In the autumn of 2008 Brad Thomas decided to form The Ryan O’Reilly Band. Luckily he found a man of the required name to front the project and suddenly things began to happen. This terrifying personality cult follow a bizarre hierarchical system loosely based on that of an eighteenth-century frontier town, the current sheriff is Mr Tali Trow. In spite and because of this, in their spare time the band have been sighted with celebrity web-slinger Safety Dave Granshaw (who can beat out a rhythm on a calf skin with aplomb) and his side-kick Spencer Cullum, who rips his shirt off when anyone calls his Pedal Steel a lap steel. The band held a secret meeting and decided to play a unique blend of alt. folk with killer harmonies and Celtic fire. With their monthly residency at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, the band have been developing a reputation for a pretty special live show, just wait till you hear the record.
Reviews/ Press:
"Ranging from the top end of Americana through to highlights of Irish folk, Ryan O'Reilly and his cohorts are making serious waves on the underground blues/folk scene. If you could imagine The Pogues slow dancing with Solomon Burke to the beat of a Dylan drum you might well be getting close imagining quite what this highly promising youngster and his outfut bring to the table" - (Bloody Awful Poetry - January 09)
"Truly astounding harmonies and mesmeric live. Not to be missed. Definitely one of our one's to watch in 2009." - (Brighton Communion - May 09)
**** - 4 STARS
You'll be blown away... The songs are gentle, evocative and self-assured. Ryan's voice is edged with woodsmoke, the harmonies fit like jigsaw pieces. (Maverick - August 08)
"Evocatively sublime and effortlessly bewitching. O'Reilly has a passionate and characterful voice, Celtic fire, faltering heartbreak and the commanding stage presence of a young matador, If he could bottle it he would make his fortune." -(Rock'n'Reel - August 08)
"an emerging new talent" - (MBC - September 08)
"One of the best unsigned talents in the UK right now. Their music is dynamic and moving. A True Gem." (Notting Hill Arts Club Communion - October 08)
"Glorious, the new residents set the bar so high" (Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club - February 09)
" Inspirational, vibrant and stimulating. Making songs ubiquitous with youthful articulation and playful vocal melodies, the sense of epicness attained sending shivers up your spine." -(RawRip - September 08)
" Guitar hooks fall over each other spectacularly, cascading like waterfalls. improbable yet delightfully bittersweet, so well harmonised it’s criminal and a rhythm you can’t help but tap your feet to. There is enough to ensnare you and ensure that the disk doesn’t leave your stereo for a long time." - (In The City - August 07)
"He has a fragility and sense of sad solace that strikes at chords many older than he are struggling to hit"- (Electricity & Lust - Septemeber 08)
"My is he talented. Excellent. O'Reilly has a unique vocal which combines brilliantly with harmonica" (Americana UK - August 07)
"His highly refined lyrics are fiercely emotional, sometimes surreal, packed to the gills with raw emotion and set to a toe-tapping, edgy beat." - (Hampshire Music Live - December 06)
'awesome piano solo played by Brad Thomas' (FFS - February 09)
PAST SHOWS:
LONDON, UK: Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club, The Borderline,
The Troubadour, 93 Feet East, 12-Bar Club, Notting Hill Arts Club
FESTIVALS, UK: Beach Break 08, Stokes Bay 08, Woolfire 08
TORONTO, Canada: The Rivoli, The Reverb, Holy Joe's, Free Times Cafe
DUBLIN, Ireland: The Hub, The Mezz, Bruxelles, U.C.D
Hello, after an unfortunate hiatus, the reasons for which are probably best not gone into here, we finally have some new music on the AUK MySpace site. For your listening pleasure this month we offer Nathan Oliver, Conrad Ford, the irrepressible Todd Snider and the delightful Beccy Owen. Don't forget too, for those of you within striking distance of Leicester, Electric Dustbowl 2 on 19 September.
Hi there! I saw you at the Tower on Saturday night and thought your set was incredible. What fantastic voices you all have! Brilliant brilliant songs. Where might I be able to purchase a CD of your stuff? Hope to see you around soon xx
Hey hunni(s), so then when are we getting the dvds of the thingy from h.moon?Haven't seen you for ages Ryan....where have you been...me laura and a few of my freshers are gonna pop down to Ronnie's 2nd June...Did i send you the photos that i took the last time i can't remember, you know i probably have about 200 from over the years videos too...well i still want the waltzy song on here that is incredible! Love ya lots hun xx hope all is well :-)
Saw you guys at the Portabella rd. market on saturday! So impressed we bought a cd! Were back in the states now and plan on spreading your music all around South Carolina!!
Hey, yeah we were playing with Thomas J Speight back in Feb I believe... Sounding good! I got a message from some of your band mates I think about a gig?? xx
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