He led the progressive-jazz sextet, Herculaneum,[2][3] and the Los Angeles–based guitar, bass, and drums trio, Dylan Ryan / Sand.
[4] He is a founding member, along with Dave (The Diminisher) McDonnell, of Chicago's experimental rock trio, Michael Columbia.
[5] He has also performed with Icy Demons,[6] Tim Kasher,[7][8] Cursive,[4] and Rainbow Arabia.
[9][10][11] Dylan Ryan's drumming style with Sand has been compared to Ginger Baker, John Bonham, and Stewart Copeland.
[12][13] In January 2013, Dylan Ryan / Sand released their debut album, Sky Bleached on Cuneiform Records.