An Irish law firm usually deals with contracts and courtrooms, not classic rock covers in a crowded bar. 

But The Irish Law Firm, a band led by Ryan Garvey ’26 and his cousin, Andrew McCarthy, performs at local venues. What started as years of informal collaboration eventually turned into live performances, even though neither set out with plans to play publicly. 

Garvey and McCarthy have been performing together since childhood, first in school musicals and shows. Their shared background in theater made performing feel natural, but recently, they’ve taken a different path. As Garvey gravitated toward piano and McCarthy toward the guitar, the two began playing casually at each other’s houses, singing songs they enjoyed without much expectation. 

Garvey didn’t learn the piano through formal lessons. Instead, he taught himself by listening to songs and figuring out the chords. 

“I gradually just got better just by [being] like ‘Oh, I want to learn this song,’ and then figuring out the chords to that,” Garvey said. “It was a very slow process, but it worked.” 

Their early performances were informal and familiar. The duo played in front of family members at the shore, often gathered together in a garage. 

“At that time, we still weren’t super great, but it was fun to be able to do that,” Garvey said. 

Encouraged by those early reactions, the cousins eventually decided to play publicly. Their first official gig came on New Year’s Eve in 2024 at The Delco Kup, a local bar they know well, since McCarthy’s father bartends there. Even though the setting felt comfortable for their first performance, they still felt the pressure. 

“I was very used to the theater type of performance, but actually playing music in front of people was still pretty new to me,” Garvey said. “So, yeah, it was definitely nerve-racking.”

Vocals are divided naturally between the two musicians. McCarthy typically takes the lower ranges, while Garvey handles the higher parts. Some songs are shared, especially longer ones with multiple verses. 

“There is a ‘hive-mind’ type of thing that happens in terms of playing the music itself … I think we have this innate ability to find one another where we need to in order to keep a song going and sounding good,” McCarthy said.

McCarthy said their favorite song to play together is “Peaceful Easy Feeling” by the Eagles as they get to harmonize together. 

Garvey is also an active member of the SJU Theatre Company. Renee Dobson, M.F.A., associate professor of performing arts and director of SJU Theatre Company’s production “Rent,” said Garvey stood out early in rehearsals. 

“Ryan was a true leader,” Dobson said. “He always had his material memorized early, and it set a good example for the rest of the company.”

Dobson also noted Garvey’s strong ear for harmony and his positive presence in rehearsal spaces, qualities that translate directly to live music performances. 

“Ryan’s background in music is an excellent foundation for his work in the musical,” Dobson said. “It allows him to learn his vocal parts quickly.”

Despite his years of experience performing in theater, live music introduced new challenges. Unlike a scripted production, bar crowds are unpredictable, and keeping people engaged matters just as much as musical ability. 

“When you’re playing in public, people want to hear stuff that they know,” Garvey said. 

That realization shaped the band’s approach. The Irish Law Firm builds setlists around familiar songs, blending classic rock with modern favorites. Tracks like “American Pie,” “Take Me Home, Country Roads” and “Viva La Vida” are regular features, adjusted depending on the venue. 

“At the Kup, it kind of fits to play our classic rock-type music,” Garvey said. 

Despite the band’s growth, Garvey remains focused on his academic path. As a finance major, he plans to pursue a career as a financial advisor after graduation. Balancing coursework, theater rehearsals and band performances requires dedication, but Garvey has remained committed to both.

“You have to be very deliberate about the time that you set aside for the music because it can be very easy for that to fall on the back burner when you’ve got actual deadlines in college,” Garvey said. 

For now, the momentum of the band has stuck. McCarthy said he hopes to one day add a bass player and drummer to expand their sound, but for now, he’s happy with the duo.

“I wouldn’t want any other person singing and playing the keys with me,” McCarthy said. 

Garvey doesn’t spend much time wondering about the future of the band, but he’s optimistic about what lies ahead. 

“As long as people like hearing us play, I don’t see any reason to stop,” Garvey said.