![]() ![]() He can also coo a country rocker like "On the Banks of the Old Kishwaukee" or the quiet "The High Road," backed by cellist Lonberg-Holm.īut it's when Walker slowly whispers his way to a soul-clearing yawp that we hear the full range of not only his vocal abilities but also what they inspire in his band, most satisfyingly experienced with the chooglin' "Sweet Satisfaction." It gives Sulpizio a chance to burn the mind fuzz with Rosaly's aerobic power-drumming, channeling the soulful avant-shred of Sonny Sharrock leading the '00s psych-wizards Comets on Fire in an ecstatic worship service. But what pushes "Summer Dress" over the edge is Walker's voice, clawing out of his chest to spread rose petals. ![]() The same playful wandering can be heard in the busy, electric Miles-inspired "Love Can Be Cruel" and "Summer Dress," a full-band exercise led by Hatwich's funky upright bass and Adasiewicz's whirling vibes that imagines Tortoise backing a cosmic Van Morrison. That's due in no small part to the Primrose Green band, a stellar mix of the Chicago jazz (drummer Frank Rosaly, cellist Fred Lonberg-Holm, bassist Anton Hatwich and vibraphonist Jason Adasiewicz) and experimental/rock scenes (keyboardist Ben Boye, electric guitarist Brian Sulpizio, violist Whitney Johnson). Walker's springy picking pattern bounces off a sparsely sparkling piano, a bass line skips instead of walks, and the drums are so jaunty that the whole scene evokes a guy with a straw dangling from his grinning mouth and a cheap beer in hand. The opening title track of Primrose Green doesn't even wait 10 seconds to spiral. With Primrose Green, Walker has developed into a thoughtful singer-songwriter following a tangled thread, one picked at by the likes of Tim Buckley, John Martyn, Van Morrison and in 1969's Streetnoise, a folky progressive-rock record by Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger & The Trinity. But where Rose looked to fingerstyle masters like John Fahey and Robbie Basho, Walker evokes the '70s, when unplugged music could pick the body electric. Like Rose, the Chicago-based Walker also comes from a noisier past that led to exploration in acoustic music. In both cases, Walker and Rose politely declined the quiet coffeehouse attitude toward the unplugged and demanded something unruly. It recalls a moment nearly nine years prior, at a venue just around the corner, when another acoustic guitarist, Jack Rose, asked a seated audience to stand up: "This is rock 'n' roll," he said. A friend, singer-songwriter Marian McLaughlin, offers help but Walker flashes a smile and says, "Nah, thanks, this is punk rock," then somehow extends a hand to shake and hustles upstairs. bar where his band is set to play, carrying two acoustic guitar cases and an amp. 29 – Columbus, OH The Spacebar w/ Steve Gunn 28 – Louisville, KY The New Vintage w/ Steve Gunn ![]() 23 – Birmingham, AL Bottletree w/ Steve Gunn 22 – Columbus, GA RiverCenter for the Performing Arts – Studio Theater 20 – New Orleans, LA Gasa Gasa w/ Steve Gunn 19 – Houston, TX Walter’s Downtown w/ Steve Gunnįri. 15 – Brooklyn, NY Baby’s All Right w/ Kevin Morby 14 – Philadelphia, PA Boot & Saddle w/ Kevin Morby 12 – Asheville, NC The Mothlight w/ Moon Duo, Kevin Morbyįri. 11 – Nashville, TN Stone Fox w/ Kevin Morby 10 – Bloomington, IN The Bishop w/ Kevin Morby If these tracks are any indication, Primrose Green is going to be an album we will be playing all spring.įind both songs posted below, along with Walker’s upcoming tour dates, some of which also include Kevin Morby (including Baby’s All Right this Sunday, March 15 – tickets are still available) It’s the 2nd track shared from Primrose Green, with the first being the title track, a more lush, springtime-ready affair. At age 25, Ryley Walker has already formed into his own identity, seemingly way beyond his time. Or the impressive guitar playing that creates a layered dizzying effect, not the sort of thing that normally comes to mind for an artist that most are labeling under the folk-rock genre. It’s hard not to get lost in the rawness of his Americana-draw vocal performance on “Sweet Satisfaction,” one that’s very distinctly unique to him. Take “Sweet Satisfaction,” the latest track taken from his new album Primrose Green, out via Dead Oceans on March 31. The power of Chicago singer-songwriter Ryley Walker can be immediately felt when embarking on one of his songs. ![]()
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