Marty O'Reilly & The Old Soul Orchestra


"Marty O’Reilly began his musical journey as a blues guitar player, exploring the works of Blind Willie Johnson, Mississippi John Hurt, John Lee Hooker, Charlie Patton, and Leadbelly. Through extensive listening and studying of the early delta greats, O’Reilly developed a unique foundation onto which he would incorporate themes from influences in other musical veins such as John Fahey, Nick Drake, John Vandiver, and Tom Waits. Whether it be his original pieces, or his renditions of old American classics O’Reilly tells his story through an old and soulful voice, propelled by a sense of authentic emotional adrenaline." First Night Raleigh

"A band true to its name: soulful" - NPR

"Raw musical excellence... guitar, fiddle and double bass played to within an inch of their inanimate lives." - 4000MilesToNashville

"The music is sweet and satisfying, led by the enchanting, sultry voice of 25-year-old Sonoma native and Santa Cruz resident O’Reilly, who makes it obvious from the get-go that the band demands something more than the traditional American folk label." - Haley Brucato, SF Weekly

"O'Reilly's singing voice has been one of the most compelling appeals of the trio. It's often a smoky, withering, almost supernatural bluesman wail/moan that adds mesmerizing textures to his band's sound." Wallace Bain, Santa Cruz Sentinal