Kelly's urge to leave Reed's band also stemmed from his desire to adapt his blues playing to the perceived tastes of a particular audience. With regard to the latter point, Kelly has said, "If the older folks come in, I want to take them back to the Delta blues.
Kelly's motivation to depart from Reed's band was also driven by his wish to adjust his blues playing in line with the preferences of a specific audience. In relation to this, Kelly has stated, "If the older folks attend, I want to transport them back to the Delta blues.