Las Kellies

About Las Kellies

Patterning their sound after the raw post-punk of '70s groups like the Slits and the Raincoats, Argentina's Las Kellies emerged in 2007 with the full-length Sharking Dog! The group put a dancier, more new wave-inspired spin on 2009's Kalimera, while releases including their fourth album, 2013's Total Exposure, reflected the dub influence of collaborator Iván Diaz Mathé. They combined all of these inspirations on sixth long-player Suck This Tangerine, issued in 2020. Guitarist/singer Ceci Kelly (Cecilia Kelly), bassist/singer Betty Kelly (Julia Worley), and drummer/singer Sil Kelly (Silvina Costa) formed Las Kellies in 2005 in Buenos Aires, where the three women cut their teeth on the music scene before eventually releasing Shaking Dog! in 2007. They followed it up with the new wave-leaning Kalimera in 2009. Both albums were released independently. After touring internationally, Las Kellies signed with Fire Records for their third outing, 2011's Las Kellies, which was mixed by dub legend Dennis Bovell. Going even deeper into the reggae influence, 2013's Total Exposure was produced by Iván Diaz Mathé, aka Ivy Lee of South American reggae group Nairobi Dub. On board to lend a hand on vocals were Bovell and Chain & the Gang's Ian Svenonius. Before recording their next album, 2016's Friends & Lovers, bassist Betty Kelly left the band. The remaining duo called on Mathé to oversee the sessions, which favored a more stripped-down punk sound. Bassist Manuela Ducatenzeiler helped out with post-release touring. Continuing to operate as a duo, Ceci and Sil gathered prior influences on their sixth album, Suck This Tangerine. Arriving on Fire Records in 2020, it featured former member Julia Worley on the track "Close Talker." ~ Jason Lymangrover & Marcy Donelson

ORIGIN
Buenos Aires, Argentina
FORMED
2005
GENRE
Rock

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