One of PEV’s favorite labels has done it again with gritty singer/songwriter Ike Reilly – Rock Ridge Music just seems to pull some of the most interesting talent on the indy scene. Well, interesting doesn’t really begin to describe Mr. Reilly. We most enjoyed his answer when we asked about his creative environment: “A chaotic, low paying, drunken, loveless environment.” Sounds like our kind of party!

But that kind of space is most likely necessary to get to the bottom of the kind of songs Reilly is producing – “a darkly humorous yet accurate picture of the universal compromise and struggle felt by many folks in America right now.” Just read about some of the examples on the new record, “Hard Luck Stories”:

·         The frazzled high school kid who’s competing for summer jobs and girls with his ex-coach

·         The compromising single father who loses custody of his little girl as he goes down for growing weed in their home

·         The young woman doing the best she can for her war veteran brother as he inadvertently terrorizes their community

·         The indie rocker trying to sing a song that finally makes a little money

“Hard Luck Stories” is a “more groove-oriented and melodic album than previous recordings – is a combination of corroded R & B, furious punk-blues, lounge-pop and classic rock, all laced with giant choruses.” Put that along the content you read above and there’s some powerful material. Even if not one story on the record hits directly home for you – it’s the storytelling of Reilly that will suck you in and force you to think – to put yourself in someone else’s place. It’s an intense experience – and completely worth it the whole album through. I’ve never seen Ike Reilly play in person, but I guarantee I won’t let the opportunity pass me by. Look into “Hard Luck Stories” and check the man’s schedule after reading all the answers to the XXQ’s. 

XXQs: Ike Reilly

PensEyeView.com (PEV): What goes through your head the minute you walk onto stage?

Ike Reilly (IR): Where’s my guitar? Where’s my band? Where’s my rum? Where’s my fucking medicine?

PEV: What made you first jump into the music industry and what were you listening to when you were growing up?

IR: I was listening to my parents growing up and they wanted me to jump into the insurance game. I was 26 1/2 when I stopped listening to my parents and then I was made to jump into the music industry by the music industrialist W. Clementine Buskerfield.

PEV: What kind of environment do you surround yourself in to create music?

IR: A chaotic, low paying, drunken, loveless environment.

PEV: What can fans expect from a live Ike Reilly show?

IR: Choreographed dancing, some lip-synching but not for every song. We are trying to keep it real since the awards came out.

PEV: Tell us about your first live performance. How have you changed since that first show to where you are now?

IR: First live performance was my best one! No crowd, all booze but I was great. I did some amazing moves and sung perfectly. I also juggled rakes. Now I am less professional but more proficient.

PEV: What do you find to be the hardest part about breaking into the music scene?

IR: Not sure, maybe getting your foot in the door, ya know, making a good first impression, ya know breaking the ice a bit, getting the upper hand…like trying to establish a beachhead. Like going hole shot in the first moto.

PEV: How have you evolved your music from when you first started out?

IR: The songs are shorter and less memorable.

PEV: What is your take on the mainstream music scene today?

IR: I think there are many artists in the mainstream music scene that are setting standards low enough for me to claim in the bars and restaurants that I haunt that I truly have standards that are minimally higher than those in the mainstream. At least until I am in the mainstream and I think I will be in the mainstream by mid-May.

PEV: Tell us about your latest release, “Hard Luck Stories”?

IR: It is a collection of songs that are nice to listen to and fun to play. Anyone could and can do it. You can do it if you want to follow along at home.

PEV: What’s one thing we’d be surprised to hear about Ike Reilly?

IR: I don’t like to fish but I love to talk about fishing with people that do fish.

PEV: Was there a certain point in your life when you knew that music was going to be a career for you and you were determined to make it happen?

IR: May 8, 1991.

PEV: What one word best describes you?

IR: Caring.

PEV: Traveling is now a large part of your life as a musician. How is life on the road for you? Best and worst parts? Any fun stories?

IR: Life is good on the road. Best part is sleeping and reading. Worst part is meeting people. Oh yeah, this is funny. A guy at a show served me with a summons before the encore. I thought he wanted my autograph. Ater he said I was served I really though he meant over served cause I was pretty tanked up that night.

PEV: How have all your friends and family reacted to your musical career? What’s it like when you get to play at your hometown?

IR: They don't like it. They seem jealous and bitter. They mock me, they taunt me, and they hide my clothes and sometimes change the time on my timepiece. I don’t play in my hometown enough. I am going to start soon however.

PEV: What can we find you doing in your spare time, aside from writing and performing?

IR: Aside from writing and performing I like to make up songs and play them in front of strangers, not so much friends and family.

PEV:  Is there an up and coming band or artist you think we should all be looking out for now?

IR: A band called Lake County Rifles.

PEV: If playing/writing music was not your perfect career, what would you most likely be doing?

IR: I would do medicine.

PEV: If we were to walk into your practice studio/space right now, what would we find?

IR: Lots of medicine.

PEV: So, what is next for Ike Reilly?

IR: More touring. More podcasts and a rum and coke. I am also taking pilot lessons.