Boston-bred Stephen Kellogg & the Sixers attract affection and attention via the Everyman ambitions of Springsteen, Mellencamp, and Petty. Chock-full of populist appeal, the quartet melds affirmative anthems with the travails of awkward boy/girl encounters and adolescent uncertainty. Passionate delivery, a playful attitude, and a battery of propulsive melodies all have earned Kellogg and his band kudos.
Recent albums Glassjaw Boxer, Bulletproof Heart, The Bear, and the like all hint at the band's prolific prowess, but the web-only release documenting performance number 1,000, Live From the Heart, encapsulates the live experience. It's riveting, to say the least. Best to catch Kellogg & the Sixers up close in a club, because eventually arenas will follow.