(All photos by CirdecSongs)

A band mixing musical genres is hardly revolutionary. But the way KYROS does it is far from ordinary. It’s not every day that one mixes eighties synth pop with progressive rock. But when it comes to KYROS … well, here we are! You might think you know where things are headed when the band starts playing. But just like that, bam! We’re off in a completely different direction.

KYROS’s approach to Prog is quite different. They may be playing complex lines and have the odd tricky arrangements here and there, but they do most of it in common (4/4) time! Dare I say, it’s almost danceable! Whether or not that actually happens depends on the gig. But it’s definitely easier than trying to dance in 9/8!

Shelby Logan Warne — she of two-toned hair, glam outfits, and vintage synthesizer sounds — might give the uninitiated assumptions about where things are about to go, musically. Her singing voice also holds remnants of the eighties. But it doesn’t take long for the rest of the band to shatter any and all illusions of what’s about take place.

Joey Frevola is a highly adept guitarist who plays like he can’t wait to dig in and shatter musical expectations while he shares lead lines with Shelby. Their sizzling leads are held together beautifully by the groovealicious bass of Charlie Cawood and the aggressive but polished drums of Robin Johnson. The best bands don’t just play, but play well off one another. When it comes to KYROS, everything comes together and each player’s contribution is right on the money.

In fact, the only thing the band members seem to disagree on is the correct pronunciation of the band’s name. As you’ll see, It’s become a bit of an inside joke.

I had the pleasure of seeing KYROS at Progstock in Rutherford, New Jersey in 2024. Their performance was a serious attention-getter. Yes, they put on a show. But the complexity taking place under the glam is a serious call for respect.

Best of all, they are incredibly nice people! Thomas Hatton of Proglodytes and I shared a little time with the band before they hit the road, consisting of breakfast and a little record shopping. It was a lovely time.

With that in mind, this chat felt more like a reunion. This made things more than a little fun. I would like to thank KYROS for taking the time to chat with CirdecSongs.

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If you would like go have your music reviewed anytime or have your band photographed while in Chicago, Illinois, please contact me at cirdecsongs@gmail.com