Kelly Pardekooper

Kelly Pardekooper (born April 2, 1968 in Des Moines , Iowa ) is an American songwriter and country musician . Pardekooper and his music are assigned to the alternative country direction.

Biography and career

“I got divorced, sold my home in Iowa, lived in my car with my guitar, and now live in Nashville. Well, how does it work for a real country musician? ”The descendant of Dutch immigrants from the US corn belt started his career as a country and roots rock musician and songwriter relatively late: in their late twenties. Kelly Pardekooper's grandfather came from the Dutch city of Leiden and had come to the American Midwest as an emigrant. His father worked as a packer in the local slaughterhouse. Rock music was a part of Pardekooper's life from childhood. His parents' extensive record collection included records from Neil Young , the Allman Brothers , Creedence Clearwater Revival , the Doors , the Fugs and other greats of progressive rock music from the late sixties. Pardekooper himself was initially into hard rock and metal , but preferred alternative rock- related bands such as REM , U2 or The Cult during his college days .

In college, the later musician and songwriter made a name for himself primarily as a sports fanatic. Pardekooper was the captain of the football team and set regional records in several disciplines. At the age of 22 he bought his first guitar. In the years that followed, the now married amateur songwriter's enthusiasm for music was limited mainly to hanging out at the nationally known rock club “Gabe's”. In 1998 his first CD was finally released, "30 Weights", which received critical attention and praise. In his private life, the first tentative, then energetic breakout of the orderly small town life had serious consequences. The divorce from his wife followed and the common house was sold. Kelly Pardekooper quit his job to write for an independent music magazine, traveled around by car (including to Nashville ), founded his own band called Devil's Horse Band and devoted himself mainly to his further music career in the following years.

Kelly Pardekooper was lucky and original enough for the business. His rough, roots rock-heavy sound and his lyrics, which fluctuate between melancholy and sarcasm, were also registered nationwide. This was followed by the albums "Johnson County Snow" (2000), the live album "Live at Gabe's" (2001) and finally the CD "House Of Mud" (2002), which was also distributed in Europe . On the occasion of "House Of Mud" the US Rolling Stone Kelly Pardekooper located stylistically somewhere in the broad field between Johnny Cash and the punk group The Clash . The CD "Haymarker Heart", which has also received much positive criticism, followed in 2005 as the last album to date. In autumn 2003 the first club tour took place in Germany , Austria and the Netherlands. The CD “Live in Europe” recorded in Frankfurt am Main gives an impression of this . Pardekooper also performed with his band at the Tayker Root Festival in Assen , Holland.

As far as the marketing of his music is concerned, Kelly Pardekooper has a strict independent philosophy and prefers small, independent labels that tend to give the artists extensive freedom. One of the things that helped him in recent years was a scholarship from whiskey producer Jim Beam , which, however, as Pardekooper emphasizes, was only of a financial nature. In Germany his music is distributed through Trocadero Records . In order to at least partially bring past studio albums closer to European Pardekooper fans, the publications released by Trocadero have been supplemented with individual pieces from previous studio albums. There are contradicting information about the current place of residence of the singer. Some information locates the current residence of the "Iowa guy with the bad hair and the funny name" in Madison , Wisconsin , while others are in Iowa City .

Style and reviews

Kelly Pardekooper has made a name for herself in the wide-ranging alternative country and new country scene with roots, rock-heavy guitar sounds and lyrics that take a critical look behind everyday life in the American Midwest . Musically, the descendant of Dutch immigrants alternates between an alternative rock-like, slimmed-down guitar sound and acoustic guitar-emphasized folk elements. He is less said to have musical finesse, which is also true in part for the lyrics, which primarily tell of keen powers of observation. In general, Kelly Pardekooper is less a genre virtuoso than a credible country songwriter with his heart in the right place. As far as the stylistic implementation is concerned, he is less fixed and, according to his own statements, plays what bands play today. Nevertheless, the two albums "House of Mud" and "Haymakers Heart" were more differentiated than before. Some reviewers even found fragments close to pop in them .

The online edition of the American music magazine Rolling Stone summed up Pardekooper's style as follows: “This Iowa songwriter celebrates a rare mix of story-telling songs, a stripped-down, sometimes loud folk guitar game, and sloppy country rock. “On the occasion of the song“ Not In Iowa ”from the CD“ House Of Mud ”, the online music magazine No Depression was reminded of a spaghetti western shootout between Dire Straits and Calexico . Which is better - the lyrics or the music? The online magazine starkult.de emphasized in its criticism of "House Of Mud" mainly on the lyrics; they included “Stories of small town adventures, alienation between people, forbidden love and dark sex. Laconic, almost stoically sung with a clear voice and packed into catchy songs that combine intelligent country, broken blues and liquid folk with a certain punk attitude. "

Discography

• 1998: 30 Weight (Leisure Time Records)
• 2000: Johnson County Snow (Leisure Time Records)
• 2001: Live at Gabe's
• 2002: House of Mud (Trailer Records, Distribution in Germany Trocadero Records)
• 2004: Life in Europe (Leisure Time Records)
• 2005: Haymaker Heart (Trailer Records, distribution in Germany Trocadero Records)
• 2006: Brand New Bag (Sonic Rendezvous Records)
• 2011: Yonder (Leisure Time Records)
• 2014: Milk In Sunshine (Leisure Time Records)

Web links

• Site of Kelly Pardekooper (English)