THE RITE FLYERS

The Rite Flyers, from Austin Texas practice several styles all loosely orbiting the same power-pop nucleus: snappy electric rockers, plaintive acoustic odes and fuzz-clouded squalls. Songs that positively vibrate with the sort of chipper melodic energy that suggests they could crank out a hummable tune or three before their second cup of morning coffee.

The Rite Flyers consist of Steve Collier, who led perhaps Austin’s most raucous, fiery guitar band of the `80s - Doctor’s Mob; John Clayton, key member and songwriter for Balloonatic, a psychedelic wonder brimming with unforgettable songs; newest members from the legendary Austin band The Wannabese, Jennings Crawford and Thad Swiderski. Former Rite Flyers alumni also include Brit Daniel, Josh Zarbo and Jim Eno from Spoon, Terri Lord (Sincola), Stephen Hall (Sixteen Deluxe) and Joey Shuffield (Fastball)

Recently, The Rite Flyers placed “Suffer Fools Gladly” on the ABC show CUPID and had two songs, “I’m in a Way” and “Liars Club Cathederal” featured in episodes of VERONICA MARS on the UPN Network. Their song “Me and the Bean” was covered released by Spoon on their indie break through GIRLS CAN TELL (Merge Records, 1998) and is featured in the video game ROCKSMITH (Ubisoft 2011).

“Songs filled with deep, resonant emotion that evokes the spirits of The Windbreakers, Pernice Brothers, The dB`s, Uncle Tupelo, Let’s Active and Guided By Voices. Translation: this is incredible!”
- Chris Grey, THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE

“It’s that point where many different Americana influences merge, with just a pinch of country, and a third element of submerged spirituality that’s hard to define… Although there’s still a tinge of Texas twang in the vocals, songs such as the aggressive “Jill Stood Still” and “Politics of Misery” and “I Want To Tell You How I Feel” show a band more in line with where a garagey Guided By Voices meets the early Who and Beatles.”
–Jack Rabid, THE BIG TAKEOVER

“The Rite Flyers remind you of everything that's important about pop music - immediacy, unfettered melodicism, lyrical acuity, and instrumental flourishes painting each song with a hard-won emotional complexity.”
-Luke Torn, POP CULTURE PRESS

“Acoustic strum-alongs, perfectly paced and with upper register vocals to die for make these blokes the natural successors to The Jayhawks (indeed Gary Louris would give his eye teeth to making anything as good as this nowadays). But only a four track taster…what on earth are they gonna do with twelve tracks?? Should be a whole load of fun finding out.”
-Paul Villars, AMERICANA UK

“They’re not kidding about the caustic undertones implied by the EP’s title, SUFFER FOOLS GLADLY. The songs contrast thorny, occasionally nasty emotions with pretty sounds. Still, that pretty pop gloriousness is what you’ll notice first and foremost.”
-David Menconi, NO DEPRESSION

Discography-
THE RITE FLYERS (The Paisley Pop Label, 2004)
SUFFER FOOLS GLADLY (Irrigation Machine Records 2008)