Ron Gallo
Ron Gallo[3] is an American musician, singer, songwriter and artist. He began a solo career in 2014, after fronting various bands including Philadelphia-based band Toy Soldiers and since then has released three albums, Heavy Meta, Stardust Birthday Party and Really Nice Guys EP.[4] Stylistically Gallo has shifted from release to release with his recent albums exploring art rock and garage punk.[5] During live performances 2016 - 2019 Gallo was backed by bassist, Joe Bisirri and drummer, Dylan Sevey.[6]
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Ron Gallo in 2016 | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Ronald James Gallo III |
Born | September 29, 1992 New Jersey |
Origin | Philadelphia, PA, USA[1] |
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Instruments |
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Years active | 2014–present |
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Website | rongallomusic |
Career
On December 15, 2016, NPR premiered a video for "Please Yourself" from Heavy Meta in which Gallo disrupts an intersection of downtown Nashville by performing on a truck bed. The article describes Gallo as an "insurgent poet and rock 'n' roll disruptor" and the album as a "burst of literate electricity" [3] Heavy Meta was released worldwide on February 4, 2017 on New West Records. In support of the record, Gallo has toured nationally and internationally, sharing the stage with White Reaper, Twin Peaks, Thee Oh Sees, The Black Angels, The Gories, FIDLAR, and Hurray for the Riff Raff amongst others.[7] Gallo has also received coverage from various national outlets including The Fader,[8] and has performed at festivals such as Coachella, Bonnaroo,[9] Austin City Limits Music Festival,[10] SXSW,[11] and Governors Ball Music Festival.[12]
On January 16th, 2018 the Really Nice Guys EP was release via New West Records. It is a joke concept album about Gallo's experience in the music industry. The EP explores many different genres, from thrash punk to psychedelic pop to Indian influenced music. The EP also features a skit entitled, “The East Nashville Kroger Conversation” featuring Gallo and his two band members pretending to run into each other at a grocery store in Nashville. On the day of the release, the band filmed a mockumentary of the same title, following Gallo as he goes through an identity crisis as well as the band around town as they perform a series of unsuccessful release shows and showcasing for their record label. It was directed by Christian Gentry. [13]
On October 5th, Gallo's second full-length “Stardust Birthday Party” was released. The record was a slight sonic shift from his previous work exploring more post-punk, and new wave influences while discussing his own spiritual path and asking a variety of existential questions. The 7th Level described the album genre as “Zen Punk” [14] The Guardian described the album as “Stardust Birthday Party brings the fruits of meditation to Nashville-based Gallo’s jams – a little like Bodhisattva Vow marked the influx of MCA’s Buddhism into the Beastie Boys.”[15]
On March 14th and 15th, 2020, Gallo and a newly formed band performed two live stream performances from his home on Instagram live as result of the spread of Coronavirus and his appearance at MELTED festival in Columbus, OH being cancelled. The performance was to make up for the lost show and to encourage people to stay home during the pandemic. This performance was one of the first of its kind in response to the virus. [16]
Due to the success of the live streams, Gallo launched REALLY NICE FEST on March 18, 2020. Calling it "an ongoing, everchanging digital festival" named after a blog/online creative outlet REALLY NICE (http://reallynice.world) he started in December 2019. The digital festival features himself and other artists and friends from all over the world performing live stream sets, Q & A, DJ sets, talk show segments, tutorials, etc. The festival is planned to continue on through the duration of the Coronavirus quarantine period. [17]
On June 10th, 2020, Gallo released a new single "YOU ARE ENOUGH", signaling a stylistic transformation into a more pop direction with influence from 90's R&B and Hip-Hop, following up with three more singles "HIDE (MYSELF BEHIND YOU)", "WUNDAY (CRAZY AFTER DARK)" and "EASTER ISLAND" and announcing a new album "PEACEMEAL" out in February 2021. [18]
Discography
- Ron Gallo
- RONNY (2014)
- HEAVY META (2017)
- Really Nice Guys (2018)
- Stardust Birthday Party (2018)
- Hide Myself Behind You (Single, 2020)
- Toy Soldiers
- The Maybe Boys (2013)
References
- Rupp, Jacqueline (June 29, 2016). "Ron Gallo Comes Home". Philadelphia Weekly.
- Sacher, Andrew M. (November 11, 2016). "Ron Gallo signs to New West, releasing album in 2017, has a new video". Brooklyn Vegan.
- Powers, Ann (December 15, 2016). "Songs We Love: Ron Gallo "Please Yourself"". NPR. Retrieved December 23, 2016.
- "Premiere: Ron Gallo – "Put the Kids to Bed" Plus, Gallo on Themes, Influences, & His American Diamond Recordings Label". Under the Radar. February 8, 2016. Retrieved December 23, 2016.
- "Ron Gallo Artist Biography". Mark Deming, AllMusic. February 20, 2016. Retrieved July 2, 2017.
- "Ron Gallo's 'Heavy Meta' Is Fun and Dark and Garage and Psychedelic and Nice as Hell". Noisey. February 1, 2016. Retrieved July 2, 2017.
- ""WHITE REAPER + RON GALLO + NAKED GIANTS @ THE TROUBADOUR"". L.A. Record. June 28, 2017. Retrieved July 22, 2017.
- "Garage Rocker Ron Gallo Premieres "Kill The Medicine Man"". The Fader. March 10, 2016. Retrieved December 23, 2016.
- Music Desk (June 6, 2016). "Ron Gallo to Perform at This Weekend's Bonnaroo". Broadway World. Retrieved December 23, 2016.
- "HOT NEW MUSIC: STREAM RON GALLO'S NEW SINGLE "PUT THE KIDS TO BED"". Grimy Goods. Retrieved December 23, 2016.
- "Governors Ball 2017 lineup is here". Timeout.com. Retrieved May 16, 2018.
- Annalise Domenighini (December 14, 2017). "Ron Gallo Thinks You're a Really Nice Guy and All". VICE. Retrieved September 19, 2019.
- Nick Havert (November 12, 2018). "Review: Ron Gallo – Stardust Birthday Party". 7th Level Music. Retrieved September 19, 2019.
- Kitty Empire (December 9, 2018). "Ron Gallo: Stardust Birthday Party review – a post-punk philosophical rebirth". The Guardian. Retrieved September 19, 2019.
- Marissa R. Moss (March 16, 2020). "Indie Artists Turn to Livestreaming as Coronavirus Crisis Unfolds". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
- Glide (March 20, 2020). "RON GALLO ANNOUNCES EVER CHANGING DIGITAL FESTIVAL 'REALLY NICE FEST'". Glide Magazine. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
- Mike LeSuer (July 24, 2020). "Ron Gallo Announces New LP "PEACEMEAL," Shares Video for "WUNDAY (CRAZY AFTER DARK)"". FLOOD Magazine. Retrieved August 29, 2020.