Ashe Brothers
By Jen Banowetz
July 2025 View more Spotlight
These Naperville musicians have West Coast vibes and Midwestern roots
Gumby and Alvin and the Chipmunks aren’t usually cited as early musical influences for rockers, but for Ryan and Conor Ashe those classic novelty acts encouraged their lifelong love of music.
In high school, they formed their first band, Runaway Freight Train, which would go on to win the Naperville Battle of the Bands in 2009 and earn a slot taking the Ribfest stage before Huey Lewis and the News. Then North Central College’s Impresario Society granted them an opening spot for Jefferson Starship and a fill-in gig for Art Garfunkel. “These artists were heroes of ours!” Ryan says.
After graduating from the University of Iowa and working in the production business—but booking musical gigs on the side—the brothers decided to move to Southern California to pursue music full-time. As the Ashe Brothers, they write, perform, and record their own brand of classic and psychedelic rock and have built a following in Los Angeles and Orange Counties. But they also make a point of returning to Illinois to play for their hometown fans, with several shows booked this summer, including July 19 at the Matrix Club. We recently had a chance to ask Ryan about their journey.
Q: Describe your musical style.
A: Our sound is folky, rocky, rootsy, funky, and just a lot of fun. People have told us we’ve taken the familiar feel of bands and artists of old and made it feel fresh and new again. This is one of our favorite compliments to receive.
Q: How did you get into music?
A: We were both little kids who responded to music immediately. We didn’t have many instruments around the house, but music in movies and TV was ubiquitous in our upbringing, and who could forget the old cassette tapes? The sonic sounds of Alvin and the Chipmunks and Gumby were early inspirations for Conor and me. However, we really got into rock music at age 11 when we saw School of Rock in theaters. The kids in the movie were the same age as we were, so it got us extremely stoked on learning the ways of rock.
Q: What do you love most about the music business?
A: It has to be the people we bring together and the places we’ve had the opportunities to go. The creative process is far more enjoyable when you’re getting inspiration from other talented musicians and when fans of your work become lifelong friends. Traveling to other countries to play live is such a tremendous privilege, and in 2024 music took us to both Belgium and Ireland.
Q: Any advice for young musicians?
A: If you love it, do it. It’s difficult, and you will not make much money. But keep on doing it even if it’s just for fun. Nobody regrets the time they picked the guitar up, only the time they put it down. Accept constructive criticism but be true to yourself. Don’t try to be someone else and don’t try to be what you think others want you to be. Music is an expression of the heart and soul. Your music must come from your heart and your soul.
Photos: Randall Michelson (on stage); Brian Beaugereau
