Dan Kelly (musician)

Dan Kelly

Dan Kelly performing at Rockwood Music Hall in New York City, September 2011
Background information
Birth name Daniel Kelly
Origin Adelaide, Australia
Genres Rock
Australian rock
Occupation(s) musician, singer-songwriter, guitarist
Instruments vocals, guitar
Years active 2003–present
Labels In-Fidelity Recordings
Shock
Associated acts Nord
Dank Alley
Dan Kelly and the Alpha Males
Stardust Five
The Ukeladies
Dan Kelly and his Dream band
Website dankelly.com.au

Daniel "Dan" Kelly is an Australian singer-songwriter and guitarist. He is the second oldest of six children[1] and the nephew of Paul Kelly.[2]

Biography

Dan Kelly in Hydra, Greece, June 2013

He grew up in Queensland and learnt the guitar at thirteen, studying Environmental Science at University, in Brisbane, in 1990.[1] He formed his first band, Nord, in Brisbane before moving to Melbourne in 1996, where in 2000 he started playing solo shows, under the name Dank Alley,[3] not wanting to trade on his famous uncle's name.[1] In May 2003 he released his first solo EP, Man O Mercy, which spawned the radio hit "Countermeal Kim".

The next year he formed a new band, Dan Kelly and the Alpha Males, comprising Kelly with Gareth Liddiard (The Drones), Christian Strybosch (The Drones) and Tom Carlyon (The Devastations).[3] They were best known for the falsetto vocal stylings of Kelly, touring alongside Dallas Crane, Dan Brodie and The Broken Arrows, Even, as well as at The Falls Festival in Melbourne and Tasmania and selected Big Day Outs. In March 2004 they released their debut album, Sing the Tabloid Blues, on In-Fidelity Recordings. Kelly was nominated for 'Best Male Artist', with the band receiving two nominations for 'Best Independent Release' and 'Breakthrough Artist' for the album at the 2004 ARIA Awards.[4] At the same time Kelly also joined his uncle's band, Paul Kelly and the Boon Companions,[3] performing on his 2004 album, Ways & Means.

In 2005 Liddiard and Carlyon travelled to Europe with their respective other projects, with Aaron Cupples, Dan Luscombe and Lewis Boyes joining the Alpha Males. The band then released an EP, Pirate Radio, in October 2005. Kelly receiving his second 'Best Male Artist' ARIA Award nomination for the release.[4] The band gained significant press coverage in mid-2006 when their single "Drunk on Election Night" – a reflection on the disillusionment many experienced during the evening of the Australian federal election, 2004 – was hand picked by Neil Young to be included in his "Living With War Songs of The Times".[5]

Their second album, Drowning in the Fountain of Youth, released in August 2006, was awarded Album of the Year 2006 by Melbourne-based music magazine Inpress. Kelly received his third nomination for 'Best Male Artist' at the 2007 ARIA Awards.[4] The album was also short-listed for the 2006 J Award.[6] In early 2007, Dan Kelly announced his backing band, the Alpha Males, were to disband for an undecided amount of time to allow the individual members to focus on other projects, a pertinent example being the addition of Dan Luscombe to the line up of fellow Melbourne outfit, The Drones. Kelly again joined his uncle, performing on his 2007 album, Stolen Apples and subsequent national tour and has often returned to his touring band since.

In 2008 he teamed up with Melbourne faux Hawaiian duo, The Ukeladies, to release "The S.U.V Song", undertaking a number of headline shows and support shows with Augie March, in October and November 2008.

In late 2009 Kelly commenced work on a new album, Dan Kelly's Dream (formerly The Decommisioner). The first single, "Bindi Irwin Apocalypse Jam", was released in April 2010. Kelly undertook a national tour with a new line up called Dan Kelly's Dream Band comprising Dave Williams and Kiernan Box (from Augie March), Indra Adams (from Ground Components) and Ryan Nelson (from SubAudible Hum). Dallas Packard (Ground Components), Alpha Male Lewis Boyes and Kelly's teenage cousins Madeleine and Memphis Kelly (daughters of Paul Kelly) also featured on the album, with the girls frequently joining the touring band on stage to provide backing vocals.

Discography

Dan Kelly and the Alpha Males

Albums

Singles

Award nominations

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Mathieson, Craig. "Dan Kelly: A Story Teller's Life". Mess + Noise. Retrieved 30 April 2010.
  2. ↑ Donovan, Patrick (11 March 2004). "Paul's your uncle". The Age (Fairfax Media). Retrieved 29 April 2010.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Nimmervoll, Ed. "Dan Kelly". Howlspace. White Room Electronic Publishing Pty Ltd. Retrieved 30 April 2010.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "ARIA Awards – History – Winners by Artist – Dan Kelly". ARIA. Retrieved 30 April 2010.
  5. ↑ Mathieson, Craig (11 August 2006). "Dan Kelly and the Alpha Males". The Age. Retrieved 30 April 2010.
  6. ↑ "The J Award – Nominated Albums – Dan Kelly & the Alpha Males/Drowning in the Fountain of Youth". triple J. Retrieved 30 April 2010.

External links