"Bullet with Butterfly Wings" @ Satryicon 7/10/08
"Greatest Life" @ Satryicon 7/10/08
Clips From Four Tunes @ Satryricon 7/10/08
“Prince William with a Black Eye†is an oxymoron Blue Reign likes to use to describe their blend of Sophisticated Rock. They fuse catchy simplicity with introspective lyricism, jazz influenced chords, and straight rock grooves. Their sound reflects a range of influences from Coldplay and Radiohead to Foo Fighters and Storm Large and the Balls.
The band is already creating quite a buzz at this early stage in their career. They have become very active in the Portland market with gigs at such venues as the Hawthorne Theater, Ash Street Saloon, Tonic Lounge, Thirsty Lion, and Satyricon. Ryan, promoter for Big Time Entertainment, said Blue Reign is “reliable… a class act… great to work with.†The band has even drawn the attention of Dickies, which recently gave Blue Reign a clothing endorsement.
Blue Reign is fronted by one of the most talented young vocalists in the Portland, OR area, Calli Rae. In the summer of 2007, she was a top ten finalist for the inaugural “Portland Teen Idol.†Calli blew away judges and audiences alike with her power and emotionally sensitivity voice. Calli developed a show stopper reputation as she performed throughout the summer with her fellow finalists at venues throughout the Portland Metro area.
The most seasoned member of Blue Reign is guitarist Andy Bell. While a member of Hyper Static Union (who released their major label debut album, “Lifegiver,†last year), Andy performed at the George Amphitheater, the Rose Garden Arena, the Memorial Coliseum, the Clark County Fairgrounds, opened for Switchfoot on multiple occasions, and also shared billing with Eve 6 and Better Than Ezra.
What truly sets Blue Reign apart is their great diversity and drive to overcome adversity. DeOnn Wooden, the group’s smooth bassist, grew up in Compton, CA and worked to rise above and make it out of the hood. He is now a father of two, a certified electrician, an ordained pastor, and a solid musician. Roy Shryne, the half Bolivian who holds down the drum grooves, grew up in Boise, ID with very conservative parents that didn’t allow him to listen to “secular†music until he was a teenager. As soon as his ears were opened, he became drawn to indie rock and learned to play drums, guitar, and bass all at expert levels. He is also a self-taught computer wizard and a minister in training. Calli Rae is a Portland native who has grown up in a tumultuous home environment. She has endured parental separation to be raised by her maternal grandparents, child therapy, and countless more in only 17 years of life. She has found her salvation and focus in ministry and music where she has exceptional determination and skill. Andy also grew up in a broken home in the suburb of Camas, WA. He decided at an early age to make something of himself and not fall into the plethora of drugs that were around. He was in the “Who’s Who Amongst America’s High School Students†in 1999, was a “National Dean’s List†award recipient twice while in College, graduated Cum Laude with a degree in Public Affairs from Washington State University, is a licensed minister, and the Vice President of Achaia Records.
This great blend of diverse backgrounds gives Blue Reign their rich character and signature sound. They are currently recording their first demo and working hard to become a band to remember.
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