Keller Williams @ King Tut's

Williams is an acoustic guitarist - roots in bluegrass and folk, perhaps, and flashes of flamenco or jazz - but his music is far from organic. He loops his riffs and distorts his chords, layering effects and working as a one man band. He has guitars on stands that he leaps between, pedals that make strings sound like flutes. He begins his set with an extended jam that seques into Talking Head's Once in a Lifetime, loosing himself in solos, harmonising with himself and generally creating a mellow, tasteful atmosphere. His technique may be experimental, but this is no rough edged exploration of extreme possibilities. He is a guitar virtuoso, and wants to make that clear. The wanderings are abstract, impressive and occasionally dull, communicating little other than Williams' genius. He does a little ironic rock posturing, and one fan dances throughout the set, but the lack of focus is wearing. He's obviously brilliant, but a little more emotion would be welcome. [Margaret Kirk]