Biography
Ryan Yoskovich - Drums, Vocals
Ryan Stafford - Keyboards, Saxophone, Vocals
Will Richardson - Guitar, Vocals
Danny Flynn - Bass, Vocals
Act Casual, a dynamic fusion band hailing from Detroit, has garnered attention for their electrifying performances, haunting harmonies, and innovative improvisational style. Merging elements of blues, funk, extended instrumentals, and catchy pop melodies, the band has become a vibrant force within the Midwest music scene. Their rise from intimate basement jam sessions to sold-out performances at renowned venues such as Detroit’s Magic Stick and Lager House, Ann Arbor’s Blind Pig, Grand Rapids’ Tip Top Deluxe, and Mount Pleasant’s Centennial Hall reflects their growing popularity and dedicated fanbase.
In addition to their local engagements, Act Casual has made significant strides in the festival circuit, performing at prominent events such as Summer Camp Music Festival, Hookahville, Weekend at the Cave, Solshine Reverie, Summer’s End Smokeout, Good People Good Times, Ohio Dreamfest, Livestock Music Festival, Sugar Creek Music Festival, Ann Arbor Hash Bash, and Arts Beats & Eats. The band was honored to perform at a Bernie Sanders rally and has also shared the stage with notable national acts including Bootsy Collins, Wishbone Ash, Larry McCray, Laith al-Saadi, Brendan Bayliss and Ryan Stasik of Umphrey's McGee, Spafford, Ben Carrey of Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, Moon Hooch, Muruga Booker and Gabe Gonzalez of Parliament Funkadelic, The Werks, Mihali, Magic Beans, and The Nth Power.
Act Casual’s palpable stage presence and energetic performances have attracted media attention, leading to features in publications such as Rolling Stone, The Detroit Metro Times, Local Spins, The Stratton Setlist, and Music Connection Magazine. Their latest album, which has surpassed 50,000 streams on Spotify and received airplay on 101 WRIF and 101.9 WDET, has solidified their status in the independent music scene. Looking ahead, the band plans to officially release live recordings and return to the studio in early 2025.
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achievements
Performed at an official Keller Williams after party in 2017
Tied for winner of the 2017 Short’s Brewing battle of the bands resulting in opening for Laith al-Saadi
Performed in front of 1,000+ crowd at Ann Arbor’s historic Hash Bash 2017
Held a six month residency at Otus Supply in Ferndale, MI in 2019
Hosted official Umphrey’s McGee after parties in 2019 and 2020
Was requested to perform at the 2019 Macomb, MI Bernie Sanders campaign rally
Sold out performances at Blind Pig, Centennial Hall, Lager House, Magic Stick, and Tip Top Deluxe
Hosted sit-ins from artists including Chris Houser (The Werks), Ben Carrey (Pigeons Playing Ping Pong), Gabe Gonzalez and Muruga Booker (Parliament Funkadelic)
Selected as “local up-and-coming Detroit artist“ to perform at Detroit Funk Festival 2023 with Bootsy Collins
Winner of the Summer Camp Music Festival 2023 battle of the bands resulting in performance at the festival
Winner of the Solshine Reverie 2024 battle of the bands resulting in performance at the festival
Winner of the Albion Walk the Beat 2024 battle of the bands resulting in 40 hours of free studio time at Third Coast Recording Company
Winner of the Woodland’s Tavern 2024 battle of the bands resulting in a performance with Dopapod at their sold out 2024 New Years Eve show
Press
“WARREN, MICHIGAN. The day after the Madison rally, a much sunnier afternoon. A Detroit blues-acid-funk band called Act Casual blasts out “Hillbilly Disco” in the parking lot of Macomb County Community College.”
“The metro Detroit jam fusion quartet ... douses listeners in a funky, exhilarating rush of inspiration on the latest single, “Fresh (Out the Shower)”.
Act Casual brings an irresistible swagger to “Fresh (Out the Shower)” as radiant electric guitar, slapping bass, smooth drums, shivering cymbals and lively keys instantly summon the right mojo. It’s the ideal, jam-tastic anthem for approaching that special someone when you’re clean and dressed to the nines.
“Fresh (Out the Shower)” also serves as Act Casual’s second new single this fall. In September, the band dropped the soulful, funkified track, “Livin’ a Lie,” to eloquently recount the everyday struggles of overcoming a romantic rough patch.
Throughout “Livin’ a Lie,” vivid, wah-wah electric guitars, climbing bass, fluid drums, tingly cymbals and sheeny keys engulf love-stricken fans and provide them with bluesy-induced relief.
Filled with lush vocal harmonies, “Livin’ a Lie” also serves as a powerful anecdote about the common arguments people have with their loved ones and the strong emotions that accompany them.”
“Act Casual is a group of highly skilled musical chefs that each stirs into the pot their own batch of scintillating ingredients. A dash of funk, a dollop of country, a pinch of jazz and a helping of blues are all essential in making this stew a success. Their tunes are original and span the gamut...
“Act Casual” is, perhaps, an apt name for the way the band “casually” communicates on stage in a seemingly free and sub-conscious manner. Much like Phish, Jimmy Herring or The Grateful Dead, their stock in trade relies heavily on the “jam” aspect.”
“Act Casual diverts from the typical preconception of jamming, (or “fusion”), that of a noodly band getting entranced in their own sonic spell and being lost in the moment; this quintet is supremely in the groove—to where you, dear listener, never lose your own grip even if a time signature swerves.”