Ryan-O'Neil

Singer/Songwriter/Your grandma's favorite rapper/DJ/Guitarist

[ryanoneilmusic]

I love cartoons and I love making music. Who knows, maybe I’ll start to love editing. Enjoy.

[ryanoneilmusic]

“I’d rather be a free man in my grave, than living as a puppet or a slave.” -Jimmy Cliff

[ryanoneilmusic]

A Night Out at Unit J

This weekend I caught a show at the newly renamed Unit J (formerly known as The Brooklyn Warehouse) in Bushwick. My drummer Jon Wert curated a night of "powerful sounds" as he put it. Unit J is a warehouse dwelling that houses 6 artistic individuals. They've turned their apartment into a pretty awesome live performance, and audio/video recording venue. Last night's show included 3 bands (Sorry Dru Cutler, I missed your opening set), Woodhead, Pseudo-Sentai, and Education Reform. Each band brought quite the ruckus. Lots of guitar pedals, lots of noise, not enough dancing for me, but that's on the patrons not the bands. Between Jon and I, our tastes in music are close but very different. I must say that while the bands were more on the "experimental" side of things than I like due to their usage of compound meters in their rhythm, distortion of voices and other instruments, I really did enjoy them. Woodhead was able to go from out of this world rhythmic changes to a straight forward 4/4 funky jam like this ditty...LISTEN. For Power Ranger themed rockin, Pseudo-Sentai is the band for you. I met Addie, and Scott at another event but never got the chance to hear them play. Last night hey did not disappoint. First, they had the 1995 Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers: The Movie playing behind their set the entire time. Each member of the band was dressed in corresponding colors to their respective Power Ranger. Besides being distracted by the awesome 1995 movie graphics, the movie went along with the "Universe saving" hard driven riffs of Pseudo-Sentai. Peep their tune Bansheeface. Jon Wert is the best drummer there is!!!! With that being said, Education Reform was my favorite band of the night. After Pseudo-Sentai blew our minds and possible some of our ear drums, Education Reform started with a slow, soft, ambient build up. the lead singer and keyboard player Aaron Kruzik distorts his voice to the point where the vocals work as an added sonic layer to the already lush, and intricate sound. Now back to Jon Wert. Man, that boy can play. I know I'm biased because he also plays with me but I was captivated by his playing last night. He can go from balls breaking beating on the drums to the most gentle percussive additions. I've never heard a more melodic drummer than Jon. I don't remember if they played this one last night but I know it's one of my favorites of theirs. LISTEN Overall a successful night out. There was no cover, just showed love to the venue and bands by giving to the tip jar. I also ended up leaving with music from every band there. Unit J also has a bar where you can buy drinks, but most folks just BYOB. It's a great time. Next time you're in or around the Bushwick area and looking for a good show/party, check their website and see what they've got planned. till next time, #bandidos this is Bandit saying Peace out.

[pmurraymusic]

The homie banditinc Ryan-O’Neil Live in BK. #Fire

[ryanoneilmusic]

It's like common courtesy to reblog a video someone posts of you right?

[ryanoneilmusic]

In response to the lack of indictments in the murders of Michael Brown in Ferguson, MO and Eric Garner in Staten Island, NYC, I decided to play a cover of Bob Dylan's "Only a Pawn in Their Game." The words are as true today.

[ryanoneilmusic]

A Bill of Musical Rights

Human beings need to express themselves daily in a way that invites physical and emotional release. Musical self expression is a joyful and healthy means of communication available to absolutely everyone. There are many different ways to make music as there are people. The human voice is the most natural and powerful vehicle for musical self expression. The differences in our voices add richness and depth to music. Sincerely expressed emotion is at the root of meaningful musical expression. Your music is more authentically expressed when your body is involved in your musical expression. The European tradition of music is only one sound. All other cultures and traditions deserve equal attention. Any combination of people and instruments can make music together. There are no "unmusical" people, only those with no musical experience. Music improvisation is a unique and positive way to build skills for life-expression. In improvisation as in life, we must be responsible for the vibrations we send one another.

