It takes a certain amount of grit and determination to power through touring in a pandemic. Ryley Walker has that covered. This tour warrior has been in the area multiple times recently, the most recent was an opening slot for Dinosaur Jr at CSMH ( I did not attend, you’re welcome ears). Walker has also released 5 recordings in the past year, mostly collaborations with like- minded avant noodlers. On this evening, the setup was a trio with Walker on a wide array of guitars, with big fella on bass and drums. Started the show with Popeyes Garage, then Shiva’s Dustpan. Walker’s inter-song banter is hilarious, kind of like the rapid fire musings of Robyn Hitchcock as shot through the lens of the TV show Shameless. He went off on this story about how he makes so much from royalties that allows him to send his fake son Rupert to an Ivy League education, only to find him experimenting with meth and K2. He also said he was in New Haven once and saw “Third Eye Blind on the quad” and chanted “no new stuff” at them, a story that sound highly suspect. The group rolled a 7 minute skronk into a great version of The Halfwit in Me, followed by an excellent Roundabout. He told the crowd to buy some vinyl and “ give it to your uncle who has lost touch with reality”. Closed with Primrose Green, some songs never get tired.
