Toronto Star, Oct 06 "He's got a black-velvet, Peter Murphy-schooled baritone that lends even the brassiest and bounciest blasts from his swingin' pop outfit, the Kellygirls, a lurid, Gothic edge."
Gay Guide Toronto, Oct 06 "For a long time I’ve admired his career, and especially his obvious tremendous work ethic...Clipperton is someone who possesses boundless creative energy."
Ottawa
Citizen, Sept 06 Kellygirls Kick Up the Camp R. Kelly Clipperton’s songs are
lyrically dense ... His band Kelly and the Kellygirls play horn-happy
romps with vavoom thanks to Clipperton’s vibrato. His voice
has a Tim Curry drama and a Billy Idol timbre. The single off
the new album We Love You, But... is Catherine Deneuve and the
Deus Ex Machina and stemmed from a dream about the end of the
world and Deneuve being the only woman able to save us all.
It’s complicated for a pop song. “I’m told I have too much to
say,” Clipperton admits. “I’ve tried to write songs with air,
but it doesn’t come naturally to me that way.”
Windsor Star, Sept 06 On Saturday, flamboyant Toronto renaissance man and overall
conspicuous character R. Kelly Clipperton once again brings
his outrageous swing-rock outfit Kelly and the Kellygirls to
Phog Lounge. If you thought Clipperton was a strutting buck
in his previous appearances, imagine his confidence level now
that he's got a new album to boast about. He and his horn-wielding
five-piece ensemble are sure to serve up tunes from their destined-for-greatness
full-length We Love You, But .... Those with narrow minds and
tsk-tsk mentalities, please join the party or go the way of
the dinosaurs.
Ottawa
Xpress, Aug 05, "Kelly and his girls were a breath of fresh air, to say the
least. Picture pop-ska meets drag-queen-diva with a whole lotta
raunch thrown in for fun. Kelly is a born entertainer, as long
as you can handle off-colour comments. I found that the crowd
could not only handle it, but totally "dug" it! I had a fantastic
time... the only thing for those faint at heart was that Kelly's
shorts were so tight, I was worried about them popping off any
second... although since they weren't leaving that much to the
imagination anyway, it wouldn't have been a big deal. This show
was MORE than worth the measly $6 cover charge."
MarsBar, July 05 Kelly and the Kelly Girls were explosive as always and satisfied
their legion of fans who turned out to cheer them on. They are
fronted by Kelly Clipperton who is vocally compared to the Goth-Father
Peter Murphy. They have something quite unique with their theatrical
performance style that combines a musical mixture of swing,
ska, glam, and punk....
NXNE: Kelly and the Kellygirls @ Clinton's Saturday,
June 11/05 - 12:00am. At first glance, R. Kelly Clipperton
looks a helluva lot like Twisted Sister's Dee Snider-a hulking
fellow made over in teased hair and garish make-up...Kelly and
his backing band, the Kellygirls can play and their songs are
really solid. Boasting six members, this brass-heavy line-up
deliver skronky New Wave-esque tunes that recall Martha and
the Muffins and Roxy Music. Clipperton has a decent set of pipes
and showed his versatility by alternating between a salty croon
and a guttural yowl. Even his cover of Zeppelin's "Rock and
Roll" came off dripping with machismo... Solid party band that
works and makes most sense after midnight. Cameron Gordon,
Spill Magazine, June 05
OUT Magazine (L.A.), March 2005 "...a horn-happy mélange of sweat and swagger infused with lounge lizard bravado. A true toast to the body and soul, Swing Swing is a swift-paced collection of songs that highlights vocalist Kelly Clipperton’s debonair delivery in pure swankiness."
Ottawa Sun, Feb 2005 "...delightful pop record swing swing...showcasing Clipperton's rich baritone - an irresistible voice."
Ottawa Citizen, Feb 2005 "...swing swing, an album of big blasting pop numbers with swinging horns, flamenco and (Clipperton's) vocal embellishments"
cord magazine (Vancouver) Feb 2005 "...This is really a party. The horns make it different. Now I'm thinking of bullfights. It's all about screwing and dancing and seduction. The lyrics are glossy and showy. R. Kelly (wait a sec...) Clipperton has a dreadfully low voice... not exactly what you'd expect out of him. It's sexy and growling."
View (Hamilton), Jan 05 ...an eclectic mix of brass arrangements, soulful baritones, theatrical pop and bluesy swing-a welcome change from the one-sound saturation heard continuously on radio stations across the country... Read article »
OutSmart (Houston), Jan 05 R. Kelly Clipperton takes an energetic and expressive approach in his new album, featuring his memorable voice to best effect. The debut album of Kelly & the Kellygirls, swing swing combines a mix of infectious dance beats and introspective lyrics. Clipperton's resonant baritone voice, often compared to Peter Murphy's, ranges from croon to growl on this album...His flamboyant style (no doubt well informed by his background as a hairstylist and a photographer) has metamorphosed through an assortment of looks, alighting for this album on luxuriant blonde locks...Clipperton is well known for his bold, glam approach and a penchant for disrobing. The word most often used to describe him seems to be "sexy," and he does indeed project a blatant sexuality and charisma that has proven impossible to ignore by his audiences. His dramatic, distinctive personal style is conveyed effectively in the music of this album, reflecting the magnetic appeal of his powerful stage presence.
