Norman's Rockwell

From David Bash's introduction of me at IPO Liverpool: "If this music doesn't get you to dance, then you're a cadaver!" It was a triumphant Saturday matinee on the Cavern Club's Main Stage. Once again, the sound was amazing (thanks, Ricky). That has to be one of the best stages on planet Earth for performers. I'm very thankful I've had two opportunities to play it. There were plenty of ladies dancing and the fellas were down with the sound, too. And the Set List says: Fall Out Roosevelt's Revue U Had The $ Everything My Heart Desires Sucka A Talent For Loving The tour ended on a high as we stormed the iconic, brick front stage at the Cavern Club for the first time on Sunday. It was high energy considering how late the slot was. Set List: U Had The $ Fall Out Hold On, I'm Coming Everything My Heart Desires Coming Up Sucka A Talent For Loving Thanks again to David Bash and IPO for having me. I'll be performing at the Los Angeles version of IP...

Hey Y'all, I'm chilling at the Dock with some Twinings Everyday Tea and Lotus Biscuits (thanks, Anne). The Cavern Pub was like the center of the sun. Hot! The set was full-tilt boogie. The Liverpuddlians were grooving to the tunes, for sure. I know I left everything on the stage. Astro went all rock and roll on us with his bloody knuckle. Sterke was blazing, too. The band before me, the Palominos were very good. They warmed things up nicely. The crowd at the Cavern Pub got into my songs immediately; that's my kind of audience. Well over 100 people in a very small, subterranean venue. Place was packed and here's what the people rocked out, too: Fall Out U Had The $ Everyone's Ingenue Sucka Everything My Heart Desires A Talent For Loving Don't forget, there are two big shows remaining at the Cavern Club Saturday. 4.30 PM in the Back Stage. 2.45 AM in the iconic Front Stage. Technically this show is Sunday Morning. Both shows are FREE. Tomorrow during the da...

Hey Everyone, we are safely in Liverpool. I only took proper turns today in Liverpool. Directly to the hotel. Which was good. I made several errant turns in Oxford this afternoon, where we stopped to visit Christ Church College (a part of the University). CCC is where several scenes for the first two Harry Potter movies were shot (specifically in the great hall and it's staircase). The school property and it's inhabitants also inspired Lewis Carroll to write Alice In Wonderland. Also, the college's cathedral was used as a place of worship by John Wesley, who formed the Methodists. The church is also the resting place of John Locke; the actual John Locke, not the character from Lost. Time did not permit a visit to Magdalene College where Tolkien & CS Lewis wrote most of their land mark works. Upon our rainy arrival, Astro and I walked over to the Cavern Club to check out the scene. The place was packed. That's a great sign for the International Pop Overthrow Fest. R...

Hey Y'all, thanks to everyone who came to the Zebra for our show tonight. And thanks to the Foxes who lent us gear. Foxes, you rock. The Zebra is a nice large venue and I had fun time playing there. No matter what the circumstances (like a huge football match), I'm bringing it. Special thanks to those who bought CDs. Enjoy the music! Also, thanks to Sue, James and the staff of the Zebra. What a gift to be able to come here to perform. And Sterke and Astro really brought their A Game. A beautiful night. For those of you coming to the Liverpool shows, spoiler alert. Here's tonight's set list: Fall Out U Had The $ Everyone's Ingenue Sucka I Can't Cry For You Everything My Heart Desires Coming Up A Talent For Loving I plan on inserting a few different songs in the set the next few shows. Prior to the show, we visited Leeds Castle a few miles up the road. It was serene and amazing. A thousand year old piece of property with some of the most beautiful landscape ever. ...

Hey Everyone. I know it's been several days since my last post, but my trip has been jam-packed with activity. First of all, we arrived safely on Thursday. Thanks to everyone praying for a safe trip. It was like a season's worth of Amazing Race boiled into one day on Thursday: navigate the 405 during rush hour; bear a 10 hour transatlantic flight in a crackerjack box; take 3 trains in London; sleep underwater; speak French to a cabbie ; and find Mike Tyson in less than 24 hours. It's true. I met Mike as we disembarked, he was on his way to the Cannes film festival. Naturally. Now I will warn you. This blog contains few references to music. Although we heard plenty today at the churches we visited in Honfleur (a very sharp organist) and Rouen . Friday was a whirlwind of site seeing in Paris. It turned out to be a gorgeous day, and it was actually hot. OK. Top of the Eiffel Tower. Notre Dame Cathedral. Louvre in the early evening. In between, lots of good eats at Cojean , ...

Hey Y'all, here's the latest review for the hottest newest. You know who! First the BBC, now this. Lord have mercy: Literarily ! Review starts here: Norman Kelsey's A Talent for Loving is a non-stop, dusk 'til dawn party. From the opening beat of the title track, which is both boastful and believable, to the closing command of "Love Someone", Kelsey takes you from the bar to the dance floor to the bedroom and back again several sweat-soaked times. He's a soulful R&B powerhouse vocalist, and he's somehow managed to combine perfectly some of the best elements of '60s-era soul and Motown with a sense of style and command not seen since Prince was at his funkiest. Tracks like "Done Lost My Mind" highlight Kelsey's slow, seductive, soul skills, while songs such as "Fall Out" will, as the chorus says, "Rock you so hard / We falling out of your bed." No worries if you're all alone, either. A Talent for Loving wi...

Hey All, big news! Mr. Craig Charles, one of the UK's biggest funk and soul DJs (and star of the cult sci-fi comedy show "Red Dwarf" & "Coronation Street"), played " Everything My Heart Desires " on his show Saturday night on BBC Radio's 6 Music. Be sure to send in your request to hear the song again. Follow the link to get to his playlist from Saturday. Follow the links from there to check out more info about Mr. Charles' funky tastemaking programme. You can even listen to a stream of the show and hear the song! The Craig Charles Funk & Soul Show What a blessing on the eve of my tour. Big ups to Mr. Charles and his listeners. More updates to come, gotta run. Have a great week everybody. See you in Britain! Peace & Funky Beats!

Hey y'all, here is my interview with Folio Weekly. In its entirety. Check it out! The article appeared in the April 29, 2008 issue of the Jacksonville, FL based magazine. Also, for friends and fans on Myspace, U Had The $ was added as a new streaming single! ### Filed under Pop Funk BEYOND THE NORM – By Kara Pound, Folio Weekly Dashing, debonair Norman Kelsey is an old soul with a funky new sound. Norman Kelsey’s debut solo album, released at the beginning of this year, is described in the press material as “sexy dance floor fillers, heart-stopping slow jams and a stadium anthem about universal love.” Unlike the glad-handing drivel issued by most record label PR departments, this description is surprisingly accurate. “I really enjoy writing songs that are poppy, that people will want to dance to and smile when they hear the lyrics,” says Kelsey of the songs on “A Talent For Loving.” The dashing 39-year old Jacksonville native and graduate of Terry Parker High School says he never...