Four years ago, John Reilly began writing music to express the reality of the world around him. With no glitz or glamour, he worked hard honing his skills as a singer/songwriter. With a passion to share the valleys and peaks of his life, John's honest lyrics and melodies began to capture the hearts of audiences around.

In 2001, God worked wonders and pulled together 5 people, each with their own history of musical interludes, to begin a band under the lead of John. These companions added layers of musical and creative forces that propelled them quickly into the Philadelphia music scene.

sym·phon·ic

1 : HARMONIOUS, SYMPHONIOUS
2 : relating to or having the form or character of a symphony
3 : suggestive of a symphony especially in form, interweaving of themes, or harmonious arrangement

folk

1 : originating or traditional with the common people of a country or region and typically reflecting their lifestyle
2 : of or relating to the common people or to the study of the common people

Funny you should ask...

The band's backbone is John's good old acoustic folk-rock. However, with 2 violins, a flute, guitars and drums, the band is versatile enough to blend many musical genres. From Baroque-like string arrangements to fiddle-happy Celtic jams, and all the way to jazzy grooves, the John Reilly Band generates a sound that's engagingly fresh.

During a live performance, you can hear Dan Huie and Noele Parris Huie trading violin solos with Trina Bass adding her jazzy flute flavor. The musical experience only deepends as Trina and Noele set down their instruments to add sweeping harmonies over John�s soaring melody. Well-versed drummer Kyle Thoman and bassist Matthew Bomberger hold down the foundation with rock, jazz, and orchestral beats and rhythms.

Despite the band's pursuit of excellent musicianship, John claims their goal is not to be the next big rockstars. "The world has enough rockstars. It doesn't need six more. We're seeking to write music that points people to the hope that we've found in Christ. When our head hits the pillow at night that's what really matters."

The JRB is
John Reilly - guitar & vocals
Noele Parris - violin, piano & vocals
Dan Huie - violin & guitar
Matthew Bomberger - bass guitar
Kyle Thoman - drums

The fresh unique sound has reached thousands of ears in a very short time span. Here's a list of venues we've played:

Wachovia Spectrum
Trocadero Theater
World Cafe Live
Delaware's Grand Opera House
The Khyber
New Deck Tavern
Barnes and Noble Bookstores
Gryphon Cafe
Drexel University Battle of the Bands 2003 Winner
Eastern University Battle of the Bands Winner
Colleges including: Drexel, Rutgers, West Chester, Towson (MD), Messiah, UPenn, USP, Penn State - Sozo's, Westminster Choir College
Numerous Churches, Coffeehouses and Funraisers