FRET12 SESSIONS

Reilly Downes –Live Performance

Americana singer-songwriter Reilly Downes, backed by her band the Acid Cowboys, performs three new songs off her upcoming album in this FRET12 Session.

Broadcasting from our shop at The Salt Shed, FRET12 Sessions invites musicians of all genres and styles to come in, perform, and share their work with the world.

Reilly Downes live performance at the FRET12 shop.

FRET12 SESSIONS

Reilly Downes – LIVE PERFORMANCE

Americana singer-songwriter Reilly Downes, backed by her band the Acid Cowboys, performs three new songs off her upcoming album in this FRET12 Session.

Broadcasting from our shop at The Salt Shed, FRET12 Sessions invites musicians of all genres and styles to come in, perform, and share their work with the world.

Reilly Downes live performance at the FRET12 shop.
Reilly Downes playing live at FRET12 guitar shop.
Americana singer-songwriter Reilly Downes, backed by her band the Acid Cowboys, performs three new songs off her upcoming album in this FRET12 Session.
Reilly Downes and Cody Palmer perform at the FRET12 sessions in the Salt Shed.

F12-SESSION 006 // REILLY DOWNES

It’s easy to see why Reilly Downes has been crowned the Sad Cowgirl of Chicago — her country ballads wear their aching hearts on their sleeves, each one imbued with the vocalist’s rich, classic Americana sound. Hailing from Texas Hill Country, Downes earned her stripes as a session musician in Nashville before moving to Chicago and becoming a staple of the city’s country scene. With backing from her band the Acid Cowboys, Downes performs three new tracks in this FRET12 Session as she prepares to head back into the studio to record her next album.

After the performances, we chatted with Downes and the Acid Cowboys about writing an entire album during the pandemic, life on tour, and Chicago’s tight-knit country music scene.

Reilly Downes live session at the FRET12 Shop, located in the Salt Shed.
Reilly Downes and Cody Palmer watch as guitarist Justin Eisenbraun plays.
Justin Eisenbraun with his wife's Pink Nashguitars Telecaster.
Justin Eisenbraun with his wife's Pink Nashguitars Telecaster.
Justin Eisenbraun with his wife's Pink Nashguitars Telecaster.
Justin Eisenbraun's 70's Fender Princeton amp.
Justin Eisenbraun plays at Reilly Downes and the Acid Cowboys' FRET12 session at the Salt Shed.
The headstock of Justin's wife's Pink Nashguitars Telecaster.
Drummer Aaron Vincel of the Acid Cowboys performs at the FRET12 Guitar Shop at the Salt Shed.

“It feels like home in Chicago because everyone supports one another. We all sing in each other's bands when it's needed...it’s like a big musical family, especially within the country music scene.”
— Reilly Downes


“It feels like home in Chicago because everyone supports one another. We all sing in each other's bands when it's needed...it’s like a big musical family, especially within the country music scene.”
— Reilly Downes

Justin Eisenbraun of the Acid Cowboys.
Reilly Downes sings at the FRET12 Sessions at Chicago's Salt Shed.

“We also have so many different
levels of education and background in music, so it's a good mix...I don't have really any professional training, so I can come in with my more basic songwriting approach and kind of have that perspective. Whereas [Justin & Alex] can come in with a bit more
technical ability.”
 — CODY PALMER


“We also have so many differentlevels of education and background in music, so it's a good mix...I don't have really any professional training, so I can come in with my more basic songwriting approach and kind of have that perspective. Whereas [Justin & Alex] can come in with a bit moretechnical ability.”
— CODY PALMER


Reilly Downes performs at the FRET12 Guitar Shop at the Salt Shed.
Guitarist Justin Eisenbraun and bassist Alex Piazza jam at the FRET12 Sessions in the Salt Shed.
Reilly Downes in the FRET12 Shop at the Salt Shed.

HARD-WON TOUR TIPS

💥 “[On tour] you’re tired, and you’re having these Imposter Syndrome feelings because you’re seeing so many other artists who are so incredible. Keep keeping up your spirits, believing in yourself, having so much fun, and taking advantage of the friendships you’ve built around you.”

 

💥 “You’re not mad at the drummer. You’re just hungry.”

💥 “Sleep when you can, and eat the free meal, as much of it as you can.”

Reilly Downes performs at the FRET12 Guitar Shop at the Salt Shed.
Alex Piazza's Fender Player Plus bass.
Details of Alex Piazza's Fender Player Plus bass.
More details of Alex Piazza's Fender Player Plus bass.
Alex Piazza's Fender Player Plus bass.
Alex Piazza's Fender Player Plus bass headstock.
Alex Piazza's Fender Player Plus bass.
Justin Eisenbraun adjusts his microphone at the FRET12 sessions at the Salt Shed.
Justin Eisenbraun and Alex Piazza back up Reilly Downes' vocals at the FRET12 guitar shop in Chicago.
Reilly Downes live from the FRET12 Guitar Shop.
Cody Palmer of the Acid Cowboys.
Reilly Downes’ rich vocals are on full display.

“My favorite part of songwriting is that most of my music is very personal. People can identify with it because they've felt all of these emotions.”
– Reilly Downes


“My favorite part of songwriting is that most of my music is very personal. People can identify with it because they've felt all of these emotions.”
– Reilly Downes

Drummer Aaron Vincel.
The decals on Aaron Vincel's C&C 22
Zildjian Cymbal.
Aaron Vincel's C&C drum kit.
Zildjian Cymbal.
Aaron Vincel's 14
Aaron Vincel's C&C drum kit.


“This is my favorite pedal I've ever owned, the Reverberation Machine [by Death By Audio]. I started using it for guitar because I like this really cool, dusty kind of distorted reverb... there are a lot of songs in Ganser where I use distorted vocals. It’s just a sound I’ve always wanted for vocals and it’s much more fun to perform as well.”
— Sophie Sputnik


“This is my favorite pedal I've ever owned, the Reverberation Machine [by Death By Audio]. I started using it for guitar because I like this really cool, dusty kind of distorted reverb... there are a lot of songs in Ganser where I use distorted vocals. It’s just a sound I’ve always wanted for vocals and it’s much more fun to perform as well.”
— Sophie Sputnik

Reilly Downes live at the FRET12 Sessions from in the Salt Shed.
Cody Palmer's gold Fender JV Modified Telecaster.
Cody Palmer's gold Fender JV Modified Telecaster.
Cody Palmer's Strymon Deco pedal.
Cody Palmer's gold Fender JV Modified Tele.
Cody Palmer of Reilly Downes and the Acid Cowboys.
Cody Palmer's gold Fender JV Modified Tele and pick.
Cody Palmer's gold Fender JV Modified Tele and pick.
Cody Palmer's Milkman 10w Pint amp.
The Acid Cowboys.
Reilly Downes and the Acid Cowboys live performance at the FRET12 shop.

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FRET12 SESSIONS – REILLY DOWNES and the ACID COWBOYS

Follow their journey ➔ Web // Instagram // Spotify // Apple Music // YouTube // Facebook

All video and photos by FRET12.
Venue: FRET12 Shop, located in the main lobby of the Salt Shed - Chicago.

Reilly Downes and the Acid Cowboys session with FRET12.

FRET12 SESSIONS – NATHAN GRAHAM

Chicago-born singer-songwriter Nathan Graham performs three songs live at the FRET12 shop.

FRET12 Sessions: Nathan Graham

POPPY JEAN CRAWFORD - OPENING ACT FOR PLACEBO AT THE SALT SHED

POPPY JEAN CRAWFORD - OPENING ACT FOR PLACEBO AT THE SALT SHED