William Ryan Key -Past, Present and Future Music

April 1, 2019 by Adina Bernstein

It’s never easy to start a solo career after spending years in a popular band. Last year, former Yellowcard front man William Ryan Key released two solo EP’s, Thirteen and Virtue and, on March 1, 2019, he played at Baby’s All Right in Williamsburg.

William Ryan Key On Acoustic Guitar at Baby’s All Right/ photo by Blair Levinger/courtesy of Stars and Scars

Joining Key on stage was his former Yellowcard bandmate Josh Portman, actor/musician Patrick Heusinger and Selfish Things drummer Jordan Trask. Playing mostly songs from Virtue and Thirteen ,with a handful of old Yellowcard favorites, Key harkened back to his musical past while presenting a vision of his musical future. These days, Key’s music is firmly grounded in the singer/songwriter genre. His EP’s reflect an emotional and music maturity while still showing respect to his 00’s punk/pop musical roots.

William Ryan Key and Josh Portman at Baby’s All Right / photo by Blair Levinger/ courtesy of Stars and Scars

As a musician, Key understands his audience ; playing to an intimate crowd, his maturity and experience reflected the bond he forged with the concert goers. Following him throughout the years, first as the Yellowcard front man and then as a solo artist, the audience responded to the one- on- one connection that Key created on stage.

The vibe of the truthful singer/songwriter was backed up by the two opening acts, Cory Wells and Selfish Things. Both Wells and Selfish Things added to the low key, intimate and truthful music experience that can only come from a performer who is bold enough to reveal themselves through their art.

EP Review-Thirteen & Virtue – William Ryan Key

Virtue -EP Cover Art

Thirteen EP Cover Art

Art is always personal for the artist. When it comes to music, the singer/songwriter genre can be construed as the most personal genre. In 2018, William Ryan Key, formerly of the punk/pop band Yellowcard, released two EP’s , Thirteen and Virtue. Stepping into the singer/songwriter genre, Key produced music that is personal, heartfelt and emotional.

The song “Vultures” , track two on the Thirteen EP, is about letting the negativity from your past fade into the rear view mirror, while “Form and Figure” is a song of a feeling that a former romantic partner is still with you, even if they aren’t. “The Great Unknown” is about the anxiety we all feel about the future. “The Bowery” , the third track on the Virtue EP, speaks to all of us who let low self esteem get in the way and the regret that comes with letting low self esteem stop us. Both EP’s are haunting and if you’re not yet a WRK fan, you’ll be one after taking a listen or two .

Artists on our Radar

Ricky Stein: Texas Roots in Brooklyn

Ricky Stein/ photo courtesy of the artist

If you’re looking for music inspired by New York City with a Texan flare, look no further than Ricky Stein, a Brooklyn-based artist originally from Austin, Texas. Stein is a singer-songwriter whose music is grounded by a combination of his upbringing in Texas and his present life in the bustling streets of New York City and Downtown Brooklyn. Stein has an impressive discography of singles and albums, and since moving to New York City in August 2016, he has released a full album, “Long Summer” and many singles. Stein’s music is best defined as Americana and roots, with folk-infused acoustic and electric guitars, and his lyrics paint vivid images of nature and life. The listener feels connected to Stein, as his musical stylings resemble talent from the likes of John Prine and Bonnie Raitt. His most recent single, “Passenger,” highlights Stein’s talents with a strong harmonica section. The song’s instrumentation and structure is built on one verse, which compliments the song’s message about the uncertainty and ominousness of being a passenger on a long journey. Another standout, “Street Lights,” is a lighthearted commentary on the comfort of hope, the street lights representing persistent light even in the dead of night. Stein’s live performances are carefully tailored, his sets performed at local venues in Brooklyn like Pete’s Candy Store and many other venues known to support live roots and country music. His talents are always showcased, whether performing a solo show with a guitar and harmonica or being supported by a full band. Stein’s upcoming months are packed with performances at many venues, including Saturday, January 11th at Skinny Dennis Bar in Williamsburg and Friday, March 7th at Sunny’s Bar in Red Hook. You won’t want to miss it!

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