July 2 2025
Kelly’s Lot is an eclectic and exploratory songwriting duo consisting of Kelly Zirbes and Perry Robertson. Veterans of music, both at home and abroad, Kelly’s Lot has crafted their 18th album, Late Bloomer. Their years of dedication to composition and public performance shine through all of Late Bloomer’s eleven musical windows. Looking through the vistas of their design allows listeners to enter a world of hope through struggle, pride through defeat, and joy through pain.
The music demonstrates much greater variety than the typical “Americana” record. Far from whispering sad stories over the soft strums of an acoustic guitar, Kelly’s Lot display a versatility and creativity with inspired instrumental choices, like the clarinet solo on the opening up tempo number, “Pied Piper,” and daring melodies that borrow, with skill, from European folk more than the American south.
c’s voice has a haunting effectuality, most especially on the ballad, “Terry.” Robertson’s guitar riffs are memorable, providing solid scaffolding for this series of moving and enjoyable songs.
The emotions of the record have a range similar to the musical arrangements. The title track is a hopeful anthem for improving with age, set to a reggae-like rhythm. “Bully” is an angry warning against those who abuse their power in an attempt to impose their will on those they deem inferior. The titular sociopaths whom Kelly’s Lot rightfully condemn include those who “break up families” and those who “break up countries.” “Miner’s Ode” is a chilling, dark folk song about the hardship of going down into the coal mines for a hard day’s living.
Rich piano notes open the closing song, “Where There is Hope,” an infectious secular hymn in search of truth, love, and hope, marching ahead according to Kelly’s Lot’s belief that “Where there is hope, we will find it.” The album, Late Bloomer, provides fitting accompaniment for the search.
https://www.kellyslot.com/music
David Masciotra (www.davidmasciotra.com) is the author of four books, including Barack Obama: Invisible Man (Eyewear Publishing, 2017) and Mellencamp: American Troubadour (University Press of Kentucky, 2015).
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