Artist Information
Biography
Heartfelt… genuine… quirky. That’s what people say about Ryan’s music. Armed with an acoustic guitar and a penchant for honesty, this San Francisco singer/songwriter has touched listeners at coffee houses, pride festivals, and folk gatherings across the country. With a unique voice that many liken to Cat Stevens, Ryan brings a gentle vulnerability to his raw lyrics. Aching heart one minute, and wry smile the next, Ryan has the unique ability to make audiences laugh and cry… sometimes within the same song.
His debut record, Monkeys & Ice Cream, has earned critical acclaim. “The real draw of this album is the absolute honest nature with which each song was written,” wrote EDGE. The album charted on the OutVoice Top 40, and the Susanne Millsaps Performing Songwriter Showcase named Ryan a finalist in 2009.
A songwriter with heart, Ryan lives his musical life in alignment with his values. To help protect the planet, he released his CD in eco-friendly packaging and toured the country sans-automobile. Now he’s running The Green Musician, a project dedicated to sustainability in the music industry. On tour, he also made several stops at LGBT youth organizations, using his songs to help teenagers express their emotions.
“For me, music is emotion,” Ryan says. “If I can help someone feel something, then I’ve done my job.”
Instrumentation
Just me and my acoustic guitar!
Discography
Love Letter - in production with late 2010 release date
Welcome Home - single released May, 2010
Monkeys & Ice Cream - debut album released November, 2007
Official Website
Audio
Lyrics
Video
Press
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The Boulder Weekly
Mintz is already turning heads
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iTunes Customer Review
[+ Show ]
If Cat Stevens and Tom Waits had a quirky gay son it would be Ryan Mintz. The lyrics and vocals are...If Cat Stevens and Tom Waits had a quirky gay son it would be Ryan Mintz. The lyrics and vocals are tender and funny. My favorites are The Monkey Song, Drunk & High, Box of Bitterness, and King & Queen, but the whole album is great. I laughed. I cried. I cuddled with my stuffed monkey.
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Steven Lewis
Your music is raw emotion delivered without apology
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Billy Jonas
Heartfelt, honest, sweetly mellifluous
Setlist
My set list consists of mostly original music. Songs I'm currently playing include:
It Was You
Falling in Love
Again
My Religion
My Adventure
Live. Love. Be.
Love Letter
Sunshine
I Will
At the Cafe
Welcome Home
The Monkey Song
The Ice Cream Song
Open Relationship
I sometimes throw in a cover, such as Alanis Morissette or Indigo Girls.
My set can last from 30-60 minutes, or more upon request, with my ideal set at 40 minutes.
Basic Requirements
Calendar
There are no upcoming dates at this time.
| Date | Time | Venue | City | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 16, 2009 Friday | 10:30 PM | The Red Vic Sessions | San Francisco, CA, US |  |
| $2 cover An intimate songwriter showcase at the historic hotel The Red Victorian! Show starts at 7:15pm. I'm on at 10:30pm. | ||||
| Sep 25, 2009 Friday | 7:30 PM | Nomad Cafe | Oakland, CA, US | |
| Yay! My first Bay Area show since moving here! I'll be joined by The Levins, a duo I met at Song School. (www.myspace.com/levinsmusic) | ||||
| Aug 20, 2009 Thursday | 7:00 PM | The Gap | San Francisco, CA, US | |
| On 8/20/2009, every Gap store in the U.S. and Canada will host an exclusive, live acoustic music night to celebrate Gap’s 40 years of heritage in jeans and music. I've been selected to perform at the Stonestown Galleria in San Francisco. Come hear me play amongst faded jeans and v-neck sweaters! | ||||
| Aug 10, 2009 Monday | TBA | Rocky Mountain Song School | Lyons, CO, US | |
| I'll be teaching my Green Musician workshop this year at my favorite songwriter gathering! | ||||
| Jul 11, 2009 Saturday | 10:30 AM | Snowbird Mountain Music Festival | Snowbird, UT, US | |
| In the biggest honor of my career, I’ll be performing as one of 10 finalists in the Susanne Millsaps Performing Songwriter Showcase. Wish me luck! | ||||
| Jul 9, 2009 Thursday | 10:00 PM | The Spur | Park City, UT, US | |
| Playing in the round with two other Snowbird finalists: Lee Penn Sky and Kirstin Erickson. | ||||
| Jun 13, 2009 Saturday | 4:30 PM | Albuquerque Pride | Albuquerque, NM, US | |
