There’s no song that captures the anything-goes attitude of 90’s alternative rock like “Cannonball” by The Breeders. The voice and the brain behind that song is Kelley Deal, twin sister of indie-rock icon (and on-again/off-again bandmate) Kim Deal. Kelley Deal’s latest project is R. Ring and they’re playing New Vintage tomorrow night, May 19.
The timing is curious, considering The Pixies rattled the rafters at The Palace Theater on Friday night. Pixies is the indie-art-punk equivalent of The Rolling Stones in mythos, influence, and acrimony. Kelley’s sister Kim helped established the band back in the mid-80’s, and Kelley was even once asked to join, as well.
Kelley declined the offer and began working as a computer programmer in the early 90’s – and then her sister Kim left Pixies (for the first time), and started The Breeders with Throwing Muses lead guitarist Tonya Donnelly (Louisvillian and former Slint drummer Britt Walford was also in an early line-up of the group). And when Donnelly lost interest after their debut album “Pod” and one EP “Safari” – she formed the band Belly. At this point, Kelley Deal quit her fancy day job and took over responsibilities as frontwoman, singer and lead guitarist. Their next album “Last Splash” is the record that put them on the map.
Over the next twenty years, the band would break-up and reform many times, both sister would wrestle with sobriety – and they would both wonder in and out of countless musical ventures like Kelley’s Last of the Hard Men and Kelley Deal 6000. Her most recent project is R. Ring, a collaboration with Mike Montgomery of the band Ampline, with whom she recorded a 2013 EP called “The Rise.” They recently released a split 7" with Protomartyr called "A Half of Seven" on the Hardly Art label. Louisville is the last stop on the group's month long "Peril-Pussy Tour" - which kicked off in mid-April in Ohio and wrapped almost full circle around the country.
R. Ring is playing New Vintage tomorrow night, May 18th at New Vintage. The show is at 8:00 PM and tickets are $10. The Fervor, Shivering Timbers, and Quailbones will be playing the show, as well.
Photo courtesy of R. Ring.
