Artist description Ray's music is an engaging blend of folk-rock toughness, rhythmic versatility and pure pop music. Listen carefully and you'll hear influences as diverse as the history of pop music itself, from Tin Pan Alley to the Beatles, the Byrds and the Velvet Underground. Nothing here is obvious or contrived, however; Ray has created a rich dynamic sound which is unmistakably his own.

Music Style Pop/Folk/Rock

Musical Influences Grahm Parsons, Lovin Spoonful, Beatles, Velvet Underground

Artist History Ray Brandes is from San Diego, California, where he has been writing music and playing in bands for more than eighteen years. Ray has been responsible for the formation of many illustrious San Diego bands such as the Hedgehogs, The Tell-Tale Hearts, The Shambles, The Town Criers and now The Riot Act. Ray’s second solo Ray Brandes is from San Diego, California, where he has been writing music and playing in bands for more than eighteen years. In 1981 his first band, The Hedgehogs, earned a substantial local following with its Beatles-inspired rock-and-roll. By 1983 he had founded The Tell-Tale Hearts, a sixties-influenced punk/rhythm and blues band which was signed to Voxx/Bomp Records in Los Angeles. The Tell-Tale Hearts, which performed with such notable acts as the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Cramps and Jesus and Mary Chain, subsequently released an album, The Tell-Tale Hearts, an EP, The Now Sound of Tell-Tale Hearts (which has become the top selling record in the history of the label), an Australian single, and a French compilation album. Though the group disbanded in 1987, it continues to have a remarkably loyal following, particularly in Europe, where its records continue to sell. From 1987-1990, Ray's folk-rock group the Town Criers developed a solid reputatuion as a San Diego club band. Following a short European tour with the San Diego power pop group The Shambles, Ray began recording songs with Spun Records which became the nucleus of his first solo album, The Lonely Sock. In 1999 Ray signed a contract with Madrid's Snap!! label, for which he has recorded his second and widely anticipated second solo CD, Continental Drifter.

Group Members Ray formed the Riot Act, with San Diego music legends Bart Mendoza of the Shambles, Peter Miesner of the Crawdaddys, Hector Peöalosa of the Zeros and Victor Peöalosa of the Melanies.

Instruments Vocals, Guitar, Harmonica, Tamborine

Albums The Lonely Sock (1994), Continental Drifter (1998)

Press Reviews "(Ray is ) a phenomenal lead singer"--Rolling Stone's Alt-Rock-a-Rama "(Ray's) witty, melodic pop songs may soon put him back in the spotlight"--The San Diego Reader "More hooks than most groups come up with in years . . . you'll find yourself singing along in the car."--Yellow Pills Magazine "Sparkling garage-pop."--The San Diego Union-Tribune "Brandes has a clear sweet voice and a knack for writing finger-snapping pop songs."--Uptown Newsmagazine "Singer Ray Brandes has one of the best screeches in the West."--Goldmine "Ray Brandes mumbles a growling lead vocal in the tradition of Keith Relf."--The Arts "Ray Brandes' snotty vocals are raw and slightly demented."--Options Magazine "(Ray Brandes is a) master of wailing harp and snarling blues."--Voxx Teen Beat "Bittersweet pop nuggets"--Night and Day "Babdukka ib vagvaaabubeb kaykaha Ray Brandes ja terve troikka kyhaamassa omia biisefa."--Rumba (Finland) This seventeen-song (!!) disc glimmers with vocal harmony, organ-driven songs, ballads and snappy mid-tempo pop tunes. The overall pop community should look forward to more good things from Ray Brandes!--Blank Pages Ultimately it comes down to that voice; it's as good (and distinctive) as it ever was.--Teen Scene One thing is clear after spinning 'Continental Drifter' a number of times: Ray Brandes is one heck of a songwriter and a remains a top notch singer.--Record Review (Ray) never once fails to craft songs which are as melodically adventurous as they are expertly performed and recorded.--Productions Ray Brandes possesses a fantastic voic, and whether adopting the gentler Gram Parsons croon, a Dylan twang or Phil May scream, Ray is the man. This is a breathtakingly beautiful, meadow fresh CD that is timeless like all good pop.--Shindig Magazine

Location San Diego, California - USA

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