Ryan Powers and The Secret Weapons

Named Best Singer-Songwriter in The Reader's 2015 "Best Of Chicago" yearly edition. - The Chicago Reader

If Ryan Powers & The Secret Weapons don’t launch a few hit singles from their The Goodnight Goodbye Hour, there’s something wrong with modern radio. Some of these 10 pop/rock tracks are a bit over-commercial, but “Mr. Sunshine,” which blends a light power pop arrangement with 1960s prom music, is an absolute gem. Three band members join Ryan for Hollies-style harmonies throughout this release, and the melodies, particularly on the title track and “Be My Baby,” are irresistible. (www.ryanpowersmusic.com)
-TF - Illinois Entertainer

Article in Red Eye:

http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/chi-tunes/2010/08/chi-tunes-ryan-powers.html



What makes your live show great?

The songs I write lend themselves to be sing-a-longs. We all sing, dance and have a good time together. Also, until earlier this year, I played my shows as a solo acoustic act. Now, I have a full band with me and the full energy of the songs comes through. And hearing the songs I write being sung back to me is the best feeling in the world.

Describe your sound in five words or less.

Pop sing-a-long stories

Tell us something random about the band, and why that's significant.

All vocals for my EP, "Stick With It, Kid," were done literally in the shower. The EP was recorded at a home studio, and the shower stall provided the best sound. So that's how we did the whole EP. Oh, and I was on "Oprah" once while in my sophmore year of college. That's significant because my mom and dad got to see it.

Who would you want to work with, and who would you never work with? Why?

I would love to work with Jude Cole and Ryan Tedder. They both write great songs and produce them in such a unique way that can change the delivery of the song, but always keeping that melody there.

If the band was a '90s sitcom character, who would it be and why?

Probably Carlton, from "Fresh Prince of Bel Air." I love to dance and am known to be spotted in awkward, preppy clothes.

Ryan Powers
What: I AM FEST 2010 featuring Mason's Case, Laser Love, The Flavor Savers, Jack in Space, Bambi Raptor, Kelsey Montanez, Digital Mindy
When: 9 p.m. Aug. 28
Where: House of Blues, 329 N. Dearborn
Tickets: $15 at houseofblues.com or $20 at door
- Red Eye - Tribune Chicago

Article in Red Eye:

http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/chi-tunes/2010/08/chi-tunes-ryan-powers.html



What makes your live show great?

The songs I write lend themselves to be sing-a-longs. We all sing, dance and have a good time together. Also, until earlier this year, I played my shows as a solo acoustic act. Now, I have a full band with me and the full energy of the songs comes through. And hearing the songs I write being sung back to me is the best feeling in the world.

Describe your sound in five words or less.

Pop sing-a-long stories

Tell us something random about the band, and why that's significant.

All vocals for my EP, "Stick With It, Kid," were done literally in the shower. The EP was recorded at a home studio, and the shower stall provided the best sound. So that's how we did the whole EP. Oh, and I was on "Oprah" once while in my sophmore year of college. That's significant because my mom and dad got to see it.

Who would you want to work with, and who would you never work with? Why?

I would love to work with Jude Cole and Ryan Tedder. They both write great songs and produce them in such a unique way that can change the delivery of the song, but always keeping that melody there.

If the band was a '90s sitcom character, who would it be and why?

Probably Carlton, from "Fresh Prince of Bel Air." I love to dance and am known to be spotted in awkward, preppy clothes.

Ryan Powers
What: I AM FEST 2010 featuring Mason's Case, Laser Love, The Flavor Savers, Jack in Space, Bambi Raptor, Kelsey Montanez, Digital Mindy
When: 9 p.m. Aug. 28
Where: House of Blues, 329 N. Dearborn
Tickets: $15 at houseofblues.com or $20 at door
- Red Eye - Tribune Chicago

Ryan Powers should takes is own advice: Stick With It, Kid. The singer/songwriter’s five-track CD is an impressive collection of pop rock songs. Powers unabashedly tugs at the heartstrings with tightly crafted, repeating-hook tunesmithing. On “All But Right” he’s earnest and vulnerable, with a vocal ability that is engaging and strongly featured above the instrumental harmonies. (www.myspace.com/callisto)
– Jason Scales - Illinois Entertainer

When selecting the Artist of the Week, it is easy to overlook the solo acts that are playing around the city. This week we have chosen Ryan Powers as our artist of the week.

Ryan has enjoyed the success of college-radio airplay throughout the Midwest, and has shared the stage with national bands such as REO Speedwagon, Flickerstick, The Lovehammers, Loverboy, Will Hoge, Joey DeGraw and The Fabulous Thunderbirds to name a few. Just recently, he performed with Emerson Hart of Tonic at the Double Door.

Unlike many of Chicago’s solo acts who have no issue staying put, Ryan takes his act to the road playing markets all over the midwest.

You can check out his music at his MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/callisto . I feel the standout track is ‘Longer than a Breath.

I recommend checking him next time he graces Chicago. For those outside of the city, he is playing in St Louis on June 3rd and Summerfest in Milwaukee in July.
- Review Chicago

By Tom Davis
Tribune Managing Editor

WABASH — One of the more fascinating things is the unveiling of a human story. It’s enthralling to hear of hardships, or in a positive vein, successes, that someone had to endure to get through a portion of life.

