Ryder the Eagle is a street performer, bleeding heart all over his sleeves, and performs like an introverted Iggy Pop, who’s learnt song-writing from Leonard Cohen records.
Has been championed by Princess Chelsea, which is why I’m here to be honest. Especially after she baited the hook that he would appeal to Suicide aficionados.
There is little deep history to find. He looks like Sacha Baron Cohen, and he appears to be immersed in a performance as a French Latino biker fireman mechanic Village person Lothario who is a physical artist foremost with his body as the medium.
He is French, and did perform in a rock band as a drummer, playing around Parisian streets and venues.
In recent times he lives in Mexico City. The high altitude may have made him a little addled.
A painful marriage break-up has enabled the spiritual portal to be opened. One of the musicians he admires is the Cohen already mentioned. The poet who wrote songs late in his life.
He does have a big western hat, and cool boots. Dances in unsyncopated white-boy fashion not in control of himself, like James Iggy Osterberg.
I think it is Follymoon to start, singing love songs whilst he is all lonesome. There is a little Tex-Mex feel to the Border music Americana, and he plays a harmonica riff.
This is a solo performance.
Next song is Autotango, where he picks up an electric bass and lays on some heavy rumble. The border music style continues and there is the merest glimpse of the Alex Chilton manic edginess.
One step forward/ Two steps back/ The love that left/ Never comes back.
Let’s jump straight to the one where he comes on like a baritone Willie DeVille. Eloise is dedicated to his current muse Eloise LaBarbe-Lafon. She is here in the crowd.
He plays a soulful saxophone intro, just like Steve Douglas did all over the classic Mink DeVille album Le Chat Bleu.
This is a beautiful melodic drone in the style of Cheree or Sweetheart, by the Suicide duo. I’m crooning all around your neck/ To Martin Rev and Beck.
Eloise does enter the stage and add a little (inaudible) harmony vocal to My Baby Girl’s Favourite Singer. Ryder speak-sings this like a mellowed Alan Vega.
Ryder is a busy working guy. He is constantly performing support slots for artists of the calibre of Jonathan Bree and Franz Ferdinand. He draws his energy from a close audience participation.
Not as confrontational or combative as his Suicide heroes. He does get his shirt off, traverse the whole floor, sing with audience members, climb on a high stool and roost like…an eagle.
Breaking walls to reach us who are content to be onlookers.
The catalyst to all this is the loss of his wife who walked away from the pedestal of love he put her on. All woven into what he presents, obsessive love songs drenched in pain. Soothing melodies are a balm.
What is Love. Starts with deep cathedral organ tones. Melodramatic lyrics until he is fucking cis girls and trans/ To try to cure my disease. Picks up an acoustic guitar which he shreds a little at the end.
Click any icon to view a full gallery of photos of Ryder The Eagle by Den O’Keefe.
Pony Baby give us a short set of beautiful Folk Country and Americana. Not a surprise as the duo are Jazmine Mary and Arahi.
Two currently hot Indie artists.
Pony Baby and I Think I’m Falling in Love. Folk Pop with nice twangy guitars and superb harmony vocals.
Mary has their signature blue Gretsch guitar for Money, and the louche delivery has overtones of Alex Chilton.
Love the Bluegrass forward rolls and ringtones when they plays the banjo on Angela’s Revenge and This Town.
Their short and perfectly formed set is capped by Steady Like a Train. Arahi strums an acoustic guitar chika-chika style, in the manner Johnny Cash did on the Sun sessions. Good strutting Rockabilly.
Click any icon to view a full gallery of photos of Pony Baby by Den O’Keefe.
Crème Jean I have little info on other than his real name Brad Fafejta.
There is some connection to Princess Chelsea, as she appears on one song he has recorded.
His own description is tramadol John Rowles trash bag Pop music.
Solo with a bass guitar and effects pedals. I do wonder if the grunge guitar tones come from him or are backing tracks.
Quirky and eerie Indie Pop weirdness. The bass guitar lays down some hard Chic style lines on the last song.
Click any icon to view a full gallery of photos of Crème Jean by Den O’Keefe.
Ryder the Eagle is a one-man mosh pit dervish. Nothing black about his moves. You would never confuse Iggy Pop with James Brown. Mick Jagger is probably the middle point.
Another love song like The Worker of Love demonstrates his theatrical prowess. He makes sense when you get the total package as a committed performance artist.
Ryder the Eagle is your perfect mad Frenchy bohemian Tex-Mex Jack Kerouac Beat character. Check out Megachurch and I rest my case.
Rev. Orange Peel
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