Kelly Fairchild

"...fun, good-time album... Highly recommended!!!!"

Whatever happened to fun? The question many glam fans the world over have been pondering since the mid 90s. From back then, fronting Ramones tribute 'The Maroons', through Dik Trickle, to today with his debut solo album 'Starland', Canadian glam/punk stalwart Kelly Fairchild continues his one man crusade to address that question.

Kelly sets out his stall from the off. Opening track 'Let's Rock' slaps you across the face, if ever you needed a wake-up call! This track is a stark reminder that fun music puts the feelgood factor back into life. Forget your troubles for a few minutes and indulge in some bouncy happy rock to put a smile back on your chops.

Next up is the first single 'Pam Anderson', Kelly's tribute to the blonde bombshell, and attempt at wooing the ex-Baywatch babe. A good pop song, and if accompanied by an equally busty video, could get plenty of MTV airplay.

Another couple of tracks that deserve a mention have featured on Kelly's Myspace page for a little while now. Firstly, the Green Day-tinged anthem that is 'Let's Go Away'. Another track encouraging the listener to forget the doom and gloom of the 9 to 5 rat race and enjoy yourself, and one of my personal faves. Following on from this, '1969' is an altogether more aggressive sleazy rock number. One to bang your head to.

Time to slow it down briefly. The piano intro to 'Don't Stop' lures you into a false sense of security, before ripping into another catchy pop/punk ditty continuing the ever-present theme of the album. Have fun!

Closing the album with a cover of KISS track 'Comin' Home', a great glam finale, you get the feeling that with Starland, Kelly Fairchild has achieved what he set out to do. A fun, good-time album to restore everyone's faith in glam. Highly recommended!!!!


by Stacey Dunk

- Glitzine

"...fun, good-time album... Highly recommended!!!!"

Whatever happened to fun? The question many glam fans the world over have been pondering since the mid 90s. From back then, fronting Ramones tribute 'The Maroons', through Dik Trickle, to today with his debut solo album 'Starland', Canadian glam/punk stalwart Kelly Fairchild continues his one man crusade to address that question.

Kelly sets out his stall from the off. Opening track 'Let's Rock' slaps you across the face, if ever you needed a wake-up call! This track is a stark reminder that fun music puts the feelgood factor back into life. Forget your troubles for a few minutes and indulge in some bouncy happy rock to put a smile back on your chops.

Next up is the first single 'Pam Anderson', Kelly's tribute to the blonde bombshell, and attempt at wooing the ex-Baywatch babe. A good pop song, and if accompanied by an equally busty video, could get plenty of MTV airplay.

Another couple of tracks that deserve a mention have featured on Kelly's Myspace page for a little while now. Firstly, the Green Day-tinged anthem that is 'Let's Go Away'. Another track encouraging the listener to forget the doom and gloom of the 9 to 5 rat race and enjoy yourself, and one of my personal faves. Following on from this, '1969' is an altogether more aggressive sleazy rock number. One to bang your head to.

Time to slow it down briefly. The piano intro to 'Don't Stop' lures you into a false sense of security, before ripping into another catchy pop/punk ditty continuing the ever-present theme of the album. Have fun!

Closing the album with a cover of KISS track 'Comin' Home', a great glam finale, you get the feeling that with Starland, Kelly Fairchild has achieved what he set out to do. A fun, good-time album to restore everyone's faith in glam. Highly recommended!!!!


by Stacey Dunk

- Glitzine

"...stuff convertibles, and playmates were made for"



