biography

Texas Theatre, Dallas, TX April 4, 2016

full bio

Ryan began playing guitar at the age of 12 shortly before moving to the Texas Hill Country from Tulsa, Oklahoma 1990. By 1993, he had landed a gig playing lead guitar for a local band and began playing the central Texas music Circuit. In 1994, Ryan graduated high school and headed to San Marcos to attend Texas State University for guitar performance and composition. During his time at Texas State he practiced many hours a day and also began playing with Austin band Plow Monday. The band quickly rose to national status with their first release titled Blank, released in 1997. The title track from the record charted immediately on the MP3.com top 40 with other artists, Matchbox 20 and Third Eye Blind. Subsequently, the band landed management and legal help from George Stein. George most notably discovered and managed Jeff Buckley, whose first release Grace has now gone multi-platinum. Also during this time, Ryan began recording instrumental pieces that were eventually used on the Home and Gardens network and later released on his first solo record entitled Scenes of Devastation at the Heart of the Disaster.(2010) Enjoying some success, Ryan began performing as a lead singer and guitarist for San Marcos, Tx based Pavlov’s Dogs. Notably, both of his bands performed at the famed CBGB’s in New York City for the CMJ music festival in 2002! Shortly after, Ryan began playing with Blue October bassist, Matt Noveskey and co-founded the rock band, A+ Machines. At this time, he decided to take a break from his two previous projects to focus on writing and performing with A+. During his time with the band he toured the US extensively, performing with such bands as 7MaryThree, Sponge, Blue October, and The Burden Brothers. The band dissolved in 2006 due to Matt’s return to Blue October and Ryan moved on to other new and exciting musical journeys! Most notably, Ryan also began performing with Eyes Burn Electric and the band was managed by John Moyer of the international rock band Disturbed. EBE quickly became a staple of the Austin music scene, sharing the stage with such artists as The Smashing Pumpkins, Clutch, 36Mafia, De La Soul, and multiple dates opening for Weezer. The band also landed their music on the reality shows Keeping with the Kardashians and The Hills on the MTV network. Throughout the last 10 years Ryan has taken part in recording and performing with multiple regional and national groups including Johnny Goudie and the Little Champions, The Wartime Social, Rachel Loy, 23 Shades, Penni, Jesse Felder, Blondes Make Better Victims, Dr. Luna, Paco Estrada, Brandon Callies and The American Revival, DeNova, The Social Flood, and Fair Use Video.

Currently, Ryan is working to support the release of The Saint and The Sinner from his Austin based group, The American Revival. The Revival is a regional Rock/Country band gaining notoriety and garnering great reviews across the board. Ryan is the also lead vocal and rhythm guitar for Austin’s own, DepartureATX. The band covers the hits of Journey and other artists such as Foreigner, Bryan Adams, Van Halen, Toto, The Eagles, and many more.  

He is also directly involved on vocals, guitar, or both for the following groups:  

The American Revival (ATX)

The Social Flood(ATX)

The Ryan Holley Trio(ATX)

Fair Use Video (Dallas,Tx)

DeNova (ATX)

The Nathan Grant Band (ATX/Chicago,Il)

The Wartime Social (ATX)

Currently, Ryan is working to support the release of The Saint and The Sinner from his Austin based group, The American Revival. The Revival is a regional Rock/Country band gaining notoriety and garnering great reviews across the board. Ryan is the also lead vocal and rhythm guitar for Austin’s own, DepartureATX. The band covers the hits of Journey and other artists such as Foreigner, Bryan Adams, Van Halen, Toto, The Eagles, and many more.  The Social Flood is an Alt-Rock band that Ryan fronts with former members of Pavlov’s Dogs. 

He is also directly involved on vocals, guitar, or both for the following groups:  

The American Revival (ATX)

The Social Flood(ATX)

The Ryan Holley Trio(ATX)

Fair Use Video (Dallas,Tx)

DeNova (ATX)

The Nathan Grant Band (ATX/Chicago,Il)

The Wartime Social (ATX)