As we escape rush hour traffic, we find Kyle Frary at Dino's, a no-frills 70's dive bar.
He chats up the bartender as we order our beers and burgers. Kyle has a big, infectious laugh and an easy demeanor that puts you at ease. He usually knows no stranger, and by the time our drinks arrive, he’s already discovered a mutual friend with the bartender—a common occurrence when you’re with Kyle.
We reminisce about his eleven years in the band Mouth Reader from self-booking and promoting nationwide tours to playing with the likes of Shannon and the Clams, Bass Drum of Death, and Frankie and the Witch Fingers. He describes the band's sound as an amalgamation of surf-rock rhythm and atmospheric melodies with punk vocals and song structure.
His face lights up when he talks about their upcoming 3-song EP, recorded with Andrija Tokic at The Bomb Shelter. "We’re experimenting with a more industrial sound this time," he says, excited about the band’s evolution.
As the last of our fries disappear, the conversation shifts to his six years behind the counter at a tattoo shop. "Most apprentices are overly eager to start tattooing right away," Kyle reflects, "but I took it slow. It helped me steady my mind and career." Now, with eight years under his belt as a tattooer and currently working at Kustom Thrills, his thoughtful approach has paid off.
Kyle's tattoos reflect a similar energy to his music. Bold lines and solid color with a psychedelic take on traditional tattooing. You'll see anything from six-eyed skulls and stretched flowers to dreamlike desert landscapes.
Punk music blares in the background as we talk about Kyle's musical taste. He says that while he's tattooing, you're just as likely to hear Spice Girls and Nsync as you are The Oh Sees or King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard.
When I mention his frequent traveling, he says he's seen most of the U.S. through touring with his band. He also tells me he's no stranger to striking off to camp alone in the desert and recently set out to see the Grand Canyon and Zion National Park. A stark difference from his most recent trip to Japan, where he indulged in habushu (snake wine) and Japanese hip-hop shows.
You can get tattooed by Kyle through Instagram and tell him Willie sent ya.