Kelly Fairchild - Starland

O.K. kids, this is it, take fucking notes right now! If you ever belong to a former band or two, both of whom have some nice respect in the underground, and you are going to attempt to go off on your own in an era that is not kindly to your style of music, this right here is how you do it successfully! This is how you grab that damn 6 string of yours, climb to the top of the mountain and scream out that you ain’t going home yet until they get the government to stand in your way of making ROCK! How do you make an album that is purely “feel good” tunes, party Rock, the type of stuff convertibles, playmates, and Jack Daniels were made for, in this day and age? Right here, that is how. Somehow Kelly has managed to capture everything that is fun about Rock and make it work. This isn’t living in the past, this stuff works NOW. Add to it that his look works really well also, well, Kelly might just be onto something here!
The disc explodes from the start with “Let’s Rock”, and honestly folks, that is exactly what this whole damn disc is about! Nothing short of “Rocking”, and by the end, when the whole thing has passed and you realize there are no ballads, and the only slow spot is the
beginning of one track, you know that Kelly means it. Yes, when we got to the final song, a cover of the KISS tune “Coming Home”, I was jumping up and down that the thing made it to the end with no duds, and no ballads. At that point Kelly became one of my heroes.
In the first 24 hours of having this disc I probably listened to it 10 times. Since that day I have listened to it countless times more. The case is beaten to hell already. I swear, I have jewel cases that are 20 years old that look better! It’s been going everywhere with me! That says a lot considering it did make the immediate transition to my iPod.
Second song “Pam Anderson” (and first single) comes on strong and sounds like a hit from the very beginning with its drums and keyboard sound-effect beginning, into the impossibly catchy hooks.
“Together Tonight” shows the intelligence in the songwriter with the easy flow and change in the music to match the lyrics.
The day I heard “Don’t Stop”, on my way to my job (dreading the day ahead of me), the song spoke to me. I was listening to a person in my exact situation, a person who knew what it was like to have to go 9 to 5 to power his true loves. It was nice to hear in the context of the music.
The pairing of “It’s Alright” (my daughters favorite song) and the cover of KISS’s “Comin’ Home” is brilliant. Both songs accent each other perfectly and close the CD in pure style.
Kelly Fairchild has achieved something I really didn’t think was totally possible in this day and age. He made an album that is a perfect party album, an album all about fun and living life to its fullest, having fun, and yet not afraid to show his age. The album embraces having a great time, embraces youth as well as being married. It’s the perfect album for all of you Glam freaks and Rock freaks who are not 18 anymore, but it is also perfect for you Glam freaks and Rock freaks who are 18. It covers the demographics, and it does it with pride and power. Damn near absolute perfection. We have a new hero kids!


courtesy: http://sonicruin.com/ - Sonic Ruin Magazine - Issue 3

"...stuff convertibles, and playmates were made for"



Kelly Fairchild - Starland

O.K. kids, this is it, take fucking notes right now! If you ever belong to a former band or two, both of whom have some nice respect in the underground, and you are going to attempt to go off on your own in an era that is not kindly to your style of music, this right here is how you do it successfully! This is how you grab that damn 6 string of yours, climb to the top of the mountain and scream out that you ain’t going home yet until they get the government to stand in your way of making ROCK! How do you make an album that is purely “feel good” tunes, party Rock, the type of stuff convertibles, playmates, and Jack Daniels were made for, in this day and age? Right here, that is how. Somehow Kelly has managed to capture everything that is fun about Rock and make it work. This isn’t living in the past, this stuff works NOW. Add to it that his look works really well also, well, Kelly might just be onto something here!
The disc explodes from the start with “Let’s Rock”, and honestly folks, that is exactly what this whole damn disc is about! Nothing short of “Rocking”, and by the end, when the whole thing has passed and you realize there are no ballads, and the only slow spot is the
beginning of one track, you know that Kelly means it. Yes, when we got to the final song, a cover of the KISS tune “Coming Home”, I was jumping up and down that the thing made it to the end with no duds, and no ballads. At that point Kelly became one of my heroes.
In the first 24 hours of having this disc I probably listened to it 10 times. Since that day I have listened to it countless times more. The case is beaten to hell already. I swear, I have jewel cases that are 20 years old that look better! It’s been going everywhere with me! That says a lot considering it did make the immediate transition to my iPod.
Second song “Pam Anderson” (and first single) comes on strong and sounds like a hit from the very beginning with its drums and keyboard sound-effect beginning, into the impossibly catchy hooks.
“Together Tonight” shows the intelligence in the songwriter with the easy flow and change in the music to match the lyrics.
The day I heard “Don’t Stop”, on my way to my job (dreading the day ahead of me), the song spoke to me. I was listening to a person in my exact situation, a person who knew what it was like to have to go 9 to 5 to power his true loves. It was nice to hear in the context of the music.
The pairing of “It’s Alright” (my daughters favorite song) and the cover of KISS’s “Comin’ Home” is brilliant. Both songs accent each other perfectly and close the CD in pure style.
Kelly Fairchild has achieved something I really didn’t think was totally possible in this day and age. He made an album that is a perfect party album, an album all about fun and living life to its fullest, having fun, and yet not afraid to show his age. The album embraces having a great time, embraces youth as well as being married. It’s the perfect album for all of you Glam freaks and Rock freaks who are not 18 anymore, but it is also perfect for you Glam freaks and Rock freaks who are 18. It covers the demographics, and it does it with pride and power. Damn near absolute perfection. We have a new hero kids!