Listening to the band Callisto perform Friday at the Honeywell Center in Wabash, it dawned on me how good this band was, and also how difficult it must be to break though in the music industry.

Callisto (www.callistoband.com) is a Chicago-based band that had a smooth flow to their songs, and the members were very talented at their respective crafts.

As I watched lead singer Ryan Powers go from softly singing the beginning of “This Road” to powering through the chorus with everything he had, I wondered how thin of a line it is between this a gifted band, and groups such as Matchbox Twenty or Three Doors Down.

“There are thousands of talented bands out there,” guitarist Ben Howarth said of the ultra-competitive Chicago music scene. “It’s a matter of being at the right bar on the right night, and having someone hearing you that can help you (succeed).”

Callisto plays frequently throughout the Midwest, but has gigs in Toronto and New York City in the works as well. The guys (Powers, Howarth, Matt Minnich, drums, Andy Noonan, guitar, and Ben Draper, bass) were obviously thrilled to receive the opportunity to open for Loverboy on Friday, as Powers thanked the Honeywell Center and Loverboy on a couple of occasions during their performance.

This band effortlessly changed tempos from acoustic to gritty-rock, all within the same song on several occasions. The band takes its listeners on a roller-coaster ride throughout its performance, but like a coaster ride, you are always glad you waited in line, or in this case, listened to the song, when it ends.

Callisto has a three-song demo available now, and has a CD and video in the works. The band returns to action this Friday at the Double-Door in Chicago.

On the band’s web site you can personally contact the guys, and find other informative nuggets of band news.

Perhaps fans should do this now. As talented as this band was, tomorrow may be too late to get up-close-and-personal with Callisto.

http://www.perutribune.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=3277&SectionID=1&SubSectionID=&S=1 - Peru Tribune - 6/21/2004

Ravenswood singer hopes to impress powers that be - 6/21/06
BY DANIEL WARREN | CONTRIBUTOR


Singer/songwriter Ryan Powers may have grown up in small-town Indiana, but his musical roots are planted firmly in the soil of the Chicago area.

Powers will perform at 8:30 this Thursday, June 22, at the Elbo Room as part of Mobfest 2006, a three-day music-business seminar that aims to help acts get their name and music out to the public.

Powers was the lead singer and primary songwriter for Callisto, a five-piece pop-rock band that he helped form while living in Arlington Heights from his college years through 2002. The group disbanded last July, and since then Powers, currently living in Ravenswood, has devoted himself to a solo career.

Although he's been on his own for less than a year, Powers is already garnering considerable attention, including opening slots for REO Speedwagon and the Fabulous Thunderbirds.

"It's like a fresh start," Powers said of going solo.

Part of what drew him to working on his own is the increased focus on his lyrics.

"It feels good when I'm able to get exactly what I'm thinking into words," he said.

He is planning a show later this summer to mark the release of a new solo EP, tentatively titled "Focus and Release." The disc will be a set of acoustic originals and Powers will likely be the only musician on the recording. The date for the show and the EP's release are pending, but updates will be available on Powers's Website, www.myspace.com/callisto.

"My vision of (the EP) was to keep it as simple as possible," Powers said. "Going from a full band to being just a solo artist, I wanted to keep the songs ... as simple and raw and stripped-down as possible."

With his solo venture just starting to take shape, Powers has no intention of slowing down.

"I wouldn't ever know how to stop playing music," Powers said.




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http://www.pioneerlocal.com/cgi-bin/ppo-alldiv?divstory=/diversions/current/sn/06-21-06-955463.html

- Pinoneer Press - Chicago, IL

Ravenswood singer hopes to impress powers that be - 6/21/06
BY DANIEL WARREN | CONTRIBUTOR


Singer/songwriter Ryan Powers may have grown up in small-town Indiana, but his musical roots are planted firmly in the soil of the Chicago area.

Powers will perform at 8:30 this Thursday, June 22, at the Elbo Room as part of Mobfest 2006, a three-day music-business seminar that aims to help acts get their name and music out to the public.

Powers was the lead singer and primary songwriter for Callisto, a five-piece pop-rock band that he helped form while living in Arlington Heights from his college years through 2002. The group disbanded last July, and since then Powers, currently living in Ravenswood, has devoted himself to a solo career.

Although he's been on his own for less than a year, Powers is already garnering considerable attention, including opening slots for REO Speedwagon and the Fabulous Thunderbirds.

"It's like a fresh start," Powers said of going solo.

Part of what drew him to working on his own is the increased focus on his lyrics.

"It feels good when I'm able to get exactly what I'm thinking into words," he said.

He is planning a show later this summer to mark the release of a new solo EP, tentatively titled "Focus and Release." The disc will be a set of acoustic originals and Powers will likely be the only musician on the recording. The date for the show and the EP's release are pending, but updates will be available on Powers's Website, www.myspace.com/callisto.

"My vision of (the EP) was to keep it as simple as possible," Powers said. "Going from a full band to being just a solo artist, I wanted to keep the songs ... as simple and raw and stripped-down as possible."

With his solo venture just starting to take shape, Powers has no intention of slowing down.

"I wouldn't ever know how to stop playing music," Powers said.




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http://www.pioneerlocal.com/cgi-bin/ppo-alldiv?divstory=/diversions/current/sn/06-21-06-955463.html

- Pinoneer Press - Chicago, IL