Today, Keller Williams releases his first-ever all-covers collection, amusingly titled Thief. Recorded with the Keels—husband and wife duo Larry and Jenny Keel—Thief includes songs originally written and recorded by as wildly diverse an assemblage as anyone’s ever likely to dream up.
Thief offers up Keller-versions of songs by an [almost] unthinkable collection of artists: from Amy Winehouse (“Rehab”) to the Grateful Dead (“Mountains of the Moon”), the Butthole Surfers (“Pepper”) to Kris Kristofferson (“Don’t Cuss That Fiddle,” which opens the album, and “The Year 2003 Minus 25,” which closes the album). The set is filled out with tunes by Ryan Adams, the Presidents of the United States of America, the Raconteurs, Patterson Hood, Danny Barnes, Cracker, the Yonder Mountain String Band and Marcy Playground. All over the place, indeed, but that’s the way Williams likes it. And in his hands it all makes sense—like everything he’s ever touched, whether from his own pen or someone else’s, it all becomes Keller Williams’ music.
Those who purchase Keller’s new album, Thief, at Keller’s Official Merch Store by August 31, 2010, will be automatically entered into The “Keller and The Keels On Your Couch” sweepstakes. The contest offers a chance to win a 90 minute private acoustic performance by Keller and The Keels in the winner’s living room for them and up to 49 of their friends.
Keller is on tour this summer – at solo shows, with The Keels, and even for a run of gigs as vocalist/guitarist in The Rhythm Devils, the project by Grateful Dead drummer Bill Kreutzmann and his partner percussionist Mickey Hart.
Keller’s complete list of currently confirmed tour dates is as follows:
Tuesday, May 25 “City of Fredericksburg” Riverboat Fredericksburg VA CD Release Party!
Friday, May 28 Bella Madre Music Festival Geneva MN
Saturday, May 29 Summercamp Chillicothe IL
Sunday, May 30 Delfest Cumberland MD Keller Williams and Friends featuring Jeff Austin and Keith Moseley
Thursday, June 17 Telluride Bluegrass Festival Telluride CO with The Keels
Thursday, June 17 Sheridan Opera House Telluride CO with The Keels
Saturday, June 19 Clearwater Festival – Croton Point Park Westchester NY
Friday, June 25 Buffalo Place Rocks The Harbor Buffalo NY supporting moe.
Friday, July 2 Nateva Music & Arts Festival – Oxford Fairgrounds Oxford ME
Sunday, July 4 Gratefulfest – Nelson Ledges Garrettsville OH Keller Williams solo and with The Keels
Friday, July 9 Aberdeen Music Festival Aberdeen SD
Sunday, July 11 All Good Music Festival Masontown WV
Saturday, July 17 YMSB String Summit North Plains OR RHYTHM DEVILS
Sunday, July 18 Britt Festival Jacksonville OR RHYTHM DEVILS
Thursday, July 22 Ogden Theatre Denver CO RHYTHM DEVILS
Friday, July 23 Steamboat Springs Concert Series Steamboat Springs CO RHYTHM DEVILS
Saturday, July 24 The Spud Drive In Driggs ID RHYTHM DEVILS
Sunday, July 25 Red Butte Garden Salt Lake City UT RHYTHM DEVILS
Saturday, July 31 Gathering of the Vibes Bridgeport CT RHYTHM DEVILS
Friday, August 13 Grand Targhee Bluegrass Festival Alta WY with The Keels
Saturday, August 14 Mile High Music and Arts Festival Denver CO
Saturday, August 21 Hoxeyville Festival Cadillac MI
Friday, August 27 Music on the Mountain Top At The Old Fairgrounds Boone NC
Thursday, September 2 Bottle & Cork Dewey Beach DE
Sunday, September 12 Infinity Hall Norfolk CT