Review by Luis Alexander, Martinis & Bikini’s

Rating 4.75 out of 5 Stars

of Kelly Moneymaker CD Release Party at The Mint Los Angeles

October 1, 2013

I attended an Expose’ show 20 years removed from tonight that was a highlight for me as a 21 year old straight out of college. I reviewed that show as an intern for a rather large music newspaper, I gave that show back then a pretty good review – but this time – fast-forward 20 years and it’s not Expose’ but one of its former leading ladies gone solo – Kelly Moneymaker – all I can say is WOW, say it backwards – WOW!!

I was not expecting this amount of POW from the petite singer/songwriter. If you are thinking sappy love songs or an electro pop sound reminiscent of the trio, you are most certainly mistaken. Erase that delusion. This was pure unapologetic soul, R&B, blues, and some southern rock’n roll...and Moneymaker proudly hails from Alaska!

The song list set she performed is from her newly released CD, Race Against the Sky. She opened with “Swampy Things” and sounded like Bonnie Raitt right out of the bayous to the self-titled “Race Against the Sky” ballad – which by the way brought the crowd to their feet with applause at the end of the song. She then belted the toe-tapping, butt-slapping (pun intended) “Black Magic In Blue Jeans” a song about her husband’s behind, which frankly got us all wanting to SEE that behind!

She closed with Koko Taylor’s “Wang Dang Doodle” in her own Moneymaker version that I only wish was included on this new CD.

Holy crap, can she bring it!

The show was a graduate-level workshop on powerful rock & roll vocals. Her unique raspy wailing came full force in most all of her tunes. I swear she was channeling Joplin on several occasions. She may sound like a Janis Joplin or a Bonnie Raitt but Moneymaker has her own definitive sound, mark my word - including her own distinctive growl that had me saying “Yes, Yes, Yes!” on her “No, No, No” performance. I look forward to the day when I review another artist and report “she has a voice like Kelly Moneymaker!”

Throughout the show she demonstrated an absolute command of the stage. Even when she wasn’t singing, you had to remind yourself to pay attention to her as-talented tour band, The Black.

She revisits Los Angeles on November 1 at the House of Blues Foundation Room – 11pm. Race Against The Sky can be purchased on iTunes or her website at www.KellyMoneymaker.com