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Billy Conohan
With his feet firmly planted in
the ground and a strong backing
band, Billy Conohan creates a
unique brand of roots music. He
defies the usual genre categorization
with an amalgamation of
folk, blues, rock and hip-hop.
“I love all types of music, so if
it speaks to me, I'm connected,”
Conohan said. “I can't disregard
any genre for another.”
Conohan fronts the band that
got together in a very “New York”
way, by attending local open
mics.
“Everyone I play with, I've met
at a show or open mic and asked
them to jam,” he said. “It's very
much a revolving door of amazing
musicians. The current lineup is Pete
O'Neill on bass, Ryan Shapiro on keys,
Jon Wert on drums. I met Pete around
2009, I'd like to say. Ryan around the
same time, and Jon was the most recent
addition. But there is also Ray Rubio, Berk
O, Nicole Gough, Amos Ang, Amos Rose.
It goes on,” explained Conohan.
Together, they create a diverse, dynamic
lineup and killer live sets.
Another native Astorian, Conohan has
had an unusual backstory, getting his
start as a stand-up comedian at 13, frequenting
local haunts like the now-defunct
Waltz-Astoria.
“I attended almost every weekly open
mic to try new things, especially when I
dove into music,” Conohan said. “The
people I met there are still in my life, still
my family, and the most supportive group
ever, many of whom are artists of amazing
talent themselves.”
Watching Conohan's set feels like
watching a musical prodigy with a strong
hold on the spectrum of music. They play
Flattopps, LIC Beer Project, LIC Bar, The
Quays, and Rest-au-Rant (RAR BAR) to
name a few, but you can catch them on
Aug. 6 at the LIC BAR, at 4 p.m.
BILLYCONAHAN.COM
IG: @BILLYCONAHAN
TWITTER: @BILLYCONAHAN
Photos by Mackenzie Greer