courtesy: http://sonicruin.com/ - Sonic Ruin Magazine - Issue 3

"...just get this CD, it will make you feel better!"

Kelly Fairchild - Starland

“Let’s rock!” This is the title of the first song on this album and this is no lie! The second song (and single) “Pam Anderson” directly puts you in the atmosphere of this album, good catchy party rock’n’roll! You like KISS and CHEAP TRICK? Then, there’s no way you can’t like KELLY FAIRCHILD!
For some reason this CD also reminds me of Ace Frehley’s solo albums at times. Kelly probably wouldn’t deny it as you’ll find a KISS cover (“Comin’ Home”) on the album, what a good song choice! Bubblegum rock junkies will love “Let’s Go Away” and “Don’t Stop” but you’ll also find more emotional moments on this CD like in “Live Again” and songs that RAMONES fans will rock to (“Why Won’t You Love Me”…)
I sadly missed KELLY FAIRCHILD’s show at The Joint in Beverly Hills (damn L.A bus!) a couple of weeks ago but something tells me that I will see this Canadian rock’n’roller and his band on a stage in the future… If you’re like me and didn’t get the chance to catch KELLY FAIRCHILD live, just get this CD, it will make you feel better!/Laurent.


courtesy: http://www.veglam.com - VEGLAM

"...sparkling, instantly memorable rock ’n roll songs"


Kelly Fairchild is a man on a mission and his mission is to provide you with the perfect soundtrack whenever you need to be reminded that life is supposed to be fun and it’s at times more important to do what you feel instead of letting your mind rule your heart.
The weapons of choice for this task are a bunch of simple songs with catchy melodies and an amazing feel good factor. When I say simple I don’t mean this to be degrading in any way, on the contrary the strength of this album lies in the simplicity of the songs.
Before becoming a solo artist Kelly was a member of Dick Trickle and front man for a Ramones tribute band so it’s not really a surprise that the punkiness of the latter has influenced the sound of this album. Add to that a little Kiss, Cheap Trick and Mötley Crüe and you have a pretty good idea what to expect when you pop this CD into your stereo.
If you want to compare the sonical content to some of the younger talent of the current music scene I’d go for Sum 41, Bowling For Soup and even Green Day with the biggest difference being that Kelly’s music is far more glam laced.
Joining mister Fairchild on this album are a whole bunch of musicians of which Union/Vince Neil band member Brent Fitz is the only one that rings a bell with yours truly.
Favourite tracks include opening cut “Let’s Rock” (check out that great honky tonk piano in the back during the chorus), the poppy “Let’s Go Away”, “Live Again” and “It’s Alright” during which Kelly expresses his love for the original masked marauders Kiss.
And while on the subject of Kiss, the disc’s closing track- a cover of the track “Comin’ Home”- also deserves to be mentioned. While mister Fairchild doesn’t stray too far from the original he has definitely given it a personal touch which makes this 33 year old tune sound fresh and exciting.
All in all this is an excellent first effort custom made for anyone who’s looking for some sparkling, instantly memorable rock ’n roll songs. (PS)

courtesy: http://www.rockreport.be
- Rock Report

"...amphetamine-fuelled hard rock that draw on classic themes, from bratty sounding love songs to odes to timeless heroes"

