First a quick note about the new venue Lucas School House. It’s Great! Welcome to the community of music, especially the Blues. Go see it, hear it, and have some food and drinks in a cool, smoke free environment - with great sound too

Steve Shaw was the warm up and he was very good. Thanks Steve

Now about Kelley Hunt – Kelly can definitely kick ass on stage!!! She is outstanding and has great stage presence. Even better her original music, and her arrangements are well produced and well rehearsed. The band and she are very solid. Yamaha pianos should let Kelley “road test” all their keyboard products as she uses all the range of the piano and uses it for effect, mood, and great background “chordings”.

Kelley does great piano and vocals with Rick Kurtz on guitar, Eric Dinenna on drums, Mitch Reilly on guitar sax and flute, and Kenny Ames on bass. The music is a smooth seamless blend of her roots with gospel, blues, rock and roll (oldies like Jerry Lee Lewis) and many great female and male singers of the past. It is a respectful borrowing of these influences, not a cheesy copy.

At first blush the band seems a little eclectic. Rick looks like he’s with Charlie Daniels, Kenny like he should be with Rupert Holmes, Mitch looks like Dr. John, and while I couldn’t actually see Eric behind the mixer and cymbals etc. he is as busy and as wide ranging as the drummer from Chicago. After one song this all disappears as the group takes Kelley’s lead and the arrangements and blends them so well you get only one sound – a great song

Speaking of great songs, the showstopper, just before intermission, was her tribute to her friend Johnnie Johnson - her version of St Louis Blues. Just Kelley her piano and her great vocal range and style. Wow! Terrific mojo.

Kelley and the band pound out 2 hour plus sets of non-stop music that had the joint literally jumpin’. Each of the band members is “featured” at various times on various numbers and they are all very gifted and versatile in the lead and as a support or sideman role.

Some songs of course rock long and hard and some soft and easy but they all fit and works into a well put together show that has moods and feelings. Late in the last set they did a number called “That Ain’t Love” which is a great 4 bar, starts with a driving bass, builds a little, gets down and sexy, then Kelly and the guitar and drums build it back up. This number had movements and moods It was great, and the analogy is obvious - I wanted a cigarette after it. Wow.

Their encores - first a gospel influenced number that seemed entirely appropriate, as there had definitely been a meeting here tonight. Then, to wrap it up, the band found some adrenaline, and pounded out a rockin’ version of Kelley’s “Deal With It”.

The joint was jumpin’, the band was rockin’, the food and drinks were great, the staff and facility are great. This has to be a 4.99 on the STLBluesometer.