Kevin O'Reilly

When asked why he concentrates on the bass guitar and performs solo bass pieces in particular, Kevin O'Reilly answers simply, "because I can." His musical aims center on absorbing elements from Chris Squire of Yes, Steve Harris of Iron Maiden, Robert Fripp of King Crimson, and Michael Hedges while remaining true to his own identity above all. He expresses readiness to collaborate with any musician and to tackle every musical style. His cited influences encompass heavy metal, hardcore punk, progressive rock, jazz, fusion, classical, new age, rockabilly, Japanese monster movies, sci-fi movies, books, comic books, and Voivod.

During 2000 he served as Guidance Director at Dirigo High School in Dixfield, ME, a position he had held for the preceding four years, while also coaching cross country skiing there and giving bass guitar lessons during his free hours. He completed his studies at Cape Elizabeth High School in 1987, obtained a bachelor's degree in Secondary Social Sciences from the University of Maine at Farmington in December of 1991 after periods at St. Joseph's College and the University of Southern Maine, then set the degree aside to pursue graduate work at the University of Maine beginning in 1993, finishing with a master's degree in Counseling Education in 1995.

Bands in which Kevin O'Reilly has participated include Wasted (1985), Wasted Soul (1985), the Connection (1986), Symphony of Death (1987), Slow Children at Play (1987), the Relapses (1987), Odd Mix (1987), Total Perspective Vortex (1987), the Phantom Strangers (1987), Cold Finger (1988), Mac's Up (1988), the Baked Potatoes (1988), Full Circle (1989), Mot'rin (1989), the Subterranean Homesick Band (1990), the Penetrators (1990), Love Cactus (1992), Throw the Cow (1993), Stokyo Ting Quartet (1993), Infinite Daze (1993), Angela's Prophecy (1993), Boiling Lobster (1993), and numerous others. In 2000 he belonged to the Dirigo High School Pep Band and the Frotus Caper while also appearing solo; two years earlier he issued the solo album Acidron, which earned enthusiastic praise for its distinctive and expressive bass guitar performance.