Ian Walsh

He's shared a stage with B.B. King, studied at the prestigious Berklee College of Music, rocked a major motion picture soundtrack and issued three critically acclaimed releases in as many years, all of which were engineered by a Grammy-winner. And that's merely the prologue for Ian Walsh, an ambitious young artist who isn't afraid to evolve with his loyal, burgeoning fan base.
Not only does Walsh already have the pedigree of a seasoned, veteran musician, he's just planted yet another seed in a sprawling creative landscape, lending his singular guitar/keyboard/vocal talents to Find Vienna. Walsh and the Philadelphia-based electro-pop-rockers—rounded out by frontman Patrick Mencel, bassist Paul Mencel and drummer Mark McGuire—have long been mutual admirers, making the union a no-brainer.
"Here are three guys that are really going for it, and I bought their record [2009 EP In Your Favorite Colors] and loved it before I even met them," Walsh enthuses. "Patrick reached out to me on Facebook, and before I knew it I was in their basement hanging out with them. It just felt right."
A powerhouse of infectious melodies and stadium-sized ambition, Find Vienna routinely conjure global rock gods like U2 and the Police. Every member is co-credited as vocalist, spawning harmonies that are both titanic and accessible, a point of pride Walsh consistently accomplished during his esteemed solo career. With the release of their new EP In Flight on December 22, 2011, it's plain to see that Find Vienna is on its way to the next level. The new release is primed and powerful and will no doubt propel them to the next level.
"I think it's really important when you hear a song and it immediately dials up a connection," he emphasizes. "We really take that sort of thing into consideration when Patrick and I are writing writing: Are people gonna know what we're talking about, and are they gonna care? I felt like I made a good stab at that with Are They Ever Gonna Know?"
Indeed, that two-song 2010 solo EP marks the (temporary) end to an impressive run begun with 2008's Please Remember and 2009's Seeing Stars. Walsh strived to make that coda as positive and universal as possible, an intentional reaction to the relative darkness and introspection of Seeing Stars (engineered by said Grammy winner Nick DiDia). Mood or approach notwithstanding, he brings a world of experience to Find Vienna, including a built-in fan base fostered over multiple national tours, a spot in the soundtrack to film fest darling Moondance Alexander, and performances with contemporaries as diverse as A Rocket to the Moon and Idina Menzel. Not to mention a teenage stint playing bass for Johnny Duke and the Aces, gigging up to four times a week (including school nights), which culminated with three unforgettable dates on a B.B. King tour.
As for today, the Delaware native is comfortable continuing his journey from blues to pop-rock to a more mature, evocative sound. Find Vienna, who just inked a management deal with In De Goot Entertainment (Neon Trees), are currently plotting their first full-length. And no, they're not aiming low.