Wayne Supergenius
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Wayne Supergenius

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This band has not uploaded any videos

Music

The best kept secret in music

Press


"misc. reviews"

"A classic Son Volt style with brilliant lyrics, harmonies, big musicianship, and a big-piece sound to create hit-ready songs. Their new album is amazing."
– Chris Lausch - the Bitter End

Wayne Supergenius writes the old fashioned kind of song. The big hook, the unforgettable melody, the crafted solo that many who have been sucked into the dreary world of the image conscious have missed. Or to quote Peter Bothum of Rockpile magazine: "With such a true-blue batch of solid rock songs, timing is irrelevant."

With influences ranging from Gram Parsons and Willie Nelson to the Replacements and the Afghan Whigs, the songs explore love and loss and lust and guilt without bowing to cliched sentiment or trendy stylings. The Fly magazine (February) says about The Tonight Show: "Capture(s) the essence of heart-on-your sleeve alt.country soul-searching."

"Catchy, rootsy power pop without any annoying pretense. Reminiscent of early Wilco, the Jayhawks, a little Flying Burrito Brothers."
– The Fly magazine - various


"CD Review: Wayne Supergenius – The Tonight Show"

CD Review: Wayne Supergenius – The Tonight Show
Posted by: Cheryl on 2005-09-26 17:58:32

By Cheryl Zack

I love listening to music, and when my brain is pumping on all cylinders, I enjoy writing about it. Once in a while a project comes along that makes the latter very easy, as it awakes my senses like cool Virginia mountain air. Enter "The Tonight Show" by Wayne Supergenius. From the very first twangy chord of "Lead Me Away", the supremely catchy opening tune, the foot is tapping, the head bobbing, and the sing-along genes are engaged. Let me state for the record that I despise what is currently called country music on their version of Top 40 radio. It is more like the miserable, depressing second cousin of pop-rock than it is like the sound that real country music hailed from. While the Wayne musicians claim a reverence to such country icons as Merle Haggard, where they rise above the doldrums of modern country is by never veering off the course of their rock roots. While the guitar compositions reflect a definite rockabilly air, many of the tunes here are more reminiscent of, say, the Gin Blossoms or even very early R.E.M. than Tim McGraw or Garth Brooks. The Wayne boys take the true spirit of country pioneers and throw it in a blender with the guts and groove of rock music. The resulting product is incomparably refreshing in today's "let's copy what's hot" market. Tracks like the affore-mentioned opener as well as "My Lover", "Falling Down", and "Leaning Into Anywhere" swing with the rootsy kick I've been trying to verbally convey. They are complemented by the beautifully bluesy "Untie My Hands" and "Feel", the song which I feel best displays the incredibly ear-pleasing vocals of Tony Ryder, who also plays a lead role in the bands songwriting, although all members contribute to that end. Ryder can croon with the best of them, with a warm, charming voice perhaps comparable to Glenn Tilbrook, for any of you who remember Squeeze. And that is no small compliment coming from this writer. His singing fits every song like a well-worn leather driving glove. John Fritchey plays a myriad of instruments on the CD, from lead guitar to mandolin and everything in between. Another music veteran, Tony Melchiorre keeps it in motion flawlessly on drums, and Mike Passariello completes the rhythm on bass. When playing live, there are additional musicians in their lineup, such as Sal Saunders on pedal steel (I'm trying to convince some other musician friends that they now need this "twang" in their sound!) and keyboardist Trent Peechatka, which complete the musical recipe to perfection. One additional note on this collection: it features one cover tune, an evocative rendition of the Eurythmics' "Here Comes the Rain Again", a haunting, mesmerizing version which sounds like the theme song to a Quentin Tarantino western. Its inclusion here is a stroke of artistic genius. Maybe even Supergenius. The entire package is engaging, original, and refreshing. These guys have played everywhere from the East Coast to Texas, so watch for them to grace a venue near you. - vibe-rate.com cheryl zack


"Review 1-30-06"

wayne supergenius....With its blend of alt-pop/rock/country/Americana, the York band is one of the pillars of local music with an impressive catalog of their own tunes and cool covers (on this night Fleetwood Mac's "Dreams" and a raucous take on Waylon Jennings' "Good Hearted Woman").

For the $6 cover this was beyond a bargain and proved that the musicians' mantra of "support live local original music" are words to live by. - Barry Fox - Patriot News, Harrisburg, PA


Discography

LP
THE TONIGHT SHOW released in 2000.
new LP in the works for a summer 2006 release.

entire lp is available for download on our website.

Photos

Feeling a bit camera shy

Bio

Wayne Supergenius was formed when seasoned players from two well-known Central PA rock and power pop bands united to work on singer, Tony Ryder's rough studio demos. The resulting sound was unexpectedly rootsy and organic, thus it was decided that this rather tentative affiliation should become a band. The name was taken from the late, great Nickelodeon show "The Adventures of Pete & Pete." With the addition of pedal steel, the band's smooth, spacious pop meets twang sound was solidified. Taking it's cue from the Bloodshot Records artists it admires, WSG places the art of songcraft over image and favors a militantly independent approach. The band self-produced and distributed it's debut record "The Tonight Show" and continues to record in it's home studio. Listen to additional songs at www.waynesupergenius.com. Never has drinking, desperation and romantic despair sounded quite so sweet.