A few months ago I received an e-mail from Dustin Drase of Plus Tapes. “I've got this guitar wunderkid that we're putting out. The kid is incredible, I really want to chronicle what he's doing. He's like a young John Fahey / Tim Buckley."
Already a fan of Ryley Walker, I kept a more keen eye on when he was playing, and tried to attend every time. If I did have my cameras, most were entirely dark unfilmable affairs like a full-band warehouse show, or the new back room of the Burlington, bathed in black and red.
After an almost pitch-black set by Jake Acosta, the space enthusiastically produced at a lamp that fit so well with the warmth of this show. Julie Byrne followed, opting for the side of the room, in a warming setup of lights and candles. Bill Satek (Lechuguillas) gave a solo noise-guitar freakout that ended with rapping from the audience. Bones supposedly finished this night out, but I was on the road by then. An extremely enjoyable Teen River tape release show for Julie Byrne.
Andrew Scott Young of Mines / Tiger Hatchery joined Ryley on bass.
So, Dustin, this is for you, those who weren't there, or those who want to relive it.