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The Age, Melbourne
November 2003
Review of Live Down Here On Earth

About eight years ago, Kevin Welch, Kieran Kane, Harry Stinson, Mike Henderson and Tammy Rogers formed Nashville's dynamic independent roots label, Dead Reckoning. They recorded and toured together and backed each other up on solo CDs. In recent years they've gone their separate ways, but Welch and Kane have kept the Dead Reckoning spirit alive with solo and duo tours (their Live in Melbourne CD, at the late, lamented venue, The Continental, is a classic).

Welch, an inveterate traveller, is back here on his fourth visit, backed once more by Aussie roots outfit The Flood (plus banjo ace Mark Collins). For a preview of their shows, try this just-released CD of their live Basement gig in Sydney a year ago.

The "title" track is a blues song from Welch's eponymous CD, Life Down Here on Earth. Fans will recognise other gems such as Beneath My Wheels and Millionaire (another title track from a CD he recorded with a Danish group). Welch and the gang also reel off a superb rendition of Queen of the Slipstream, while The Flood, led by guitarist/songwriter Kevin Bennett, move front of stage for Paul Kelly's Blues and Bound to Fall.

Capital News
October 2003
Review of "Live Down Here On Earth"

Before KEVIN WELCH arrived here last year to work on tour with THE FLOOD I joked with him now he had bands embedded all over the world, what with recording his most recent studio album (Millionaire) with a European combo and maintaining fluid line-ups in the US made up of various fellow DEAD RECKONERS. That also being the name of the co-op label he formed with Kieran Kane.

Having the pleasure of later seeing him perform with The Flood at The Basement, the very night this new album Live Down Here On Earth was recorded, my feeling was this was the band that fit the Oklahoma troubadour like a glove. Having heard a preview of the finish product I have no reason to change that opinion.

The one crinkle on paper might appear to be that The Flood have their own long haired singer/songwriter front man in KEVIN BENNETT and we know he is no slouch in either of those departments. Problem solved by the fact KB is also a fine electric guitarist and the band gets to stretch out and share the spotlight with the imported 'star' who really becomes a sixth member of an outstanding band with few peers anywhere.

This suits the deceptively laid back Welch just fine. He is a team player who can move front or sideways and on the night this album was recorded looked and sounded as happy to be with The Flood as they were with him. With KB's long-time duet partner JAMES GILLARD now on guitar, mandolin and harmonies, plus TIM WEDDE on keyboards, WAYNE KELLET bass and STEVE FEARNLEY (drums) what is not to like? I seem to remember another original member MARK 'BUCKY' COLLINS was also on deck that night and this recording should elevate the band to the world stage - they'll be fighting off visiting troubadours requiring their services.

The two Kevins should be able to retain their services. Cut to the album, the band gets to showcase two of their own songs, Paul Kelly Blues and Bound To Fall. Welch reprises a few (Happy Everafter, Me & Billy The Kid, etc) and naturally the (near) title track, but also gives a nod to his sometime duet partner Kieran Kane, performing his Eight More Miles.

Together with the great live recording the two did in Melbourne a few tours ago (recorded on the second tour by Kane and Welch, not as revisionist publicity has it, the first) Live Down Here On Earth should make everyone rejoice that over the years we have been able to document a few magical occasions of US/Australian interaction.

Much more to come with an extensive tour from mid October to early November with the two Kev's and band. It will take them down the East Coast plus a few forays inland and I imagine you will find a full listing somewhere else in this magazine. More important for me to say in the limited space available don't miss it if you are anywhere near and if you are not then still try and get there. It is all happening down here on earth after all.

Newcastle Herald & Central Coast Herald
October 2003
Review of Live Down Here On Earth
by Darrell Croker

I WAS in Kevin heaven when I found out about this album. One of my favourite American performers, Kevin Welch, teaming up with my favourite Australian band, the Kevin Bennett-fronted The Flood. This is probably the album of the year for alt-country and roots fans, but it deserves a wider audience. Welch and Bennett are two of the most accomplished songwriters going around. And Welch and The Flood are killer live acts individually and dynamite together.

