Keeping Riley
Martinsville, New Jersey, United States | SELF
Music
Press
"The final band of the night was Bridgewater's A Life of Riley. After watching these acoustic soft rockers, one thing is clear: they are the real deal. The band consists of Noah Hercky, vocals; Rahul Kulkarni, guitar; Mitch Cetuk, rhythm guitar; Ryan Majoris, bass; Scott Samuels, drums; Kevin Bene, saxophone; Brian Gaines, trumpet, and Jack Bender, keyboards (though he did not make it to the show). All the guys are either 20 or 21, and plan to pursue music. Last year, the band released an album titled "The Resolving Note." The lyrics are imaginative and clever. " - Courier News and Home News Tribune (NJ)
"While homework, sports, and relationships are enough to dominate any student's life, a group of eight students has added touring the East Coast to the mix...The large stage presence of A Life of Riley commanded the attention of all the bar-crawlers at The Bitter End on this Oct. 6, with their trumpet, saxophone, keyboard, guitar, bass, and drum ensemble..." - The Hawk
Bridgewater's Keeping Riley is returning home after a tour of the eastern United
States. Parents, don't worry, they got a chance to do their own laundry when on the road
"We made a stop or two,'' said Keeping Riley vocalist Noah Hercky. "When you're touring with eight guys, you kind of need to.''
The band is doing its road work in support of the new album, "Welcome Fire,'' released on the Cleveland-based Rock X Records. Keeping Riley, formerly A Life of Riley, won a national battle-of-the-bands contest for the deal.
Their sound is an easy-to-take flow of rock, funk and jazz.
"We sort of enjoy the struggle to pin us down to a genre,'' Hercky said. "We don't know how to describe it.''
Keeping Riley headlines a Sunday afternoon show at Crossroads in Garwood with Render Me Useless, Zippergrin, 7 Car Pileup, Play With Fire, Trickery, Out Touched, Mystic Haze, Ruby Roses and Strawberry Jam also on the bill.
The band -- which includes Mitch Cetuk, guitar; Scott Samuels, drums; Rahul Kulkarni, guitar; Kevin Bene, saxophone and Ryan Majori, bass, all of Bridgewater -- are getting along fine while on tour.
"We pretty much are family,'' Hercky said. "We're best friends -- we grew up together
since high school.''
"We've only just begun, so we'll put that to the test. But we still love each other.''
- Courier News
"President of Gorilla Productions Dan Cull said nothing is official, but said A Life of Riley is incredible.
'A Life of Riley is going to be on the map,' he said. 'You’re going to see them all over the place.'" - The Daily Targum
Discography
Loud Underneath (2005)
Chill Out East Coast Compilation (2006)
The Resolving Note (2007)
Welcome Fire (2010)
Singles:
60 Days (2010)
Photos
Bio
Keeping Riley was formed in 2004 by a group of high school seniors in the New Jersey suburbs of New York City. Originally called A Life of Riley—a phrase popularized in the 1950s referring to a carefree existence—the band consisted of five close friends strumming guitars and playing bongos at house parties. In 2005 Keeping Riley released its first album, Loud Underneath, to an enthusiastic audience of hometown peers. For the band’s second independent release, The Resolving Note (2007), KR added a drumset, saxophone, trumpet, and keys to the instrumentation.
In the summer of 2007 Keeping Riley began touring in earnest, focusing on the New Jersey / New York City scene. With the addition of three members came a progression in style for the band, and their new blend of pop, rock, and funk both surprised and enthralled audiences. The group played a full schedule of gigs during the summer of 2008, culminating with their victory (beating 7000 bands!) in the Gorilla Music Battle of the Bands. This title gave KR the opportunity to sign with indie label Rock X Records. Upon graduating from their respective colleges in the Spring of 2009, the members returned home and committed themselves to writing their first label-backed release. They recorded their record with producer Michael Seifert (Tori Amos, Regina Spektor, Colbie Caillat, Lifehouse) at Ante Up Audio in Cleveland, OH, over winter 2009-10.
Keeping Riley officially released its third studio album, Welcome Fire, on June 5th, 2010 at Sullivan Hall in New York. That summer the band toured extensively and filmed the music video for their first single, “60 Days,” which debuted in October (http://www.youtube.com/user/1033Films). In the Fall, KR paired up with nonprofit fashion company Of Rags, playing over fifteen universities in support of sustainable practices in Sub-Saharan Africa, an area of the globe that has ignited the group’s empathy. KR is currently planning its Spring 2011 tour, while continuing to compose catchy grooves for their next release. Armed with acoustic rhythms, electric melodies, lively percussion, a versatile horn section, and powerful, harmonious vocals, Keeping Riley offers a truly unique listening experience.
Links
