Ryan Koenig Explained

Ryan McGrath Koenig (born October 4, 1985 in St. Louis, Missouri, United States) is an American roots musician.

Koenig's early career began in 2004 as singer and guitarist for garage-rock band The Vultures. He later formed acoustic blues group The Rum Drum Ramblers with Mat Wilson and Joey Glynn. Koenig and Glynn joined up with Pokey LaFarge in 2008 and began touring extensively as Pokey LaFarge and the South City Three. The band, later shortened to Pokey LaFarge, toured the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand, and made appearances on The Late Show with David Letterman, The Grand Ole Opry, The Marty Stuart Show, The Conan O'Brien Show, and in the motion picture The Lone Ranger, and many others.

Ryan Koenig's other current acts include duo with wife Kellie Everett, Southwest Watson Sweethearts, in addition to Rum Drum Ramblers, New Missouri Fox Hunters, Ryan Koenig and the Goldenrods, and appears as a guest with The Hooten Hallers, Jack Grelle, Lavender Country, and many others. His debut solo record Two Different Worlds was released by Big Muddy Records on October 13, 2017.^{[1] [2] [3]} On December 5, 2017, Koenig was seriously injured after being struck by a vehicle while walking during a tour stop in Charleston, South Carolina.^[4] Following the accident, Koenig ceased touring with the Pokey LaFarge band.

Koenig released a live solo recording entitled The Focal Point Recordings Vol 1 on December 29, 2018.^[5] He followed that release with Ryan Koenig and The Goldenrods, The Focal Point Recordings Vol 2, in December 2019.

Appearances

• Pokey LaFarge and the South City Three appeared in an NPR Tiny Desk Concert series in 2011.^[6]
• Pokey and the members of the South City Three played on "I Guess I Should Go To Sleep", a track from Jack White's album Blunderbuss released on April 24, 2012.^[7]

Discography

Release Date	Band	Title	Record Label
2005	The Vultures	The Vultures	Big Muddy Records
2006	Casey Reid	Cephalclog	Big Muddy Records
2006	The Vultures	Spirit of Saint Louis	Big Muddy Records
2007	The Vultures	Vultures and The Hooten Hallers Meld Minds	Big Muddy Records
2008	Rum Drum Ramblers	Hey Lordy Mama Mama Get Up and Go[8]	Big Muddy Records
2009	Bob Reuter's Alley Ghost	Bob Reuter's Alley Ghost[9]	Big Muddy Records
2009	The Hooten Hallers	The Epic Battle of Good and Evil
2009	Rum Drum Ramblers	Trading Dollars for Dimes	Big Muddy Records
2010	Pokey LaFarge and the South City Three	Riverboat Soul[10]	Free Dirt Records
2011	Pokey LaFarge and the South City Three	Middle of Everywhere[11]	Free Dirt Records
2011	Pokey LaFarge and the South City Three	Chittlin’ Cookin’ Time in Cheatham County	Third Man Records
2011	Rum Drum Ramblers	Mean Scene[12] [13]	Big Muddy Records
2011	Bob Reuter's Alley Ghost	Born There[14]	Big Muddy Records
2012	The Hooten Hallers	Greetings From Welp City	Big Muddy Records
2012	Pokey LaFarge and the South City Three	Fan It/ Shenandoah River	Evangelist Records
2012	Pokey LaFarge and the South City Three	Live in Holland[15]	Continental Record Services
2012	Jack White	Blunderbuss[16] [17]	Third Man Records
2012	Jack White	Love Interruption/ Machine Gun Silhouette[18]	Third Man Records
2012	Jack Grelle and the Johnson Family	Jack Grelle and the Johnson Family	Big Muddy Records
2013	Pokey LaFarge and The South City Three	The Lone Ranger (soundtrack) (Original Motion Picture Score)[19] [20]	Walt Disney Records
2013	Pokey LaFarge	Pokey LaFarge[21]	Third Man Records
2013	Pokey LaFarge	Central Time/ St Louis Crawl	Third Man Records
2013	Lonesome Cowboy Ryan and His Dried Up Teardrops	Lonesome Cowboy Ryan and His Dried Up Teardrops	Big Muddy Records
2013	Lonesome Cowboy Ryan and His Dried Up Teardrops	Western Lanes	Big Muddy Records
2013	Rum Drum Ramblers	XO	Big Muddy Records
2014	Al Scorch's Moving Company	Vol. 1
2014	Loot Rock Gang	That's Why I’ve Got To Sing[22]	Big Muddy Records
2014	Jack Grelle	Steering Me Away[23]	Big Muddy Records
2014	The Hobosexuals	Definitive Dirtbag: Volume 1	Big Muddy Records
2015	Pokey LaFarge	Something in the Water[24] [25]	Rounder Records
2015	Tortuga	West of Eden	Big Muddy Records
2016	Pokey LaFarge	Goodbye Barcelona/Blue Morning Lullaby	Rounder Records
2016	Al Scorch	Circle Round The Signs[26]	Bloodshot Records
2016	Southwest Watson Sweethearts	Endless Horizon[27]	Big Muddy Records
2016	Jack Grelle	Got Dressed Up To Be Let Down[28]	Big Muddy Records
2016	Sidney Street Shakers	Laugh My Weary Blues Away	Big Muddy Records
2017	Various Artists	[29]	Lo-Max, Columbia, Third Man Records
2017	The Hooten Hallers	The Hooten Hallers[30] [31]	Big Muddy Records
2017	Pokey LaFarge	Manic Revelations[32] [33]	Rounder Records
2017	Ryan Koenig	Two Different Worlds[34] [35] [36] [37]	Big Muddy Records
2018	Nick Gusman	Dear Hard Times
2018	Ryan Koenig	The Focal Point Recordings Vol. 1[38]
2019	Leann Fisher	Better Off Alone
2019	The Opera Bell Band	Bell Slide
2019	The Native Sons	Fringe
2019	Ryan Koenig and The Goldenrods	The Focal Point Recordings Vol. 2
2020	Jack Grelle	If Not Forever[39]
2020	Miss Jubilee and the Yas Yas Boys	Cool It If You Can	Bigtone Records
2022	The Sapsuckers	I'll Know It When I See It
2023	So Grand Polka Band	Party Potato
2023	Glory 'N Perfection	Country Music
2024	The Goldenrods	Cry Time

