Neil Simmonds
21 April, 2025
News

US indie band Ryan Davis & The Roadhouse Band to play The Bear Club

In what promises to be a highlight of their recent excellent run of indie artists playing intimate gigs on a Thursday night, Ryan Davis plays The Bear Club with his band the Roadhouse Band on Thursday, 8 May. 

He’s someone to cut through the murk, someone worth paying attention to” UNCUT review 9/10

Davis is a true Indie renaissance man. An artist who draws and paints for a living making joyful intricate two-tone street art not unlike Keith Haring (but he’s probably been told that before…). He’s the owner of independent record label Sophomore Lounge who put out records by like-minded independent-spirited bands with spiky guitars and attitudes to match. He’s well worth checking out.

With the Roadhouse Band Davis plays a fine line in country-tinged guitar rock. He writes long literate story songs that stretch out over 6 or 7 minutes with few choruses and with lyrics that are cryptic at times but always witty (and often funny).

Their LP Dancing On The Edge is a sprawling double album of just 7 tracks that combines a European, krautrock-like momentum with clear roots in Americana both old and new. They are a band that’s going places - they have that laid-back slacker cool but it’s the songs and the killer lyrics that grab you and draw you in ultimately.

An example of Davis’ art on the album cover for Dancing on the Edge.
An example of Davis’ art on the album cover for Dancing on the Edge. Credit: Ryan Davis

They have no shortage of admirers with rave reviews from UNCUT who gave the album 9/10 and 4 stars from MOJO. Bill Callahan (Indie star whose baritone voice Davis sounds not unlike) is also a fan. “This is the sound of someone bearing a torch” he has said.

“You got a new tattoo of an old tattoo” the opening line of Free From the Guillotine.
“You got a new tattoo of an old tattoo” the opening line of Free From the Guillotine. Credit: Ryan Davis

For fans of Bill Callahan, Kurt Vile and Neil Young and appearing literally on our doorstep in the famously intimate Bear Club. Not to be missed.