They do justice to their own songs, accomplishing what live albums should by adding an intimacy to songs from studio albums. And they rev up some great cover versions. Strap yourself in for Joe Ely's Me And Billy The Kid. Fans will recognise the pun in the title and Life Down Here On Earth is included in the set, a little reminiscent of The Band or Leon Russell in full flight. But they need no comparisons to other artists. In years to come both acts will be duly acknowledged for their body of work and this ffort is complementary of their canon.

It was recorded live at The Basement in Sydney in September last year. Welch needed a backing band for last year's Gympie Muster and the guys followed up that with the Sydney gig. They've been back touring together recently, playing at the Terrigal Country Club in mid-October. According to keyboardist Tim Wedde they tried in vain to get a Newcastle date but couldn't secure it. More's the pity, but at least I've got this album. So should you.

Rhythms - Issue 135
October 2003
Review of Live Down Here On Earth
by Keith Glass

This is the second live album from Australia by Welch. First came Live in Melbourne with duo partner Kieran Kane, now with this recorded at Sydney's Basement late last year. The Flood is a local combo that fits the Oklahoma troubadour like a glove. He twists, it turns, and together they create a warm, comfortable sound that belies the recent nature (at time of recording) of their union.

The group takes the spotlight for 'Paul Kelly's Blues' and 'Bound to Fall' but throughout Kevin Bennett and his gang are given space to show that they understand perfectly the roots rock-country territory Welch occupies. With a crack rhythm section, keyboards, a couple of guitars and guest Mark Collins on banjo - some great harmonies too - they have it covered.

Welch reprises a few off his last album ('Millionaire' and Van Morrison's 'Queen of the Slipstream'), drops in Kane's 'Eight More Miles' and some earlier classics such as 'Happy Ever After' and the (near) title track 'Life Down Here On Earth'.

Timeoff Magazine, Brisbane
September 2003
Review of Live Down Here On Earth

Recorded last spring at The Basement in Sydney and backed by Australian band The Flood, this live recording brings together songs from Welch's solo albums, his album with Kieran Kane and even a Van Morrison classic.

Welch's open highway country songs are reworked here, with 'Beneath My Wheels', 'Eight More Miles' and 'Happy Ever After' given more of a carnival feel, all seven musicians adding their own flavour.

The humble Welch even hands over the stage to The Flood for a couple of songs showing that while the two parties are from different countries, they share the same musical heritage. For a bunch of guys who had only been playing together for one week, this is an impressive document and only bettered by actually being there on the night.

Country Update August 2003
Review of "Live Down Here On Earth"
by Denise Torenbeek

Anyone who isn't a fan of Kevin Welch's music hasn't heard him perform live - and the same can be said of The Flood and Kevin Bennett. Their Tamworth Hotel gigs every festival are legendary, and invariably packed to the max. This live album was recorded on the last night of Kevin Welch's 2002 Australian tour, in Melbourne. A tour which began at the Gympie Muster, where The Flood were introduced to Kevin Welch as his backing band, and if this CD is any proof it was a "marriage made in Heaven". It is the mark of a great songwriter to put you in the mind of someone else in a place you've never been.

Both Kevins share a world-class ability to write superb songs and deliver them flawlessly. Here they swap vocals on twelve stellar tracks, inc Beneath My Wheels, Millionaire and Life Down Here on Earth (all title tracks from KW albums); Annalise Please and the provocative Witness appear courtesy of just Kevin Welch and guitar. The Flood returns with Paul Kelly's Blues, the quirky Bound to Fall, the exultant Billy the Kid and a gorgeous version of 8 More Miles featuring KB on the mic, glorious guitar sounds, and great harp from piano virtuoso Tim Wedde. The encore is Happy Ever After, and if the crowd at that gig weren't, well, I bet they were smiling for a week or so! A re-union tour is scheduled for late 2003 to promote this album. Don't miss a gig at a town near you.