Developed by David Darling

[musicboys]

[ryanoneilmusic]

I want to be you.

[ryanoneilmusic]

Kids Keep You On Your Toes

Part of being a DIY musician is using your talents in many ways to get pizaid (paid would've worked just fine here, but the zzzz really puts the emphasis in there). I consider myself a jack of all musical trades. I've taught guitar, given voice lessons, conducted choirs, DJ’d private parties, and because of my experience working in early childhood education, I've played quite a few kids' birthday parties. Playing a kid's party can be a fun and quick way to utilize one's musical talents. But be warned, kids are nuts and parents are even nuttier. This is specifically for the 5 and under crowd. While this does not go for every single birthday party I've ever played, it is the rule not the exception. Parents don't give a fuck at a birthday party! I swear they (reluctantly) come knowing some poor clown, or princess, or dude with a guitar will be in charge of entertaining (read: wrangling) their kids. And when they notice their child hopped up on cookies and entitlement acting like maniacs, the worst ones (parents) give this face like "oh I'm so embarrassed lil' Conner, Cooper, or whatever did that," yet they NEVER intervene. Recently I played a 5 year old's party. It was held at a skating rink. The kids were bonkers, hitting each other with balloons and screaming. After pizza it was my turn to do my thang. I start playing my usual songs and activities; most of the kids are into it. They're singing along and following the instructions to the activities. Then I notice there's a loud banging noise that gets louder and louder. I look to my right to notice 3 boys banging on the glass that separates them from a 2 story fall. Besides that, it was loud as hell. With all the parents and caregivers around not a single person asked, no TOLD the boys to stop. It was up to me to play entertainer and teacher at the same time. Luckily the boys were close by and listened to my instruction after the 3rd time. It might not be ideal, but keeping a group of 20, 5 year olds entertained all while wrangling the lose ones with no help will teach you how to think on your toes and improvise. And what entertainer doesn't want that?

[vondell-txt-deactivated20180105]

American music culture 101, from Country to Rock to Pop to Hip-hop, in 3 easy steps:

1. when black americans invent it, initially detest it, mock it, claim it is destroying american youth and proper sensibilities

2. realize it isn’t going anywhere, co-opt it, engage in it and profit from it

3. obscure its origins and repackage it in such a way that the next generation understands it as a product of white american excellence

[blackrockandrollmusic-blog]

[ryanoneilmusic]

I decided to take a Disney classic and put a darker spin on it. Kiss The Girl is usually in C major so I switched it to C minor and added my own flavor. Enjoy!

[ryanoneilmusic]

Soundhog, did a mashup of The Beatles' Helter Skelter vs. Led Zeppelin's Whole Lotta Love. Holy Shit! Like really, holy shit! Please! You MUST hear this!

[tuneage]

The New Orleans Swamp Donkeys - Game of Thrones Theme Song (Cover)

Look, I find Game of Thrones to be pretty much perfect as it is. I’m not one to mess with greatness but I’m glad The New Orleans Swamp Donkeys dared.

Calling this a jazz cover of the title sequence song of Game of Thrones is an understatement. The use of brass is clever—a kind of contained chaos , the tonal variations are skillful. The upbeat transformation of the song still encompasses the visceral reaction the show evokes. Just a different one.

And those solos? Stunning.

I’m just into it.

[paperwingsmedia]

Hailing from New York, Ryan O’Neil is a performer whose music strikes for a bright and uplifting quality, somewhere along the lines of artists such as Jack Johnson or Ben Harper, but with a slightly lo-fi edge.

Brooking Bound, the album opener, is the first taste of the low-key, cozy and...

[tastefullyoffensive]

[via]

[ryanoneilmusic]

I know at least 1 person who follows me that will appreciate this.

[ryanoneilmusic]

Brick by brick the pyramids were built.

[ryanoneilmusic]

A quick rundown of what the most popular streaming services pay to the artists from digitalmusicnews.com

[ryanoneilmusic]

Me and the band a few weeks back playing our opener at Bar Matchless in Brooklyn.