A young veteran of the rock ’n’ roll wars, singer/guitarist Fairchild has long been this city’s leading proponent of ’70s-styled glam rock, taking his musical cues from the likes of Sweet, Kiss, and the Ramones. If anything, his problem has been finding like-minded types to join the gang, so he’s taken the logical step and made a solo record. There are no surprises here, as Kelly and a studio band churn their way through 10 melodic blasts of amphetamine-fuelled hard rock that draw on classic themes, from bratty sounding love songs to odes to timeless heroes — such as Pam Anderson and the amazing rock acts that emerged in 1969. Fairchild’s studio band is a classy bunch — featuring bassist Art Pearson, backing vocalist George Belanger, keyboardist Bob Filep and drummers Brent Fitz, Mark Sawatzky and Brian Aitken — and the album rocks just the way it’s meant to. — JK

courtesy: http://www.uptownmag.com
- Uptown Magazine

Kelly Fairchild snags slot at Cruefest Hollywood



ARTIST: Kelly Fairchild
POSTED ON: 2008-07-17

Winnipeg glam-rocker Kelly Fairchild is returning to Los Angeles to perform as part of the Original CrueFest 2008, Saturday, July 26th, 2008 at the world famous Whisky A Go-Go in Hollywood, California.

Kelly Fairchild was one of only 8 artists chosen to perform at the eigth annual Cruefest Hollywood. Now being held in cities throughout North America, Cruefest is a global charity event in support of the Skylar Neil Memorial Fund for Cancer Research and features top upcoming rock bands from around the world. Skylar Lynnae Neil was born on March 26th, 1991. Along with her parents, Vince and Sharise Neil, Skylar fought an agonizing battle against cancer that would claim her life on August 15th 1995.

After performing the opening set for last year’s Cruefest Hollywood, Fairchild was asked to return as a headliner for this year.

Fairchild will be showcasing at two other Los Angeles venues during this trip. On Friday, July 25th he will be performing as part of the 11th annual Los Angeles International Pop Overthrow Festival at The Knitting Factory, and an independent showcase on Tuesday, July 29th at The Cat Club.

Kelly Fairchild has long been the Prairies’ leading proponent of ‘70s-styled rock, taking his musical cues from the likes of Sweet, Kiss, Cheap Trick and the Ramones. He released his debut album STARLAND last summer to rave reviews from around the globe.

Fairchild’s next Winnipeg show is Saturday, August 23rd, 2008 at the Zoo (Osborne Village Inn) with special guests the Mad Young Darlings.


courtesy: http://www.manitobamusic.com

- Manitoba Music - MMIA

“…10 unpretentious and fun hook-filled anthems” Rob Williams – Winnipeg Free Press, Canada

“…10 melodic blasts of amphetamine-fuelled hard rock… the album rocks just the way it’s meant to…” John Kendle – Uptown Magazine, Canada

“…his sound hews close to the punk/pop hybrid today’s teens are gobbling up in shovel-fuls.
…It’s all good fun” David Schmeichel – Winnipeg Sun, Canada

“…I've totally fallen in love with it!! it's intense, you can feel the magic through the notes... one of the hottest albums I have discovered in years! 9 out of 10” - Maribel Ruiz – Rock Hard Magazine, Spain

“Opening track 'Let's Rock' slaps you across the face, if ever you needed a wake-up call. This track
is a stark reminder that fun music puts the feel-good factor back into life…A fun, good-time album to restore everyone's faith in rock. Highly recommended.” - Stacey Dunk – Glitzine Magazine, UK

