Reviews
"Chris O'Leary generates authority...with a huge voice [and] a force-of-nature harmonica sound." —Greil Marcus, Real Life Rock
"Gritty blues and soulful ballads [performed with] absolute authority...Chris O'Leary rocks relentlessly with assurance and a clear sense of passion and purpose. He is a potent, raging tourde-force." —Living Blues
"The Chris O'Leary Band offer a virtual encyclopedia of entertaining roadhouse blues styles, from boogie woogie to Southside Chicago to Louisiana stompers." —Philadelphia Daily News
"O'Leary is a forceful harp player, a powerful singer and a natural frontman." —Blues Music Magazine
“Chris was the lead singer and front man for Levon Helm’s Barnburners for six years as well as fronting his own band. He has also taken the stage with such luminaries as Bobby Keys, the Fabulous Thunderbirds, Jeff Healy, Albert Lee, James Cotton and more…making him a bonafide seasoned professional. We live in an age when every hotshot guitarist, harp player, vocalist and so on, is touted as the “real deal”, and the greatest thing since sliced bread. In O’Leary’s case, the roadwork, and all that goes with it, bears witness to his love for the music and his determination to pursue a career doing what he loves. 7 Minutes Late is, in my opinion, his strongest work to date. Accompanied by his stellar band and a trio of guests, Chris burns his way through a dozen tunes, totaling over 70 minutes. Often in albums of this length, there are a couple tunes thrown in just as filler. That is not the case with this one. There is not a single weak tune on the disc. O’Leary’s songwriting is stronger than ever, his harp playing is off the charts, and his vocals are passionate and powerful. While this may not be strictly a blues album in the traditional sense, it is every bit a blues album. Chris draws from deep wells of experience in various blues and blues-related styles. This is the music that has filled roadhouses for ages…thought-provoking, danceable and incredibly entertaining, 7 Minutes Late is masterfully done, from start to finish. From houserockin’ tunes to soulful ballads, Chris & company deliver a set that is sure to be listed among the all-time greats.” — Bill Wilson, Reflections in Blue