Ryan Montbleau preaches to a packed house at the Stone Church
Cara Murphy
Issue date: 12/10/04 Section: Arts & Living
- Page 1 of 2 next >
Fans of the Ryan Montbleau Band do not lie: they really are THAT good! The band opened up Friday night's co-headlining bill with the Seth Yacovone Band at nine-thirty to a room full of very excited people. This was my first time seeing them live and because we got to the Stone Church early enough to enjoy sound check and the most amazing chocolate chip cheesecake I've ever experienced, I, too, was smiling like an idiot while I was waiting for them to start.
Now let's set the scene; you're sitting in a small, intimate club, there's artwork hanging on the left wall, and directly across from it is the bar. But the only thing anyone is looking at is the stage. The rest of the band has taken their places as Ryan walks out from the back room in a black hoodie and dark grey old man hat, picks up his guitar and sits down on the stool. Tonight's set starts off with "Variety," and let me tell you, when the strings kicked in, I was in heaven; this really is a beautiful song. "And sadness and pleasure so close together / I can't seem to tell the difference / Better take it all, I guess" (from "Variety"); "Stretch;" "Sour Grapes," one of my personal favorites; "I'm Around;" "L.I.D.S," and "A Way with Women" followed, causing more and more of the audience to leave their seats and fill up the remaining space between the stage and tables and dance to the music.
"I sing them my song / and I hope they sing along / I know they always sing along / in my imagination" (from "Stretch"). Not only were people, including myself, singing along with every word, but by the time "Quickie" started there wasn't a person in the house who wasn't head-bobbing, toe-tapping or just full out dancing! There's just something about Ryan's voice, a style similar to Jason Mraz', that gets me every time I listen, even if it's only off one of the three albums I now own, "Begin," "Stages," and "The Friends of Mine Compilation," but at least my money is going to something good; who needs to buy school books anyway!
Now let's set the scene; you're sitting in a small, intimate club, there's artwork hanging on the left wall, and directly across from it is the bar. But the only thing anyone is looking at is the stage. The rest of the band has taken their places as Ryan walks out from the back room in a black hoodie and dark grey old man hat, picks up his guitar and sits down on the stool. Tonight's set starts off with "Variety," and let me tell you, when the strings kicked in, I was in heaven; this really is a beautiful song. "And sadness and pleasure so close together / I can't seem to tell the difference / Better take it all, I guess" (from "Variety"); "Stretch;" "Sour Grapes," one of my personal favorites; "I'm Around;" "L.I.D.S," and "A Way with Women" followed, causing more and more of the audience to leave their seats and fill up the remaining space between the stage and tables and dance to the music.
"I sing them my song / and I hope they sing along / I know they always sing along / in my imagination" (from "Stretch"). Not only were people, including myself, singing along with every word, but by the time "Quickie" started there wasn't a person in the house who wasn't head-bobbing, toe-tapping or just full out dancing! There's just something about Ryan's voice, a style similar to Jason Mraz', that gets me every time I listen, even if it's only off one of the three albums I now own, "Begin," "Stages," and "The Friends of Mine Compilation," but at least my money is going to something good; who needs to buy school books anyway!
