Ike Reilly has played Youngstown many times over the past two decades, but his upcoming appearance feels different.

The rocker with a street poet’s soul is riding a wave of fulfillment that comes only when a lifetime of effort is finally recognized.

Reilly will return to West Side Bowl at 7 p.m. Feb. 23.

But on Sunday, Feb. 16, a new documentary film about the Illinois artist’s life and career will be screened at the rock venue at 6 p.m. Admission is free.

“Don’t Turn Your Back on Friday Night” – the film takes its name from the lyric of a Reilly song – was released late last year and has been slowly building in its acclaim.

It was made by Illinois film producer Mike Shmiedeler, who co-directed it with Mike O’Brien. In their film, the two longtime Reilly fans illuminate the uncompromising rocker with an incredible body of work.

It’s hard to imagine anyone more deserving of the honor.

Reilly never achieved the fame he deserves – or the payoff that goes with it.

But there’s more than one way to measure success. 

After decades in the trenches, Reilly has finally reached a career plateau that feels like a hard-fought victory.

He’s still not rich. But he now has a sense of satisfaction and maybe even serenity.

‘Validation’

In a phone interview from his Libertyville, Ill., home, Reilly called the film a “validation” of his efforts.

“I never doubted or wavered from what I write or the kind of performances that we’ve put together [over the years],” Reilly said. “But this film is a validation of it.”

The film is also bringing a new level of attention – and opportunity – to The Ike Reilly Assassination, as his band is known.

“It’s  the beginning of a new era for us,” Reilly said. “We’re getting more opportunities than we’ve ever had. We’ll be going to Colombia to perform and show the film. ”

Reilly’s steadfast dedication to his craft is finally paying dividends. “You wouldn’t be able to keep this level of musicians around for so long if we weren’t constantly evolving and being vigilant in the creative output,” he said.

Through a half dozen albums and countless nights on the road with his band, Reilly never threw in the towel.

Not surprisingly, he’s had to deal with every problem that results when an artist with no quit in him keeps missing the next rung.

Money was at the root of many woes. 

During the pandemic, Reilly lost the home he and his wife raised their family in. He also endured rough patches in his marriage, issues with alcohol and a loss of faith. 

But he stayed true to his cause and has  emerged on the other side, mostly unscathed.

Reilly long ago earned the respect of his peers and music industry insiders who can’t understand how his career never took off. The film tackles Reilly’s life both chronologically and thematically, and is as satisfying for fans as it is for the band.

The camera follows him and his band on the road, at home and onstage. It includes commentary from guests, including guitar great – and fellow Libertyville native — Tom Morello.

The filmmakers linger over the details that illuminate the artist and his lifestyle. It’s unflinching and rough at times but has an overarching sense of family and camaraderie. When it ends, the viewer might feel like the war is over and the good guys won.

Making the Film

Schmiedeler is a documentary maker who has created works for National Geographic, Discovery and other networks.

He said he can’t think of anyone more deserving of having his story told than Reilly.

Schiedeler met the rocker in 2011 when his friend and fellow filmmaker, O’Reilly, introduced him after a concert.

“I was blown away, and I thought, ‘Why are they not huge?’” Schmiedeler said. “Ike is so charismatic. I saw them at a show in Chicago in 2018 and got angry because it was in such a small venue.”

When he approached Reilly a few years ago about making a documentary, the artist brushed it off, saying he didn’t think he was all that interesting.

“I told him, ‘You’re the most interesting person I know,” Shmiedeler said. “I wrote a film treatment and pitched it to him. It took me six months to wear him down.”

Schmiedeler had little trouble raising the funding to make the film, which has won several awards and can be viewed on at least eight streaming platforms.

“I’m happy with the end product and that we achieved our goal of bringing fame to Ike,” he said.

Positive Response

Reilly said he is now thrilled that the movie was made even though he was leery at first.

“It tells our more specific story,” he said. “It’s not easy watching a film about your insecurity. But it’s about camaraderie, family and the pursuit of art. In the TikTok world of fleeting fame, this film is about what it’s like to care about something you do and be surrounded by super creative people who are on the same mission.”

Reilly and his band have already done a few events where they showed the film and then performed immediately afterward.

He said those in attendance responded positively – even if they weren’t familiar with the band. Many have told him afterward that the film is long overdue.

Reilly exercised a little bit of oversight on the filmmaking process, but not much. 

He didn’t expect the filmmakers to focus on his family as much as they did, but it was necessary. Reilly’s three sons are musicians who join him onstage, and his wife, Kara, is the glue that holds the family together.

“It happened organically as it was being made,” Reilly said of the decision to include his family. “We’re living our lives in a chaotic, fragmented world, and we’re still able to function in a way that’s fulfilling for us and for those who come see us.”

Reilly summed up the film in his own lyrical style.

“It’s a cathartic illumination of gloom,” he said. “We’re struggling with gloom, but you find time for kindness and thoughtful cathartic events like rock shows that unify people.”

Reilly and his band are embarking on a 20-city tour that includes the Youngstown show. After that, he will release his first live album and follow it with an album of new music recorded by him and his son, Shane. Release dates have not yet been set.

“I’ve never thought about making live records before,” he said. “I’m always more interested in moving forward. But I’ve played the tapes for people, and they say it’s great.”

Youngstown has always been on Reilly’s radar. He’s played multiple bars and venues in the city over the years and has built a following here.

He feels a special kinship to the city.

“People always talk about Youngstown like it existed only in the past,” Reilly said. “I don’t feel that way. I like coming to Youngstown and have made friends there. The people I’ve met there are genuine and interesting. It’s my kind of town.”

Pictured at top: Ike Reilly is shown performing in this scene from the new documentary film about him, “Don’t Turn Your Back on Friday Night.”