Honors, distinctions, and awards

• 2011 Independent Music Awards: Riverboat Soul – Best Americana Album
• 2012 Independent Music Awards: Middle of Everywhere – Best Americana Album^[40]
• 2015 Something in the Water was named one of Peter Jones’ Best Folk Albums of 2015 in the Folk Department of WTJU, University of Virginia radio station.^[41]
• 2018 Named as an honoree of The Riverfront Times' STL 77^[42]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Song Premiere: Ryan Koenig "Cheyenne" | No Depression . 2017-10-02 . 2017-10-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171002215923/http://nodepression.com/article/song-premiere-ryan-koenig-cheyenne . dead .
2. Web site: Rambles.NET: Ryan Koenig, Two Different Worlds. www.rambles.net. May 24, 2020.
3. Web site: Pokey LaFarge Sideman Ryan Koenig Releases Solo Debut, Two Different Worlds. Christian. Schaeffer. Riverfront Times. May 24, 2020.
4. News: St. Louis musician seriously injured in accident on tour . Alexis . Zotos . 2017-12-10 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171211063832/http://www.kmov.com/story/37035435/st-louis-musician-seriously-injured-in-accident-on-tour . 2017-12-11 . live.
5. Web site: After a tumultuous year, Kellie Everett and Ryan Koenig to release new albums. Thomas. Crone. December 13, 2018. Stlmag.com. May 24, 2020.
6. https://www.npr.org/event/music/135508843/pokey-lafarge-tiny-desk-concert "Pokey LaFarge: Tiny Desk Concert"
7. "Pokey LaFarge & The South City Three" Nashville Music Guide, April 20, 2012
8. Web site: 2009 RFT Music Awards Winners. Annie. Zaleski. Riverfront Times. 16 January 2021.
9. Web site: Homespun: Bob Reuter's Alley Ghost. Christian. Schaeffer. Riverfront Times. 16 January 2021.
10. Web site: POKEY LAFARGE-RIVERBOAT SOUL – No Depression . 2020-11-30 . 2021-01-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210118134322/https://www.nodepression.com/pokey-lafarge-riverboat-soul/ . dead .
11. Web site: First Listen: Pokey LaFarge, 'Middle Of Everywhere'. NPR.org. 10 July 2011 . 16 January 2021. Thompson . Stephen .
12. Web site: Big Muddy Records Plans Free Releases From the Vault, Introduces the Groundhogs and Lonesome Cowboy Ryan. Josh. Levi. Riverfront Times. 16 January 2021.
13. Web site: STLBlues CD Reviews :: Rum Drum Ramblers – Mean Scene. Stlblues.net. 16 January 2021.
14. Web site: Bob Reuter's Alley Ghost: Born There. 19 August 2012. PopMatters.com. 16 January 2021.
15. Web site: Live in Holland – Pokey LaFarge & the South City Three | Credits | AllMusic. 16 January 2021. AllMusic.
16. Web site: Pokey LaFarge and the South City Three. Nashvillemusicguide.com. 20 April 2012 . 16 January 2021.
17. Blunderbuss (CD liner notes). Jack White. Third String Tunes. EMI Music Publishing. 2012. XLCD-566.
18. "Love Interruption" (vinyl liner notes). Jack White. Third String Tunes (BMI). TMR136.
19. Web site: Pokey LaFarge talks about roots music, 'The Lone Ranger,' and Jack White ahead of Ark show. AnnArbor.com. 16 January 2021.
20. Web site: Pokey LaFarge described as a revitalist. Tom Netherland. HeraldCourier.com. 4 July 2013 . 16 January 2021.