FAB Magazine , Jan 2005 New Year's Resolution #3: Learn to play the mouth organ. Kelly & The Kelly Girls recently played the Drake Hotel's Speedball party. The six-member group dressed like a '30s Chicago blues band took to the stage with a new member, past Scenie AwardTM-winner Shane MacKinnon, performing a witty mix of musical styles and smart lyrical testaments. Since forming last year, the band has put out their debut CD Swing Swing, has toured North America and plans to go to Europe. Slowly gaining recognition, Kelly Clipperton isn't concerned with fame, saying, "I could handle the initial shock of it, but not the responsibility that comes with living up to it."
Trade , Winter 2004 Oh Kelly Clipperton, you do make me swoon... Is there any musical form you can't capture? Does your voice have any limit? This new sound---loungy, bluesy, jazzy, rockin'… your cats can really play and you're prowling wilder than ever...I enjoyed this album immensely. It's unlike anything out there right now. This accomplished playwright, photographer, stylist to the stars and all round great guy has got the vocal chops and cross-style sex appeal to carry any band, but he doesn't need to with the kellygirls. He's assembled a great group who are a delight to listen to---'swing swing' soars and dips from track to track. There is no formula and you can hear the enthusiasm the musicians had when they recorded. And if you've ever seen a live kellygirls show, you'll know that all involved just love getting the gear on and givin 'er. Pick up this disc: get ready to dance, to swoon, to fall in love.
SPILL Magazine, Fall '04
KATKG is the newest project of R. Kelly Clipperton, former front man of My Dear Heretic and Merkury Burn... He has punched up his energetic pop-rock sound with a horn section, which explains the new album's title, Swing Swing..."Carbonated Liplock" and "Tonight" are among the best tracks on the album. Their quick tempos and catchy choruses get the party rolling with a lot of momentum. After that, Kelly gets a little quiet and introspective on "Desperado." It sounds kind of like a dude singing an Annie-Lennox-type song (which is interesting, considering the fact that Kelly gets all bluesy on a cover of the Eurythmics' "I Love You Like a Ball and Chain" later on)...Kelly has been releasing and re-releasing "I'm Not Driving" since his My Dear Heretic days. But I really like the new treatment, with its horns and fast, funky rhythm guitars and bass line. Kelly may not be driving, but the straight-ahead beat here sure is. "Take Care of Me" is another real bright spot. Surprisingly, it actually sounds very..."New Jersey Shore" - kind of like old Springsteen and E. Street at their swingingest... Swing Swing makes for a good time.
ethrill.net August 2004 R. KELLY CLIPPERTON'S BALL AND CHAIN Glam newcomer rocks the cover. R. Kelly? Kelly Clarkson? Kelly Osborne? No way, here's a Kelly musician you should know and he's not of 'The Kelly family'! He is R. KELLY CLIPPERTON, he's hot in Toronto (and not only there) and did a very good cover version of Eurythmics' 'I love you like a ball and chain' on his 2004 album 'Swing swing' by 'Kelly & the Kelly girls'. You love it? You can win one of three copies in the big upcoming ethrill.net give away. Stay tuned!
annie-lennox.com, July 2004 "...the production on [swing swing] is excellent. Clipperton, a talented songwriter who penned most of the tracks on his own, has a voice reminiscent of a young Pete Burns along with Phil Oakey - but he has a more sensual element than either said artist. Stand out titles such as Carbonated Liplock and the incredible cover of Eurythmics' I love you like a ball and chain stay with you... and his lyrics - especially to It's Been Hours Now, are incredible. [Clipperton] has a strong visual image but most importantly, the songs have enough personality to shine on their own."
Trade, Summer 2004. "The audience is captivated by Kelly's haunting baritone voice; the rich diversity and obvious talent of the Kellygirls doesn't seem to hurt, either." Read article »
Now, March 4 2004. "Renowned for being a fabulous frontman, Clipperton is rumoured
to be relaxing the big gay drag element, taking things in a more
manly direction....Well, I've done the suit thing a couple of
times, but it's going in all directions. It just depends on how
I'm feeling at the time. There's no set of rules.' " Read
article »
Fab Magazine, June 2003"Instant Replay! R.Kelly Clipperton, whose band Merkury Burn split up in March, has resurfaced, this time wearing a dress. At his first performance at B.I.B.T. Theatre, Clipperton, looking very Peg Bundy, he unveiled his new band The Kellygirls (which is actually the name of a 1960s temp agency). 'I'm waiting for the lawsuits. The scandal would be international and it would be blown up to global proportions. I'm talking with Madonna's people on how to turn nothing into something', joked Clipperton backstage. The band will be performing the Pride 'half-time shows' in Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal this summer. 69, E-3, 60 bucks, hut, hut!"
