Story
by Linda East Brady
, Standard-Examiner staff
- Sep 22 2011 - 12:18am
Mike Reilly and his wife sometimes joke that he is the Forrest Gump of rock.
As sharp as Reilly is, a better comparison might be made with Woody Allen's character Zelig -- caught on the right side of history with music legends, at the right place at the right time.
The talented guitarist has had the opportunity to play with, to name but a few, B.B. King, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Elvin Bishop, Willie Dixon, Billy Gibbons, many members of The Band, and even the man who blues players joke invented electricity -- Muddy Waters.
He has welcomed into his own band people like Taj Mahal, Garth Hudson and Gregg Allman.
But Reilly, who returns to Brewskis for a show Friday, left the stage entirely for a number of years.
Never a man to run just one business (he was also once a restaurateur), he operates a company that leases tour buses to touring artists, and was driving and providing a bus for Arlo Guthrie about seven years ago. The friendship he struck up with the affable singer led to him working as Guthrie's assistant for about four years.
After that, Reilly decided to take a few years off from show business. For three years, he stayed home, getting his health and life together. While on sabbatical, he said, he lost a good deal of weight and worked on his marriage.
With his life in a better place, he decided to get back to the stage this summer, with shows in California. Now Reilly and his reunited band are hitting the road with a show at Brewskis tonight, and at Salt Lake City's Pat's BBQ on Monday.
"I am really rejuvenated and glad to be coming back to Utah," said Reilly calling from home in California.
Reilly has assembled a top-notch group of musicians, men he has played with throughout his career. They include Calvin Hardy on bass, Danny Ott on guitar, Mark T. Williams on drums and Sean Finnegan on keyboards.
Reilly also has a new manager: "He has a bunch of great ideas, and it's got me excited to get back at it," Reilly said. "He can help us take it to the next level."
Last year, Reilly released a compilation CD called "Reilly's Road," featuring performances from throughout his career with musicians like Elvin Bishop, Taj Mahal, Garth Hudson and Gregg Allman. The record has been well-received by fans and critics.
Now the band is talking about getting back into the studio for the first time in nine years.
"I am excited about playing again," said Reilly. "It was smart to take time away from the stage, because now it feels really good to be back."