds. Even though it has that classic rock feel, it still feels fresh and original. Joe Kelly he is a master of combining musical eras to create something new and unique. B-side “Devil at Your Door” is cinematic with palettes of gorgeous turns.

After spending years living in various cars, vans and caravans and touring the UK, Australia and New Zealand, Joe Kelly released his first album with The Pharmacy. The world on fire (Dirty Carrot Records) features 10 incendiary tracks that capture the true essence of the group. Produced by Jon Greening The world on fire defies classification. Songs like “On My Way” with its spaghetti western guitar and haunting vocals Kellyhis strong songwriting skills. 'Sixty Six' has an authentic Americana aura JoeHis haunting vocals are at the forefront. The mid-tempo rocker, “World on Fire” has an Eagles vibe. Overall, The world on fire it's a tour-de-force filled with emotional depth and captivating excitement.

Joe Kelly was kind enough to sit down with AMP to discuss all things Joe Kelly & The Pharmacy.

AMP: What got you started in music?

JOE: There was a lot of Irish folk music played for the family when I was young, so after a failed attempt at classical guitar, I picked up the fiddle and then the piano soon after, although I didn't last long because I fell asleep. many in the course. It was after school on a Monday and a heavy bike ride from my house. Mrs Routley did her best but unfortunately I didn't quite make the mark. I made another attempt at guitar in high school, there was a girl involved. A few of us started group lessons, they didn't last long but I was hooked, Glyn Knight was a great teacher, you can still catch him playing at the Earl Haig Club from time to time!

AMP: Who were some of your early inspirations?

JOE: My cousin Ryan was a huge Oasis fan. I used to stay at his house on the weekends when I was quite young and he would play stuff like this while getting ready for a night on the town. Then I spent the rest of my nights with my aunt and uncle feeding me Beatles, Stones, Kinks and Led Zeppelin. Between that and my mother's input of Motown and Enya, I was subconsciously absorbing the best record collection a kid could ask for.

AMP: What drives you to continue in the crazy world of music?

JOE: I've always had an overactive imagination, so finding songwriting was so important to me. I have this freedom to create stories that may be completely fictional, but are deeply rooted in all the experiences I've had, good and bad. If I never left the house again, I'd still be living out my days composing stories, but I'm extremely lucky to have an incredible band behind me and so many other creatives and supporters who are constantly pushing things forward and bringing so much to the table that it's become. its own entity. I carry on for them as much as for me.

AMP: What is your creative process like?

JOE: These days I very rarely sit down to write a song, I haven't really had that luxury since the pandemic. I do a lot of driving, that's usually where it all starts, being in my head for hours, stepping on the wheel. Or I'll start humming a tune or a verse will fall from the sky. Once I figure that out, it's just a matter of putting a song together as fast as I can. I try not to overstate the process too much, I want my songs to capture a moment in time, a little piece of my history.

AMP: Your music is a mixture of different genres. How would you categorize your sound?

JOE: Everything I write is embedded in blues, folk and rock n roll. I love that late 60s, early 70s 'vintage' sound and try to capture it as much as I can. The iconic sounds of that era are so vast that it's a nightmare to categorize. I guess you could say our sound would be the perfect soundtrack to a Vietnam War movie.

AMP: What kind of themes do you incorporate into your music?

JOE: I have suffered a lot in life and I try to be open about these issues where I can. I think vulnerability and humanity play a huge role. Love, heartbreak, political injustice and existential crisis are the backbone of most of my songs, with a generous helping of supernatural and mythological overtones.

AMP: You seemed to be well versed as a musician. Any interesting stories you'd like to drop?

JOE: I think it's safe to say I've been to the square a few times. I cut my teeth in a band called The Lash with the late, great Carl Bevan, that was really a baptism of fire. I've drank whiskey from the bottle with Israel Nash, supported John Otway and crammed a four-piece band into a Renault Grande Scenic to play a bunch of shows in and around the Dolomites with the most depraved musicians I know, but I don't do. you know how many stories are really safe to tell!

AMP: If you could collaborate with any artist (past or present) who would it be and why?

JOE: I consider myself very lucky to work with Royal Pharmacy, they bring so much to the table that I struggle to even imagine who else could match them creatively. That said, I can't help but wonder what a studio session with George Harrison would sound like. He was an incredibly talented musician and I would love to see what could come of it. Other than that, I sometimes dream of going into Muscle Shoals and breaking a record with the Swampers, that would be the dream (sorry guys!)

AMPERAGE: How are your live shows?

JOE: I'm so lucky that we can be quite flexible as a band. Royal Pharmacy is a collective of incredibly talented musicians. We can play a Crosby Stills and Nash-esque show one day with luscious show-stealing three-part country harmonies and a psych-rock whirlwind of a show the next with a chilled ballad one minute and a 12-minute Abbey Road-style epic the next. We play with our environment and leave a piece of ourselves in each performance.

AMP: Do you feel that artists have a responsibility to reflect on social changes in the world?

JOE: I feel that everyone has the right to decide how much of themselves they want to give to the world. For me, I can't help but be open about who I am and how I feel. Luckily I was raised with love and respect so promoting these values ​​comes quite naturally and I have no problem standing up for what I believe is right. If you have a platform or an opportunity to do good in the world and encourage others to do the same, I think you should take it. The world is on fire and we need all the help we can get.

AMP: What's next for Joe Kelly and Royal Pharmacy?

JOE: Here's a single for “Little Fears” out soon, with another fantastic video from the guys at Gold Tops Studios. And we have our sights set on a second album that will be ready for release in March 2025. This time we will release the vinyl along with the digital release. We're all really excited about it. We're currently lining up a tour to coincide with the release, so keep your eyes peeled for some dates.

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