The Chris O’Leary Band – 7/23

“Chris O’Leary generates authority…with a huge voice a force-of-nature harmonica sound.” – Greil Marcus, Real Life Rock “Gritty blues and soulful ballads absolute authority…Chris O’Leary rocks relentlessly with assurance and a clear sense of passion and purpose. He is a potent tour-de-force.” – Living Blues “The Chris O’Leary Band offer a virtual encyclopedia of entertaining roadhouse blues styles, from boogie-woogie to Southside Chicago to Louisiana stompers.” – Philadelphia Daily News “O’Leary is a forceful harp player, a powerful singer, and a natural frontman.” – Blues Music Magazine Devastatingly soulful vocalist, dynamic harmonica master, and superlative songwriter Chris O’Leary is among the blues and roots world’s most talented unsung heroes. The award-winning O’Leary—disciple and friend of both The Band’s legendary drummer/vocalist/songwriter Levon Helm and iconic blues harmonica giant James Cotton—has been playing professionally since the 1990s, with five previous solo albums to his credit. The Marine veteran, ex-Federal police officer, former lead singer of The Barn Burners (featuring Levon Helm on drums), and loving father has walked a hard line from his upstate New York home to stages all over the world. No Depression magazine says, “O’Leary’s voice contains startling emotion…reaching an intensity and emotional rawness primal. The performances practically vibrate with an authenticity that stays with you.” Between his large, athletic frame and his military-style “high and tight” haircut, O’Leary commands attention, singing his indelible original songs with pure, unadulterated soul and playing harmonica with urgent locomotive power. His keenly written songs come directly from his colorful and sometimes harrowing life experiences. On his Alligator Records debut, The Hard Line, O’Leary set his sights high and created what he says is, “the best work I’ve ever done. It’s the most focused, most to-the-point album I’ve ever made.” Alligator Records founder and president Bruce Iglauer is thrilled to welcome Chris into the Alligator family. “What first struck me about Chris was his terrific songwriting, which ranged from hilarious tales to soul-deep personal stories. I love the passion he puts into every song. As a musician, he’s a world-class harmonica player (and a fine guitar and bass player) but his goal is not to show off his chops. He plays emotional solos that tell the story of the lyrics and heighten the impact of the song.” The Hard Line, produced by O’Leary and featuring 12 striking originals, has many stories to tell. With over 30 newly-written, never-recorded songs to choose from (mostly written during the downtime of the pandemic) O’Leary and Iglauer carefully picked what Chris calls “the best of them all,” ranging from the intense slow-burners Ain’t That A Crime and Lay These Burdens Down to the rollicking Love’s For Sale and Need For Speed to the hard Chicago blues Could’ve Been My Fault to the pleading Who Robs A Musici...