Brian O'Connell

Thanks for visiting my website!

For over 25 years I have played bass and touch guitar across the Northeast and East Coast with: Uncle Sammy, Arukah, Gordon Stone, Gary Backstrom, Rev Tor Band, Dead Man's Waltz, Jo Henley, Wolfman Jack, Bearly Dead, Entrain, Live at the Fillmore, Interminable, and many others.

To hear my diverse original music head on over to my Bandcamp page at: https://brianoconnell.bandcamp.com/

My original music project is the Brian O'Connell Fellowship. This band features music I wrote over several years spanning back to Uncle Sammy up to Arukah, plus songs from my rock operas Over The Line and Witch Hunt. The Brian O'Connell Fellowship offers up an intoxicating blend of sound featuring: raucous jazz-fusion, jam-heavy psychedelia, catchy pop hooks, groove-based world music influences, and imaginative prog-rock compositions. The lineup of the Brian O'Connell Fellowship currently features Graham Gibbs on guitar and vocals along with Dillon Pinard on drums. I hope to expand the lineup with all sorts of different instrumentation in the near future. 

I have several other projects:

* My most recent offering is an ambient album of solo Touch Guitar improvisations called “Soundbath Volume 1”. This is intentional music designed for relaxation, reflection, meditation, chilling, yoga, massage, hot tubs, etc. The response to this album has been overwhelmingly positive so expect to see Volume 2 and 3 on the way in the near future. 

* I regularly perform in upstate NY, the Berkshires, and southern VT with Dead Man's Waltz, a tribute to the music of Grateful Dead, The Allman Brothers Band, and The Band. Led by legendary New England bandleader Tor Krautter (aka - Rev Tor), we play these classic tunes while featuring the individual talents of the band members and our own group improvisational style. We play some amazing venues that are always packed with the best music fans anyone could ask for.

* I have a unique Podcast called Witch Hunt - history told in music, song, and story that tells the story of the Salem Witch Trials. It is in the style of an old-time radio show with an art-rock twist and combines my love of history and music. I narrate the story with original music and songs. The ultimate goal is to stage Witch Hunt as a live multimedia rock opera concert. 

* Arukah was an incredible super group that I played with for three years. Arukah featured Dennis Angelo - guitar/vocals (The New Motif), Brian Epstein - drums/vocals (Playing Dead/Electro-Politics), and Mark Munzer (Playing Dead/The Knot). The musicianship was at a very high level and we played all original music featuring great songwriting, volcanic jam peaks, and diverse grooves. We played many amazing shows to audiences all across New England from 2021 to 2023. In Arukah I was able to feature my bass playing in a solo voice role and delve into deep heavy funk filled exploratory bands. Our influences drew upon rock, fusion, prog, funk, reggae, pop, and soul. 

* Back in the spring of 2021 I played bass on an album of all original music written by my good friend Tor Krautter, The Rev Tor Band's "Snake Oil". Recorded at the Egremont Barn in The Berkshires (also one of my favorite venues to play), it's a great album full of killer tunes and incredible playing. I also have to say that recording engineer Frank Kennedy got some seriously great bass tones on this album!

* You can also occasionally find me playing with the accordion-infused, world chamber noir group Minouchka, led by the incredible Rachel Koppelman.

* Head on over to my Bandcamp Page to check out all kinds of recordings that I have done over the years. New releases are posted regularly. One notable selection there is the long-lost studio recording by my old band Uncle Sammy, called Unearthed. You can also go on over to the Archive.org Uncle Sammy Page to check out some old gems!

* In 2012 I debuted my rock opera Over The Line, a psychological-political fairy tale about self-discovery and indoctrination. Head on over to the Music Page to listen to and download Over The Line.

INFLUENCES

Playing the bass guitar has been one of the greatest gifts of my life. I live for intense improvisational jams with amazing musicians and playing fun and interesting music for true music lovers. 

I am interested in all kinds of music and appreciate musicians of all types. I am especially inspired by the bass playing of: Jaco Pastorius, Tony Levin, Steve Swallow, Victor Wooten, Roger Waters, Stanley Clarke, Phil Lesh, Mike Gordon, Berry Oakley, Scott Thunes, Jack Cassady, Kai Echardt, Eberhard Weber; along with all of the classic 70's prog-rock bassists: Mike Rutherford, Greg Lake, Ray Shulman, John Wetton, Geddy Lee, Glenn Cornick, Chris Squire, etc.

I love writing music and am heavily influenced by composers and songwriters who dare to reach beyond the expected, musicians and groups such as: Frank Zappa, Pat Metheny, Lyle Mays, Todd Rundgren, Phish, Oregon, Charles Mingus, Herbie Hancock, Trilok Gurtu, Joe Jackson, Igor Stravinsky, Joni Mitchell, Grateful Dead, Santana, Gentle Giant, Jethro Tull, Yes, King Crimson, Carla Bley, and many other rock, jazz, classical, and world music legends.

I hope to be able to create and perform more theatrical and experimental performances in the lineage of such highly creative acts as: Peter Gabriel & Genesis, The Tubes, Pink Floyd, etc.

Thanks again for visiting!

I hope that we can meet in person (again) sometime soon!

~ Brian

brianvoconnell@gmail.com