11.16.2005
Happy hour
Last night's Matthew Ryan show was a great example of the value of a sideman. While Ryan would have been fine solo acoustic, having guitarist Brian Bequette along made the show infinitely better. Bequette added tasteful electric guitar solos and moody textures to Ryan's songs, coaxing some interesting sounds from six strings and a variety of pedals (and lots of reverb). The result was a show that, while not offering the full band sound of Ryan's albums, closely approximated the feel of those recordings.
Too bad only 10 people turned out for the show. The day marked the arrival of the cold and snowy season in Iowa, it was a weeknight, and the infinitely more hip Detroit Cobras were playing down the street. The 10 that were there (nine, really, if you don't count headliner Anders Parker), however, were clearly fans. They asked for songs from a range of Ryan's work and seemed genuinely enthused. It wasn't enough, however. About three songs in, Ryan and Bequette began making their own crowd noises as each tune came to a close. As the crowd clapped politely (for 4.8 seconds, Ryan said), the two would whoop with mock excitement before launching into the next song. A living room would have provided the perfect level of intimacy, but here the near-empty club was a too large.
That doesn't mean the show was a disappointment; far from it. The two filled all of that empty space with rich, luminous sound in a set that, while short, seemed just about perfect. It must be tough splitting such a meager take with a sideman, but it made all the difference last night. Many, many artists who once lugged full bands around the country have since stripped down in these lean economic times. You've gotta spend money to make money, however, and I can guarantee that those who emulate Ryan will fare much better on the concert circuit once word gets out -- last night's nine paying customers to the contrary, of course.
Too bad only 10 people turned out for the show. The day marked the arrival of the cold and snowy season in Iowa, it was a weeknight, and the infinitely more hip Detroit Cobras were playing down the street. The 10 that were there (nine, really, if you don't count headliner Anders Parker), however, were clearly fans. They asked for songs from a range of Ryan's work and seemed genuinely enthused. It wasn't enough, however. About three songs in, Ryan and Bequette began making their own crowd noises as each tune came to a close. As the crowd clapped politely (for 4.8 seconds, Ryan said), the two would whoop with mock excitement before launching into the next song. A living room would have provided the perfect level of intimacy, but here the near-empty club was a too large.
That doesn't mean the show was a disappointment; far from it. The two filled all of that empty space with rich, luminous sound in a set that, while short, seemed just about perfect. It must be tough splitting such a meager take with a sideman, but it made all the difference last night. Many, many artists who once lugged full bands around the country have since stripped down in these lean economic times. You've gotta spend money to make money, however, and I can guarantee that those who emulate Ryan will fare much better on the concert circuit once word gets out -- last night's nine paying customers to the contrary, of course.