“…More hooks than a Japanese fishing boat and all of these songs have an unbelievable special something that manages to seep into your soul making you want to hear them over and over and over again...” Tamara S. - CD Baby customer

“sparkling rock n' roll tunes here… kelly has mastered that Cheap Trick/KISS/Crue/Ramones hybrid, penning perfect, instantly memorable, catchy, hook-laden rock n' roll/punk rock tunes.” Mozz – CD Baby customer

"Starland" pleasantly hits me from the first listen, fresh, winning melody with modern sounds… highly recommended purchase, you will not be disappointed.” Moreno Lissoni – SLAM! Magazine, Italy

“I absolutely love the hell out of it! It is the album to beat this year for everybody else. Nice job!” Carl Isonhart – Sonic Ruin Magazine, USA

“…great band, great show, a highlight of the day…” – Kirk Fotakis, Director - CrueFest Hollywood 2007

"Kelly Fairchild and his band take the best elements of power pop, punk/pop, and glam, and whip them into a great rock 'n roll show with the proper attitude and visuals. Fairchild's CD, Starland, is chock full of catchy tunes which power pop fans will savour. If Pam Anderson ever hears their titular song, she'll be a fan for life!" – David Bash, Founder/CEO - International Pop Overthrow

“Crue, PBF, Cheap Trick, real rock. Top drawer. We're all singing along here. . .fantastic.” Richard – CD Baby customer
- CD / Concert Review Quotes - Various

“…10 unpretentious and fun hook-filled anthems” Rob Williams – Winnipeg Free Press, Canada

“…10 melodic blasts of amphetamine-fuelled hard rock… the album rocks just the way it’s meant to…” John Kendle – Uptown Magazine, Canada

“…his sound hews close to the punk/pop hybrid today’s teens are gobbling up in shovel-fuls.
…It’s all good fun” David Schmeichel – Winnipeg Sun, Canada

“…I've totally fallen in love with it!! it's intense, you can feel the magic through the notes... one of the hottest albums I have discovered in years! 9 out of 10” - Maribel Ruiz – Rock Hard Magazine, Spain

“Opening track 'Let's Rock' slaps you across the face, if ever you needed a wake-up call. This track
is a stark reminder that fun music puts the feel-good factor back into life…A fun, good-time album to restore everyone's faith in rock. Highly recommended.” - Stacey Dunk – Glitzine Magazine, UK

“…More hooks than a Japanese fishing boat and all of these songs have an unbelievable special something that manages to seep into your soul making you want to hear them over and over and over again...” Tamara S. - CD Baby customer

“sparkling rock n' roll tunes here… kelly has mastered that Cheap Trick/KISS/Crue/Ramones hybrid, penning perfect, instantly memorable, catchy, hook-laden rock n' roll/punk rock tunes.” Mozz – CD Baby customer

"Starland" pleasantly hits me from the first listen, fresh, winning melody with modern sounds… highly recommended purchase, you will not be disappointed.” Moreno Lissoni – SLAM! Magazine, Italy

“I absolutely love the hell out of it! It is the album to beat this year for everybody else. Nice job!” Carl Isonhart – Sonic Ruin Magazine, USA

“…great band, great show, a highlight of the day…” – Kirk Fotakis, Director - CrueFest Hollywood 2007

"Kelly Fairchild and his band take the best elements of power pop, punk/pop, and glam, and whip them into a great rock 'n roll show with the proper attitude and visuals. Fairchild's CD, Starland, is chock full of catchy tunes which power pop fans will savour. If Pam Anderson ever hears their titular song, she'll be a fan for life!" – David Bash, Founder/CEO - International Pop Overthrow

“Crue, PBF, Cheap Trick, real rock. Top drawer. We're all singing along here. . .fantastic.” Richard – CD Baby customer
- CD / Concert Review Quotes - Various