Today we’d like to introduce you to Ryan Carney.
Ryan, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I moved here from New Hampshire when I was 14 so my mother could be closer with her family, who had immigrated to this country from the Azores in the 60s. I was a lot more reclusive than I am today and just kind of stayed in my room and read and listened to a lot of folks, blues, and songwriters. I mainly just wrote songs for myself, started going to shows and then, I started my band The Barely Damned with my buddy, just to write with someone. We kept writing and then wanted to start playing shows but quickly realized that there weren’t many shows being thrown, so I started throwing my own and tried to help a scene kind of come together.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It’s been both a smooth and rocky road. I’ve had to deal with and push through my own social anxieties to perform/organize/host, our scene also has seemed to attract a group with similar social anxiety issues,a group of reclusive bedroom artists, who I feel is composing some of the most dynamic, original, historically accurate and completely honest music in the town. I’m also lucky that while Miami has been somewhat reluctant to this kind of music, that there have been countless before me who have tried to keep this music going and have been countless sources of guidance and inspiration like Lonewolf OMB, Uncle Scotchy, WD Miller, as well as former members of old Florida folk acts Los Bastardos Magnificos and Unity Rise. I’m also lucky that places like Churchills Pub (who has let me host a monthly night for the last 4 1/2 years thankfully) and Blackbird Ordinary for letting me continue to host our events there.
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I mainly write/sing/play guitar for my group The Barely Damned, a group that plays a mixture of folk, blues, songwriter and we incorporate some noise music aspects which is a Miami influence. I also play in a group called Bleach Factory which is almost all the same members as the main band but a bit more experimental and noisier, but it mainly exists as a recording project. I also play in Quill and Chill, a traditional music duo, a duo with Lonewolf omb, a solo noise project and a new project called C.Ryan The Sad Penguin.
I’m mainly known for the events I throw and what sets our nights apart I believe is how encompassing our nights are with everything that falls under the umbrella of the genre we love. Our night is just as influenced by artists from the experimental folk and blues artists like Daniel Johnston, Califone, Neutral Milk Hotel, RL Burnside as it is by the standard classic artists like Woody Guthrie, Muddy Waters, and Bob Dylan. I’m most proud of the fact that we have seemed to carve a space for Miami in the underground circuit and brought down acts within that circuit from around the country.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
I love this music, I love the history of this music, the history of these cities music. I’ve tried to take influence from the different scenes and involve members of the noise, metal and punk scene. People like to rag on the music scene but there are so many fantastic acts that need your support. I think a lot of people in this city have heard or made those complaints themselves and are trying to do something about it. To me, it’s an exciting time in Miami local music.
Contact Info:
- Phone: 7869731047(text please)
- Email: [email protected]
- Facebook: facebook.com/thebarelydamned/
Image Credit:
Personal pic -Mike Dunn, Denise Gorrio, Buskerfest
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