Ron Gallo, AS​-​IS: Live at Kettle Pot Tracks / Album Review

Ron Gallo, AS​-​IS: Live at Kettle Pot Tracks is not at all what it seems. This new release recorded at Kettle Pot Tracks’ Lafayette Hill studio in December 2013 is not a follow-up to Ron Gallo’s 2013 solo release Live at Ortlieb's: an in-venue live recording. It is not the Toy Soldiers front-man’s solo project with producer Reed Kendall, coming later this spring with a full band.  AS​-​IS: Live at Kettle Pot Tracks is neither of those. AS​-​IS: Live at Kettle Pot Tracks is the must-share by-product of a solo On The Hill Session with the Kettle Pot Tracks. This stripped-down release marks the first physical release from the Kettle Pot Tracks after a year of stellar digital releases of their sessions.


To the unaware listener, what we have is an incredible collection of 1940s standards. Turns out, only one of them is. “Early in the Morning” reigns from that era, but ironically Ron Gallo's inspiration is from the 1970s Harry Nilsson version, rather than 1940s jazz-man Louis Jordan. While the remainder of the tracks fit in with the style of 1940s crooners, swing-kings, and standards such as Hank Williams, Gene Autry, and Glenn Miller; Ron Gallo weaves his unique perspective into vivid stories for everyone to hear loud and clear.

Ron Gallo — Fine Diners and Finer Whiners

"Fine Diners and Finer Whiners" is an impeccable example of this lyrical misfit.  It very easily could be himself he's writing about:

"Gotta get out of here, gotta get out of here 

'In the wrong place, the wrong time, 

gotta get out of here,  gotta get out of here 

I'm the wrong person, living the wrong life
If I bribe tomorrow do you think she'll take away tonight?"

Is he wishing for more success? Wanting a change? Nah, it appears he's simply an old soul channeling a time 70 years ago.  On top of the dreamy strum Ron laments:

"If I write my address on my chest 

Do you think the postman will take me home?"

He perfectly portrays a bygone era where if lost, you could reliably depend on others to make things right by simply writing your name and address on something, or in this case, yourself!

One holdover from Ron's main band, Toy Soldiers,  "Heart In A Mousetrap" presents with a simplistic and bold style of blues.  With Toy Soldiers, the blues get overshadowed by the rock,tonk, & roll.  Songs from Toy Soldiers The Maybe Boys such as "I'm Your Woman," "Forget How It Used To Be," & "Laughing Pain" are all serious blues tracks that get swallowed up by the funk and Ron's insane Jerry Lee Lewis style.  On Live At Kettle Pot Tracks the blues comes out in full detail.

“Jane’s Expensive Hair,” an observation of four spoiled ladies at a park in Chicago, came to life in a way only Ron Gallo could imagine. Describing each lady’s despicable activities, you can feel the disgust seethe from Gallo. But not with Jane: it's easy to picture Ron smiling in delight fantasizing about his special heroine "and her separation from her expensive hair."

Cover Club | Ron Gallo "Expensive Hair"


“Started a War” is another example of Ron's tightly honed-in skills of observation. Growing up in two households due to his parents’ split, it gave him a different perspective on the world. Knowing how to survive in different scenarios, you become pretty keen on other people's reactions. It's this kind of skill Ron realizes with his dysfunctional love song, “Started a War”:

"I started a war and all I said was nothing
So go on let the silence fly around the room 

 'Cause all I said was nothing to you"

With the last two tracks, another '40s star comes to mind: big band legend Louis Prima. First there is the air trumpet like on “If You Ever Come Back” and like the big band legend, Ron Gallo writes his character piece about “Messy Mary Anne”, rather than “Boney Bones” or “Angelina.”




Ron Gallo — If You Ever Come Back


Ron Gallo, AS​-​IS: Live at Kettle Pot Tracks isn’t what you might have expected from the Toy Soldiers front-man. But, there's no need to recreate The Maybe Boys with a Rockabilly style album filled with funk and tonk. What we have is Ron Gallo stripped down to an honest-to-goodness bare-soul presentation all the way back to its 40's bones.  Kettle Pot Tracks was able to present Ron at his best, torn all the way down to just the expressive lyrics and tortured blues. To purchase the session, go to Kettle Pot Tracks @ http://bit.ly/RonGalloASIS. Check back often for more digital and physical releases. The next physical release is expected to be for Chelsea Sue Allen.