The Toy Soldiers

There once was a band known as ItsaWhale. It was comprised of five dudes from UC Santa Cruz who built up a considerable fan base for their folk rock/pop stylings and then moved themselves to San Francisco. Then, as previously posted, ItsaWhale became the Toy Soldiers, a project that is leading the guys in a whole different direction from where they first began.

Since taking on the SF scene under the new moniker, the band has played venues such as the Red Devil Lounge, the Bench and Bar, and as of this past Friday, Cafe du Nord (sharing the bill with fellow Bay Area acts Pills & Jackets, Silver Griffin and the Family Crest, and DJ Roy O'Blivion).

I've seen ItsaWhale perform several times before (including a show at a tiny Christian coffee shop in Bremerton, WA), and was accustomed to that particular sound. I was therefore both very curious and utterly unprepared for the electroclash-rock assault that awaited me at the Toy Soldiers' show.

The band's music is experimental enough to be considered unique while maintaining enough of the classic devil-may-care dance anthem, creating a blend that's both infectious and truly enjoyable. Combined with the genuine energy and showmanship that emanates from the Ryan/Kevin/Jesse trio, a Toy Soldiers live show is definitely one to check out.
- The S.F. Deli

The axiom that touts children as born-music lovers with natural rhythm stood the test of time last Wednesday when The Toy Soldiers took to the stage in the second Concert in the Park performance.

Dark clouds hovered overhead as the band opened with original folksy, mellow songs from their previous “It’s a Whale” days. After a short break, Ryan Barber traded in his acoustic guitar for a keyboard. Then his three-man band rolled out a debut of the new frenetic, electro/pop/rock “Toy Soldiers” sound.

Barber’s Cold Play-esque vocals come across as a mix of John Lennon, Postal Service and Third Eye Blind. Ask if he minds being told that his sound is hard to label and he’ll answer with a definitive “no” and say that he’s been influenced by Flaming Lips.

No sooner was he tapping out original riffs, than the chilly air suddenly evaporated and over 20 small children flocked to sit on the stage.

Drummer Jesse Skorupa channeled a spirit from Sesame Street when he let loose on a miniature garbage can for an easy two-beat rat-a-tat-tat song.

Guitarist, Kevin displayed amazing dexterity as he imitated a human pogo stick in between sliding across the stage. Not once did he get tripped up in the wires and electrical cords.

“I see the kids are in full-scream today,” Barber shouted.

The attraction held for older students too, like Shilpi Tomar. The San Jose teen road out to the pavilion with friends after getting an iEvent alert from her iPhone. Tomar walked away with t-shirts and CDs.

But don’t forget the older-crowd. When asked to clap along, the under 20-set wasn’t the only group susceptible to the elevated mood. Groups of white-haired lady-friends blended in by swaying side-to-side and clapping.

Mission accomplished for Barber and company.

“We want our music to produce something different, like a return to youth,” said the children’s soccer coach, adding that on October 26, he’ll play at his preferred, all-age club, Café Du Nor in San Francisco.

When the show ended, he knelt down to the level of the children who flanked all sides of the stage. “I had a blast,” he said.

The feeling was undeniably mutual.

One audience member, who stuck out his hand, introduced himself as “a stay-at-home” dad and said he enjoyed the music.

After heading up to Vancouver for two months to record a CD, Toy Soldiers will relocate to Seattle. - The Santa Clara Weekly