After graduating from art school in NYC, Ryan worked in the film and television industry where he created several films and portfolios. He would soon link up with friend and drummer Grady Feldgus, forging a very important friendship. Ryan and Grady formed a band, going under the names Digestive Disorder and The Amazing Randies, and had a short but successful run playing around NYC. The duo would soon break up, which would lead Ryan to explore and create new compositions while playing in the local folk scene. Shortly after this period, Ryan and Grady reconnected along with new bassist Justin Farrell to form The Boroughs. When Ryan isn't rocking out on stage, he enjoys early Woody Allen movies, collecting records, books on American History, and sleeping.
Justin "The JFAR" Farrell (Bass, Backing Vocals)
Justin began in the music scene starting as the lead/rhythm guitar player and sole songwriter for the New York Hardcore group "Innovator." After about 10 gigs or so with them between 1998-2000, that band and its members drifted apart and went their seperate ways. In October of 2003, Justin decided to jam on bass guitar with Ryan and Grady. After a few sessions, Justin decided to join the band and take over the bass duties.
Grady "Two Show" Feldgus (Drums)
Grady Feldgus began his musical exploits during his high school years, as the drummer for such New York hardcore punk bands as The Ethnic Slurs, Sleep Deprived Teens and The Firing Squad. During college he joined up with his film school classmate Ryan Dwork to form the band Digestive Disorder and The Amazing Randies. After the latter dissolved, Grady went on to some short (and uneventful) stints as a drummer for a handful of rock outfits. After singer/guitarist Ryan Dwork asked Grady to form a new group, The Boroughs were born.
Influences
CCR. The Ramones, The Clash, Lou Reed, Social D, Metallica, The Pixies
Sounds Like
The Boroughs are a band influenced by many groups throughout the history of music and have used those influences to develop an original sound.
The Boroughs are a Punk/Garage Rock - drum, bass, and guitar trio out of New York City.
The band was formed after guitarist/vocalist Ryan Dwork, drummer Grady Feldgus, and bassist Justin Farrell attended a gig by legendary guitarist Richard Lloyd in late 2003. Richard Lloyd had cut his teeth in the seminal Punk band Television in the 1970’s and was still ripping it up when the three would-be bandmates saw him play in a tiny, midtown club in NYC. As Lloyd stepped to the front of the stage, feedback blaring, the crowd screaming in anticipation, he suddenly raised his arm above his shoulder and pointed directly at Ryan, Grady, and Justin. It was probably only for a second, but to the guys in The Boroughs it seemed like a lifetime. It was as though Richard Lloyd somehow knew the future for these three young rockers and in that moment was passing the torch of Punk to them.
“The Boroughs play spirited, old-time punk that smells a bit like The Ramones” - Time Out New York – February 2006 Issue.
Not long after that gig, the guys began writing and rehearsing their own material across the East River in Queens, NY. Ryan and Grady had met while attending art school in Manhattan. They bonded over music and film. Artists like CCR, the Velvet Underground, The Clash, and The Stooges quickly became favorites. Later that year Ryan would meet up with Justin Farrell while working at the same film studio in Queens, NY. Justin had played guitar in a successful local hardcore band and had even done some touring. The three quickly gravitated towards each other based on their sense of humor, love of old school music and hatred of most everything currently playing on the radio.
After hearing a 3 song demo that Ryan and Grady had recorded earlier in the year, Justin joined the band on bass and The Boroughs were officially formed.
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“Hey! Stoner Rock is here to stay! This is smoking! A little Lou, a little CCR, what more could you want. This is cool. This works. Yeah, keep our eye on this NYC band, they're on the right track.
– New York Waste – March 2004 Issue.
The Boroughs began building their following giging regularly in NYC, and Brooklyn. On the strength of the 3 song demo, The band was selected out of thousands of other groups to participate in the first annual Little Steven’s Underground Garage Rock Battle of The bands. Little Steven, who in addition to being the guitarist for Bruce Springsteen, has his own radio show which broadcasts the hottest new and old garage, punk, and rock music. Although the band did not ultimately win, they started getting better gigs and even some airplay from local stations like WFMU-NY.
"There may be five boroughs in New York City, but there's only one band called The Boroughs and their new EP Ostrich certainly doesn't have its musical head in the sand." – IndieMusic.com – February 2006 Issue.
In the summer of 2005 the band released their first EP entitled ‘Ostrich.’ Not long after their packed record release show at Manhattan’s Arlene’s Grocery, The Boroughs began receiving rave reviews for Ostrich from at least a dozen local publications.
Throughout 2006 the band continued to write new material and gig as often as possible. Clubs like CBGB’S, The Luna Lounge, The Knitting Factory, and Pianos would all see the Boroughs pumping out their energetic brand of punk rock to enthusiastic audiences.
In the summer of 2007 the band went back into the studio to record the follow up LP with Producer Jason Marcus. Marcus had already had success with several other local NYC bands, and his Great, Great, Uncle was the famed American Composer Aaron Copeland.
Together with Marcus, The Boroughs crafted a 13 song LP that touches both on their musical past, while blasting in a new sound that is completely their own. The self titled record touches on punk, garage, classic, Emo, and folk rock.
‘THE BOROUGHS LP” will be officially released in the spring of 2008. More Shows and reviews to follow.
WHHHOOOOOOOOO!!! You guys rocked at Crash last night. That is the best show I've seen of the Boroughs. You were tight, heavy-hitting and relentless. What a punk band should be! More power to ya!
LITTLE STEVEN VAN ZANDT (of The Sopranos and Springsteen fame) and THE UNDERGROUND GARAGE say: "THE MOCKERS have one of the COOLEST SONGS IN THE WORLD!" Get the CD now!
You know what i realized just now? Everytime i have ever tried to make a stencil of your faces for t-shirts, Ryan's face always comes out the best. Everyone get a face like his and you may not become famous, but youll have cool t-shirts :)
L'Associazione culturale TO LOCALS è orgogliosa di presentare: 20 - 21 - 22 LUGLIO 2007
- ALPETTE ROCK FREE FESTIVAL -
INGRESSO GRATUITO - CAMPING GRATUITO
Sole, musica, aria fresca, spettacoli di giocoleria, birra, bancarelle e distro, e un cielo pieno di stelle. A mille metri sul livello del mare questo e altro all' ALPETTE ROCK FREE FESTIVAL!
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Hey! We should definitely play some shows. I have a punk-rock song that would sound great with Ryans voice and mine. Thanks for the add. KEEP ROCKING!!!
hey ryan. here's a link to that new smashing pumpkin song we were talking about... http://www.spinner.com/2007/05/18/new-music-tarantula-by-smashing-pumpkins/
Our new EP 'Chemistry Of Melody' is available to listen to now on our myspace profile if you fancy a listen?
The tracks are not downloadable, so if you would like a copy come down to a gig and buy a cd for only £1 or wait until its released on iTunes, eMusic, Rhapsody, Sony Connect, MusicNet and Napster.
The EP features a brand new bonus acoustic track 'Mind Tale'.
