The Chris O’Leary Band – 7/23
Performers
Location
About
“Chris O’Leary generates authority…with a huge voice [and] a force-of-nature harmonica sound.” – Greil Marcus, Real Life Rock
“Gritty blues and soulful ballads [performed with] absolute authority…Chris O’Leary rocks relentlessly with assurance and a clear sense of passion and purpose. He is a potent tour-de-force.” – Living Blues
“The Chris O’Leary Band offer a virtual encyclopedia of entertaining roadhouse blues styles, from boogie-woogie to Southside Chicago to Louisiana stompers.” – Philadelphia Daily News
“O’Leary is a forceful harp player, a powerful singer, and a natural frontman.” – Blues Music Magazine
Devastatingly soulful vocalist, dynamic harmonica master, and songwriter Chris O’Leary has been playing professionally since the 1990s. A Marine veteran, ex‑Federal police officer, former lead singer of The Barn Burners (featuring Levon Helm on drums), and longtime student/friend of harmonica great James Cotton, O’Leary has released multiple solo albums and earned praise for the emotional intensity of his performances.
On his Alligator Records debut, The Hard Line, O’Leary says he made “the best work I’ve ever done. It’s the most focused, most to-the-point album I’ve ever made.” The album features 12 originals chosen from more than 30 songs written during the pandemic. Selections range from slow burners like Ain’t That A Crime and Lay These Burdens Down to rollicking numbers such as Love’s For Sale and Need For Speed, the Chicago blues Could’ve Been My Fault, and the pleading Who Robs A Musician?. O’Leary plays harmonica throughout, guitar solos on No Rest, and bass on You Break It, You Bought It. The deeply personal I Cry At Night is drawn from his experiences as a Marine.
Alligator Records founder Bruce Iglauer on O’Leary: “What first struck me about Chris was his terrific songwriting, which ranged from hilarious tales to soul-deep personal stories. I love the passion he puts into every song. As a musician, he’s a world-class harmonica player (and a fine guitar and bass player) but his goal is not to show off his chops. He plays emotional solos that tell the story of the lyrics and heighten the impact of the song.”
Background highlights: born in Schenectady, NY (1968); self-taught on a Hohner Marine Band harmonica after discovering Muddy Waters and James Cotton; joined the Marines in 1986 and served in the Middle East; returned to music after college and local gigs led to a connection with Levon Helm. Helm invited O’Leary to front the house band at Levon Helm’s Classic American Café in New Orleans, and later the group toured as The Barn Burners. O’Leary also appears on Hubert Sumlin’s About Them Shoes (2003). His 2010 album Mr. Used To Be was nominated for a Blues Music Award and won the Blues Blast Award for Best New Artist Debut.
O’Leary has toured extensively in the U.S. and internationally.
Event details
- Date: July 23
- Doors: 5:30 PM
- Showtime: 7:00 PM (performance runs to about 9:00 PM)
- Venue: The 443 Social Club & Lounge, 443 Burnet Ave, Syracuse, NY 13203
- Event Category: Live Music
- Tags: Blues, Blues Harp, Chris O'Leary
Ticket information and seating
- The 443 is an intimate listening room with table service and seats 75 people.
- The green squares/circles on the floor plan are bar-height tables; the orange squares are regular-height tables.
- Most seats are sold as “Tables for Two” — a ticket admits TWO people.
- A limited number of single seats may be available; single attendees may share a table with other single attendees.
- Multiple tickets purchased under the same name will automatically be seated together (up to 6 people).
- Requesting a specific table is a perk reserved for VIP Patron members.
- If anyone in your party needs special seating arrangements (walker, cane, service animal, wheelchair, low table requirement, or you want to be seated with another party), please email the venue after you place your order and they will try to accommodate you.
- All tickets are WILL CALL — no need to print anything, just give your name at the door.
Links
- Website: https://thechrisolearyband.net/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheChrisOLearyBand/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrisolearyband/
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6oVf052fkSqMzUZ32Cp4Be?si=16RFx69AQZObXkKU-BpaWw
- Tickets (Eventbrite): https://www.eventbrite.com/e/chris-oleary-at-the-443-social-club-tickets-1989211116999?aff=oddtdtcreator
- Video: https://youtu.be/ftApYaiBTB8?si=p-vgIn2TlREN4Cao