| Tickets $10-15 My first time to New Mexico! I'm closing the show on the Main Stage at around 4:30pm. | ||||
| Jun 1, 2009 Monday | TBA | TAKING A BREAK | San Francisco, CA, US | |
| Hi folks! I'm on hiatus for the winter! 2008 was an amazing year of touring, with 6 months of 40 shows across the US. Hoping to record the next CD in spring, and tour again in summer. Thanks SO MUCH for all the support in '08. Sending you big mushy hugs. Peace, love, and music... Ry | ||||
| Mar 18, 2009 Wednesday | 12:00 PM | South by Southwest | Austin, TX, US | |
| I've been invited to be part of a panel discussion on how to be a Green Musician! Green Track #1: On The Road Again Room 12AB, Austin Convention Center (CLOSED EVENT: must be registered with conference to attend) | ||||
| Feb 21, 2009 Saturday | 10:30 PM | International Folk Alliance Conference | Memphis, TN, US | |
| Four days of folk! I'll be playing showcases each night of the conference, and presenting a panel discussion (2/21 @ noon) on how to be a Green Musician! (CLOSED EVENT: must be registered with conference to attend) | ||||
| Feb 20, 2009 Friday | 10:30 PM | International Folk Alliance Conference | Memphis, TN, US | |
| Four days of folk! I'll be playing showcases each night of the conference, and presenting a panel discussion (2/21 @ noon) on how to be a Green Musician! (CLOSED EVENT: must be registered with conference to attend) | ||||
| Feb 19, 2009 Thursday | 10:30 PM | International Folk Alliance Conference | Memphis, TN, US | |
| Four days of folk! I'll be playing showcases each night of the conference, and presenting a panel discussion (2/21 @ noon) on how to be a Green Musician! (CLOSED EVENT: must be registered with conference to attend) | ||||
| Feb 18, 2009 Wednesday | 10:30 PM | International Folk Alliance Conference | Memphis, TN, US | |
| Four days of folk! I'll be playing showcases each night of the conference, and presenting a panel discussion (2/21 @ noon) on how to be a Green Musician! (CLOSED EVENT: must be registered with conference to attend) | ||||
| Nov 29, 2008 Saturday | 8:00 PM | Affirmations | Ferndale, MI, US | |
| CLOSED EVENT WITH YEP GROUP. LGBTQ youth and their allies (ages 14-24) are welcome to come to attend this group. I'll be leading my "Queer Empower Hour," a feel-good workshop that uses music to encourage discussion and positive self-expression. | ||||
| Nov 29, 2008 Saturday | 6:00 PM | Affirmations | Ferndale, MI, US | |
| CLOSED EVENT WITH MEN'S GROUP. I'll be leading my "Queer Empower Hour," a feel-good workshop that uses music to encourage discussion and positive self-expression. | ||||
| Nov 26, 2008 Wednesday | 7:00 PM | Affirmations | Ferndale, MI, US | |
| RY'S HOMECOMING CONCERT! After 6 months of touring, I'm ending my national tour right back where it began on May 31st. Join me the night before Thanksgiving for a cozy night of tunes and travel tales. I'll even be playing some songs I've written since being on the road! | ||||
| Nov 22, 2008 Saturday | 8:00 PM | Milwaukee Gay Arts Center | Milwaukee, WI, US | |
| Monkey Love Songs $10 cover Ryan Mintz & Keith Hampton trade songs onstage at this beautiful gallery & arts center in Milwaukee (Walker's Point). To check out Keith, visit www.keith-hampton.com. To order tickets in advance, go to http://www.braverecords.com/calendar.html! | ||||
| Nov 21, 2008 Friday | 6:30 PM | Project Q | Milwaukee, WI, US | |
| CLOSED EVENT. LGBTQ youth and their allies (ages 24 and under) are welcome to come to attend this group. I'll be leading my "Queer Empower Hour," a feel-good workshop that uses music to encourage discussion and positive self-expression. | ||||
| Nov 18, 2008 Tuesday | 7:30 PM | Homolatte @ Big Chicks | Chicago, IL, US | |
| HOMOLATTE (www.homolatte.com) is a bi-monthly, all-ages, GLBTI acoustic music and spoken word series in Chicago! Enter through Big Chicks, and join the performance in the adjoining Tweet restaurant. Free parking in back (through alley). Free admission / donation for artists. | ||||
| Nov 14, 2008 Friday | 8:30 PM | Brewed Awakenings | Toledo, OH, US | |
| My Ohio debut! Come check out a full night of music (2 sets!) at this indie cafe. Along with live music, they host chess, poetry, and other arts events. Nifty! | ||||
| Nov 9, 2008 Sunday | 8:30 PM | Googie's Lounge above The Living Room | New York, NY, US | |
| Queer Anti-Folk Night! with Andrew Phillip Tipton and Dave End This is an adorable little acoustic listening room above another venue called The Living Room. No cover, but 1 drink minimum and $5 suggested tip jar. There is a parking garage on Essex between Rivington and Delancy. | ||||
