"When people ask us what kind of music we play, we have to first question ourselves.....every time. We want to play every style, and play every style well. In this modern country of animals, driven by categories, we would adore being the chameleons." Picture the SoCal of Sublime and Slightly Stoopid, the Songwriting of Ben Harper and The Innocent Criminals, the melodic vocals of Maynard from Tool, the jamming of Ween, and the Rap style of Atmosphere and Eminem; mix 'em together, make it original, and you got Caleb Ryder and Friends."
Caleb Ryder and Friends was founded in Iowa City, IA in 2005 when long-time singer/songwriter Caleb Ryder jammed with drummer Colin Crowley (Freak) at a local blues jam. Caleb Ryder had released two solo original acoustic albums and was seeking a way to market his unique style to the masses.
Caleb Ryder recorded his first album entitled "Curse of the Gypsy's Blood"(now out of print) in June 2001 at the age of 18 in a friends living room, and a small following came out of the rough-unmixed album. "Although in my eyes it was a shoddy CD 'Curse of the Gypsy's Blood' seemed to burn its way into hundreds of hands, and people started taking notice."-Caleb Ryder.
In 2003 Caleb Ryder caught the eye of a production company out of New York City in it's initail start-up, Filament 7.com. Together a music video was produced for "Elijah Pike", a song from "Curse of the Gypsy's Blood". It was a song about two hillbillies who go looking for an old recluse's treasure, and wind up getting more than they bargained for. The video is availible at www.Wonderlabs.tv.
In March 2004 Caleb Ryder released his second album entitled "Seasoned Salt", a metaphor for aged, vintage, bottle thoughts and emotions. It featured multiple vocal harmony and guitar harmony overlays, Hip-Hop beats, and lots of comic relief. "I felt with this album, that I had accomplished all I could accomplish on my own, and I needed the full band sound to get it out there."
Once Filament7.com, now "Wonderlabs Global Entertainment" out of Atlanta,GA heard the new album, they again wanted to shoot a music video. But now, it was on a state of the art high-definition camera, at "Nickle and Dime Studios" in Atlanta, GA. TLC's "CrazySexyCool" album was also produced in this studio. "When I found out I was going to be recording a music video in a studio where one of the best selling pop albums ever was recorded, I was stoked! Fuck TLC though! I'd slap them bitches!" The song was "Young Blood", a story of a deteriorating relationship. It is also available at www.Wonderlabs.tv.
In 2005 Caleb Ryder met Colin Crowley at a blues jam in Iowa City. Both of them saw the love of Sublime in the other, and the want to make something completely original that appealed to everyone, not just the SoCal crowd. "I already had a bunch of gigs booked when I met Colin, so we were wingin' it at shows really before we got a chance to sit down and work out the little stuff. I look back and it seems crazy, but it was dope though. For quite a while we were just borrowing buddies from other bands to fill shows for us, but then we met Dan Kalina and the band came together."
In 2006 Chicago native bass/guitar player Dan Kalina joined up, and brought a whole new sound to the group. Right after Dan came along, some other long-time friends Michael Fett and Eric Foley jumped on the bandwagon. Dan and Michael were switching off on bass and guitar, and Colin and Eric were switchin' it up on drums and auxillary percussion. "All of a sudden the energy of the live shows went up a few notches."
Caleb Ryder and Friends are currently working on a new album entitled "Breaking Something Beautiful" scheduled to be released in 2007.
"The album is going to be as diverse as any album I've heard, seemlessly blending raggae, rock, folk, punk, ska, hip-hop, blues, grunge, and comedy. Each track we write seems to take on a life completely different from the preceeding song. We just want to write a good song, say what we want to say, and have some sick times!"
Caleb Ryder and Friends 2006 Tour Dates
Feb. 18th, 2006
The Final Escape - Earlville, Iowa
Feb. 22nd, 2006 (Sublime Tribute Show)
Iowa City Yacht Club - Iowa City, Iowa
March 3rd, 2006
The Que - Iowa City, Iowa (Caleb Ryder & TownCrier)
March 17th, 2006 (St. Patricks Day Bash)
Anamosa Bowling Center - Anamosa, Iowa
April 15, 2006
The Final Escape - Earlville, Iowa
April 20, 2006 (4/20 SHOW WITH BIG WU!!!)
Gabe's Oasis - Iowa City, Iowa
April 21, 2006
The Vine - Iowa City, Iowa
April 22, 2006
Tornado's - Cedar Rapids, Iowa
May 6th, 2006
Knucklehead's - Anamosa, Iowa
May 13th, 2006 (Summer on the riverbank!)
Camp-O River Stage Bar - Lake Delhi, Iowa
May 19th, 2006
The Que Bar - Iowa City, Iowa
June 10th, 2006 (w/ Sexual Buddha)
The Yacht Club - Iowa City, Iowa
July 1st, 2006 (4th Of July Party)
Camp-O River Stage Bar - Lake Delhi, Iowa
August 10th, 2006
Iowa City Yacht Club - Iowa City, Iowa
August 12th, 2006
Camp-O River Stage Bar - Lake Delhi, Iowa
August 26th, 2006
The Final Escape - Earlville, Iowa
September 9th, 2006 (MUD RIVER FESTIVAL)
Izaak Walton Fairgrounds - Iowa City, Iowa
October 28th, 2006 (Halloween Show!!!)
Anamosa Bowling Center - Anamosa, Iowa
November 18th, 2006
Knucklehead's - Anamosa, Iowa
December 2nd, 2006 (Motorcyle Show)
Keyster's - Des Moines, Iowa
December 6th, 2006 (w/ Part One Tribe & Rude Punch)
The Picador - Iowa City, Iowa
December 7th, 2006 (w/ Part One Tribe & Rude Punch)
Iowa City Yacht Club - Iowa City, Iowa
December 8th, 2006 (w/ Rude Punch)
Tornado's - Cedar Rapids, Iowa
December 15th, 2006
The Que Bar - Iowa City, Iowa
December 30th, 2006 (w/ Rude Punch)
Mound St. Landing - Davenport, Iowa
December 31st, 2006 (NEW YEARS EVE SHOW!!!)
Anamosa Bowling Center - Anamosa, Iowa
02/17/2007 09:00 PM - Brewe Ha's
Normal, Illinois
W/the herbert weiser band02/22/2007 08:00 PM - The Red Stone Room (The River Music Experience) Davenport, Iowa
Back to the big Mississippi w/ Rude Punch03/01/2007 10:00 PM - Cocktail's (Nickelback Aftershow!!!)
Marion, Iowa
After the Nickelback show, come to Cocktails for the liqour soaked afterparty!!!03/22/2007 09:00 PM - The Iowa City Yacht Club
Iowa City, Iowa 52240
The Dopest Spot in IC, with Rude Punch, week after Spring Break05/03/2007 09:00 PM - The Iowa City Yacht Club
Iowa City, Iowa 52240
With Lunatix on Pogostix(RHCP tribute)
Layout made by laura_2937
