Blues Rock Profile - Ryan McGarvey (Jan 14, 2025)
Heavy Blues Rock 1/2024 (Jan 07, 2025)
Ryan McGarvey
Ryan McGarvey (born October 30, 1986) is an American blues rock singer, guitarist, and songwriter. Starting in 2007 with Forward in Reverse, McGarvey has released five albums to date and one single. He shared the stage with Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, B.B. King, Joe Bonamassa, Gov't Mule, the Fabulous Thunderbirds, John Mayer, Sheryl Crow, Buddy Guy, Vince Gill and ZZ Top. He was influenced by Joe Bonamassa, Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan.The same year, Joe Bonamassa stated "I met Ryan in 2006 and was very impressed at the depth of his influence and his ability to put said influences together in his own way..."
In 2007, McGarvey released his debut album, Forward in Reverse. This led to him being granted a New Mexico Music Award for 'Blues Song of the Year' for his self-penned album track, "Cryin' Over You." In 2007 and 2008, McGarvey was named 'Blues Act Of The Year', in the Weekly Alibi's Annual Readers Poll. In 2010, McGarvey was chosen by Eric Clapton to perform at Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival, held that year in Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Illinois.
His sophomore album, Redefined, was released in 2012. On May 14, 2013, McGarvey was undertaking a UK tour, and was supported by Planet Graffitti at his gig at the Beaverwood Club in Chislehurst, London, England. That year McGarvey received the award of 'Best New Talent' from Guitar Player magazine.
The Road Chosen was issued in 2014. McGarvey spent much of the next two years touring in promotion of the album. He commented on his success in Europe compared to this homeland and noted "... in Europe, it is completely a different world. The kind of promotion we get in Europe is different and bigger. It's different for an artist or a band in terms of fans appreciation too".
In October 2016, Sage Gateshead's Hall 2 saw a concert given by McGarvey and his band, again promoting The Road Chosen. In 2018, McGarvey released two albums. One was a live album, Live at Swinghouse, and the second was a studio recording, Heavy Hearted. Heavy Hearted was McGarvey's fifth album in eleven years, and on the recording his singing and guitar work was augmented by drummer Logan Nix and bassist Carmine Rojas.
It’s been five years since Ryan McGarvey released Heavy Hearted in 2018. In 2023 McGarvey returns with the single, Rio Grande. Rio Grande is the latest release featuring four tracks. “Rio Grande” is a guitar blues rock tune with fuzzy guitar that McGarvey originally wrote as an instrumental before expanding the song with lyrics. Rio Grande also features new previously unreleased songs, “Drunken Dreams” and “Persuade.” “Drunken Dreams” is another rock tune with a bone crunching riff and killer guitar playing. “Persuade” also leans on the heavy guitar blues rock side.
To sum it up. Handsome, gifted guitarist Ryan McGarvey has it all. Admittedly, he's not the only one vying for a place in the blues sun. But in the face of competition, Ryan is not short of arguments. He can play like Jimi Hendrix and then allow himself to sound like Gary Moore or ZZ Top. Excellent at heavy riffing and luminous in his solos, he's just as impressive in his acoustic work. The Albuquerque (New Mexico) native has won numerous awards in various competitions, and was invited by Eric Clapton to the Crossroads festival in 2010. He is still considered one of the best hopefuls of blues-rock, but he is only 38 years old and has his whole future ahead of him. It's urgent to discover young Ryan's burning guitar. Highly recommended for Joe Bonamassa fans.
Guitar Blues Rock (Nov 11, 2024)
