Today we’d like to introduce you to Patrick Rieger.
Hi Patrick, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
In 2007, I moved to Los Angeles as an actor. My parents were both exceptional stage actors in the Twin Cities and I grew up in a proud tradition. By 2012, my business portion of acting had waxed and waned to the point of spiritual fatigue and I needed another outlet to keep some ballast as a storyteller. The role of Bandleader fell into my lap as acting jobs ironically led me to more musicians. I found a lot of therapeutic consistency in being able to pick up a phone, hire musicians and book a gig. Founding a hard-working folk-band of profoundly talented musicians changed the course of my life. 47 plus gigs/festivals a year, infinite incarnations of family/musical chemistry and two albums later, I couldn’t be more grateful for this divergent path through the woods. Our band has held communion with the most rich and deserving audiences Southern California had to offer.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I was born and raised in Minnesota where the ice penetrates the streets repeatedly, every year. I lived in Scotland all through junior high where the cobblestones and gravel back roads are on the verge of mystical. I’m not sure I know what a smooth road is 🙂 Maybe physical health. LA received my band so quickly and so graciously but there was always a challenge. Self-worth, standing up for rates/standards and musical integrity are always a challenge. We were so fortunate to tap into a pub-scene that recognized our worth and met us at the table, both financially and creatively. Recording was a huge challenge. In this day and age artists are expected to be creator, producer, mixer, executor, publicist, marketer all in one. That was really tough for me because what I knew… my curriculum was stage-audience-story, blow them away and someone else more adept, called to different details will help press buttons on the computer.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I always call my band the “hardest-working Americana-Irish folk band in LA.” It’s a little broad but makes me laugh every time. You have to have a handful of muscles in Los Angeles which isn’t always an easy concept. I’m so proud of our cross-genre appeal. The rigorous Irish pub scene in LA gave us the confidence to gig anywhere in the world. The dedicated fans, friends and audiences gave me personally the confidence to continue to write in a uniquely Mid-Western “Big-Folk” style. We play 3-4 hour shows of both Irish and Americana but our original material is 100% revved up Folk and we’re very proud of our sound. There aren’t a lot of bands around these days marrying Irish-Tune sets with CCR covers and then throwing an original LA ballad at you. I’m most proud of my comrades and bandmates leaving their blood on the stage. I have had the most honest, vulnerable and raw musicians in Los Angeles grace me with their time, faith and performance,
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://whiskeysunday.band/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whiskey_sunday/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whiskeysundayband
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/whiskey_sunday
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCT_9d8WoUZMDTx4jg5rnseQ/videos
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/whiskey-sunday
Image Credits:
Julian Murray. Lara Sumera Samms
