Saw him last Saturday in Santa Barbara. Like the ABB, I was late to his party too. That said, he's the real deal. The show was a blast for all sorts of reasons. He and his band played his song "Blue Bird" and it turned into a "Dreams" jam. Even the fan sitting next to me said the same thing! If you haven't already, check Ryan out. While the record shops put him the country section, he does it all like Neil Young; acoustic to punk to techno to rock.
Dal Jr. is seeing him tonight. I'm seeing him again Friday!
Thanks for the tip. I'll check him out. Somehow I'm not familiar with him.
Same with the Allman Brothers Band in 1970. A friend wanted me to go with him to see the ABB and assured me I would like it. Only their first album was out then and he had a copy. He had seen them in South Carolina in very late 1969 and bought the album after that.
For some reason I wasn't that excited about the album. It was okay and the musicians were playing well but it didn't click.
I reluctantly went to the show in early 1970 and bingo I got it!! This was a band playing a blend of music in a style that was different and unique. The slide guitar, a way of playing a guitar I was indifferent about suddenly grabbed me like a new religion.
So I know how seeing a new group live sometimes can be transformational.
I wish he would come to El Paso because I'm a fan. Saw him at High Sierra Festival (N. California), summer 2012 and he just blew me away. As far as I'm concerned, Mescalito (2007) is a CLASSIC record, and my favorite country record in my collection (actually it's a tie with Highway Call). Roadhouse Sun (2009) is also very good. Ryan doesn't have much of a voice but he does everything else very well, especially his writing, so kinda like Tom Waits, he makes up for it in other ways. His records can be hit or miss, though. The only other one I have is Junky Star (2010), produced by T-Bone Burnett. It's a very personal record, mostly just Ryan strumming an acoustic with very sparse instrumentation. Song titles like Depression, Lay My Head On The Rail and All Choked Up Again should tell you that this is not a happy record and definitely an acquired taste. The title cut references "sleepin' on the Santa Monica pier with the junkies and the stars." His latest is Ryan Bingham Live @ Red Rocks, which I would be very interested in hearing.
I wish he would come to El Paso because I'm a fan. Saw him at High Sierra Festival (N. California), summer 2012 and he just blew me away. As far as I'm concerned, Mescalito (2007) is a CLASSIC record, and my favorite country record in my collection (actually it's a tie with Highway Call). Roadhouse Sun (2009) is also very good. Ryan doesn't have much of a voice but he does everything else very well, especially his writing, so kinda like Tom Waits, he makes up for it in other ways. His records can be hit or miss, though. The only other one I have is Junky Star (2010), produced by T-Bone Burnett. It's a very personal record, mostly just Ryan strumming an acoustic with very sparse instrumentation. Song titles like Depression, Lay My Head On The Rail and All Choked Up Again should tell you that this is not a happy record and definitely an acquired taste. The title cut references "sleepin' on the Santa Monica pier with the junkies and the stars." His latest is Ryan Bingham Live @ Red Rocks, which I would be very interested in hearing.
Disagree on his voice. I think he nails it in his own way just like Dylan did/does (my wife doesn't like him; reminds her of Dylan's singing). I have all his cds and his Red Rocks download (it Rocks!). Heck, even his EP has grown on me. More often than not these days, you'll find a cd of his in my truck's player.
Keep 'em coming Ryan!
PS To come correct, this is my friend's. Mescalito isn't produced anymore and fortunately he had a copy that I could burn.
@stratdal: That is just a damn crying shame about Mescalito being out of print. Doesn't say much about the musical tastes of the masses. It should be a platinum record IMO. Hope to catch Ryan again soon. He's a Texan, so I don't see why El Paso would be out of reach.
@stratdal: That is just a damn crying shame about Mescalito being out of print. Doesn't say much about the musical tastes of the masses. It should be a platinum record IMO. Hope to catch Ryan again soon. He's a Texan, so I don't see why El Paso would be out of reach.
Right On Rob! Hope you can too. His show at The Wiltern was a blast. Had GA tickets. Close to the stage and you could dance and groove. Ryan is The Man.
Attached are from his Santa Barbara gig.
Spinning some Ryan live right now!
Playing solo in 2018. Cheers!
