What do you get if you take quality rock music, cut out the fat, throw in some folk, sprinkle in some blues and then add a dash of indie twang? You get the recipe for the unique and fresh alt-country act Mountain Empire.
Mountain Empire is the brainchild of Ryan Browning of Roanoke, Virginia. Ryan first began his venture into music by playing the guitar of his older brother, who would become a prime influence on his music and in his life. At the age of 12 he acquired his own guitar and by the age of 14 he had written his first song. From the beginning music was in his blood. His grandmother sang in a gospel trio and his brother had already been writing and performing his own songs.
In 2006 Ryan decided to follow his dream and head down to Florida to attend Full Sail University, with aspirations of recording music and learning about the business. During this year he harnessed his talents and developed as a songwriter. It wasn’t until a year later that he decided it was time to unveil some of his songs at an open mic night. The audience was floored. It was evident at this point that Ryan Browning needed to concentrate more on his music career and start getting his name out on the circuit. After a few gigs it was also apparent that some sort of rhythm section was in order. Enter Sean Egan.
Sean Egan was born in 1987 in Milford, Pennsylvania. He had throughout his life harbored a great affinity for music, and also decided to attend Full Sail University in the pursuit of his dream. It was there that he met Mr. Ryan Browning while working on his Music Business degree. The two banded together and thus Mountain Empire was born. While still focusing a great degree on Ryan as a singer/songwriter, the addition of Sean helped flesh out his songs and added a much-needed edge to the music. And then there was bass.
A Close personal friend of Egan and Browning from Full Sail University, Drew Pull, volunteered his time and amazing ability to complete the bands well rounded sound, bringing forth was was captured as...Mountain Empire.
After an extended stay in Florida, Browning, Egan, and Pull departed to their next place of residence. Pull venturing cross-country to Seattle, Egan traveling North to New York by way of Milford, PA, and Browning once again returning home to Roanoke, Virginia to reconnect with family, friends, and his roots. Pull and Egan are, for the time being, not physically a part of the band but will always be a founding part of its heart.
These days Mountain Empire can be found crooning and pounding out their unique blend of folk, rock, country and blues in bars and coffee houses throughout the state of Virginia. Guest members of the band include William H. Fryar on drums, Thom Frankie on Guitar, and Brandon Wilson on Bass. They are known for their energetic yet intimate live performances and extremely friendly demeanors. You have to understand that this band is not one to reckoned with, and also not one to be easily understood. These guys exist in a world of dualities, playing the roles of both the preacher and the sinner, the sheriff and the outlaw; Mountain Empire play songs like cowboys with broken hearts and smiles on their faces.
(read less)What do you get if you take quality rock music, cut out the fat, throw in some folk, sprinkle in some blues and then add a dash of indie twang? You get the recipe for the unique and fresh alt-country act Mountain Empire.
Mountain Empire is the brainchild of Ryan Browning of Roanoke, Virginia. Ryan first began his venture into music by playing the guitar of his older brother, who would become a prime influence on his music and in his life. At the age of 12 he acquired his own guitar and by the...
(read more)