21. Web site: POKEY LAFARGE SELF-TITLED ALBUM OUT THIS JUNE ON THIRD MAN RECORDS | Nasty Little Man. Nastylittleman.com. 16 January 2021.
22. Web site: Homespun: Loot Rock Gang, That's Why I've Got to Sing. Christian. Schaeffer. Riverfront Times. 16 January 2021.
23. Web site: Americana Alt.Country CD Reviews . 2020-11-30 . 2021-06-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210623212636/https://insurgentcountry.net/reviews-Jack%20Grelle%20-%20Jack%20Grelle%20and%20The%20Johnson%20Family%20-%20Steering%20Me%20Away.html . dead .
24. Web site: Archived copy . 2020-11-30 . 2020-11-29 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201129194723/http://www.glidemagazine.com/132672/pokey-lafarge-something-water-album-review/ . dead .
25. Web site: Something in the Water – Pokey LaFarge | Credits | AllMusic. 16 January 2021. AllMusic.
26. Web site: Circle Round the Signs – Al Scorch | Credits | AllMusic. 16 January 2021. AllMusic.
27. Web site: Southwest Watson Sweethearts and the Aching Hearts Turn a Case of Mistaken Identity into a Dual Record Release Show. Katelyn Mae. Petrin. Riverfront Times. 16 January 2021.
28. Web site: Got Dressed Up to Be Let Down – Jack Grelle | Credits | AllMusic. 16 January 2021. AllMusic.
29. Web site: American Epic: The Sessions – Various Artists | Credits | AllMusic. 16 January 2021. AllMusic.
30. Web site: The Hooten Hallers Spend Time with a Hippy River Queen on 'Charla' (Premiere) – No Depression . 2020-11-30 . 2020-11-29 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201129231334/https://www.nodepression.com/the-hooten-hallers-spend-time-with-a-hippy-river-queen-on-charla-premiere/ . dead .
31. Web site: The Hooten Hallers – Hooten Hallers | Credits | AllMusic. 16 January 2021. AllMusic.
32. Web site: Manic Revelations. Rounder.com. 6 March 2017 . 16 January 2021.
33. Web site: POKEY LAFARGE'S MANIC REVELATIONS OUT TODAY ON ROUNDER RECORDS. Indoorrecess.com. 16 January 2021.
34. Web site: Ryan Koenig – 'Strugglin' With A Lot' Song Premiere. twangville.com. May 24, 2020.
35. Web site: AST Tracks : Ryan Koenig "It Don't Matter". September 14, 2017. May 24, 2020.
36. Web site: First Listen: Ryan Koenig's 'Puebla, MX'. Jeremy. Burchard. September 28, 2017. Wide Open Country. May 24, 2020.
37. Web site: Interview: Ryan Koenig chats new album and playing in Pokey LaFarge's band. May 24, 2020.
38. Web site: After a tumultuous year, Kellie Everett and Ryan Koenig to release new albums. Thomas. Crone. 13 December 2018. Stlmag.com. 16 January 2021.
39. Web site: Jack Grelle switches gears on 'If Not Forever' after initially walking away from the project. Kevin C.. Johnson. STLtoday.com. 18 March 2020 . 11 November 2020.
40. http://www.independentmusicawards.com/ima/2012/11th-annual-independent-music-awards-winners-announced/ "11th Annual Independent Music Awards Winners Announced!"
41. Web site: Peter Jones' Best Folk Albums of 2015 – WTJU. WTJU. 2 January 2016 . 2016-01-10. en-US.
42. Web site: Ryan Koenig Is One of 2018's STL 77 Honorees. Annie. Zaleski. Riverfront Times. May 24, 2020.