| Nov 5, 2008 Wednesday | 7:30 PM | BAGLY | Boston, MA, US | |
| CLOSED EVENT. LGBTQ youth and their allies (ages 22 and under) are welcome to come to attend this group. I'll be leading my "Queer Empower Hour," a feel-good workshop that uses music to encourage discussion and positive self-expression. | ||||
| Oct 29, 2008 Wednesday | 7:30 PM | La Luna Caffe | Cambridge, MA, US | |
| Description:Opening for the lovely kb marie! Check her out at www.kbmarie.com. She’s one of my fave artists of 2007, so it’s a real honor for me to play this show with her. Can’t wait for my BOSTON DEBUT! | ||||
| Oct 28, 2008 Tuesday | 6:30 PM | PRYSM | Portland, ME, US | |
| CLOSED EVENT. LGBTQ youth and their allies (ages 22 and under) are welcome to come to attend this group. I’ll be leading my "Queer Empower Hour," a feel-good workshop that uses music to encourage discussion and positive self-expression. More info on PRYSM at www.commcc.org/PRYSM | ||||
| Oct 25, 2008 Saturday | 7:00 PM | North Star Music Cafe | Portland, ME, US | |
| Songwriters in the Round... Vanessa Torres is an amazing lesbian songwriter who mixes politics, feelings, and old-time folk into an energetic burst of song. Anna Maria Tocci is one of my all-time favourite songwriters whose music and soulful voice make me melt. | ||||
| Oct 22, 2008 Wednesday | 8:00 PM | Langdon Street Cafe | Montpelier, VT, US | |
| Joint show with my good friend T. Ameloot! (www.myspace.com/thaddeushaph) Also known as Tommy Jay, this beautiful soulful poet is working on an organic farm this year in Vermont, which I hugely admire. Fittingly, the Langdon Street Cafe supports local farmers on its menu! | ||||
| Oct 14, 2008 Tuesday | 7:00 PM | Seacoast Outright | Portsmouth, NH, US | |
| CLOSED EVENT. LGBTQ youth and their allies (ages 21 and under) are welcome to come to attend this group. I'll be leading my "Queer Empower Hour," a feel-good workshop that uses music to encourage discussion and positive self-expression. | ||||
| Oct 4, 2008 Saturday | 2:20 PM | Poly Pride Day | New York, NY, US | |
| Wow! My NYC debut is happening at CENTRAL PARK! I'll be performing 3 songs at the Poly Pride Day. It's a festival to promote acceptance and visibility of polyamory (i.e., people who have multi-partner relationships). Directions at www.poly-nyc.com/priderally08/index.html | ||||
| Oct 3, 2008 Friday | 8:00 PM | Brooklyn Coffee & Tea House | Providence, RI, US | |
| Join me on the first night of my East Coast Tour! This happy little cafe features live music on Friday nights, as well as art and film events. I'll be joined by 2 other performers. | ||||
| Sep 13, 2008 Saturday | 6:30 PM | Post-Pride Concert @ The Laughing Goat | Boulder, CO, US | |
| $10 cover Queerapalooza is Boulder's Post-Pride Concert. Stop by for a night of great music after the Boulder Pride Block Party! The all-queer all-Colorado lineup includes: Cynova, Julie Caron, Driftwood Fire, John Paul Sharp, Ryan Mintz, and Somethin' About Lulu. | ||||
| Sep 13, 2008 Saturday | 1:00 PM | Boulder Pride | Boulder, CO, US | |
| I'm so honored to be a part of pride in my hometown! The Pridefest Block Party happens from 11am-6pm. Plus... I'll be joined by a small band for this show! | ||||
| Sep 4, 2008 Thursday | 8:00 PM | Albina Green | Portland, OR, US | |
| Songwriter Roundup (www.myspace.com/songwritersroundup) Hosted by Matt Meighan and Friends with a different featured artist each week. I'll be playing a mini-set to announce my arrival in Portland! At 10pm, there's an unplugged Songwriter's Circle -- all welcome. | ||||
| Aug 25, 2008 Monday | 9:00 PM | The Underground | Colorado Springs, CO, US | |
| Mondays are acoustic nights at this lively gay bar. Come check out the drink specials and my queer-positive tunes! | ||||
| Aug 23, 2008 Saturday | 9:30 PM | Leela European Cafe | Denver, CO, US | |
| My Denver debut! I'm psyched to play at this 24-hour cafe reminiscent of the European cafes I so admire. This is a joint show with Monica Rabino, another gay sensitive songwriter! Come enjoy an intimate, queer-positive, heart-opening evening of song. | ||||
| Aug 9, 2008 Saturday | 2:00 PM | Rendezvous (Wyoming Pride) | Cheyenne, WY, US | |
| Prices vary. Rendezvous is a 5 day camp out at a campground in the Medicine Bow National Forest, which is between Cheyenne and Laramie. I'll be performing Wed before joke night, Thu before film night, and Sat afternoon. Looking forward to this very outdoorsy pride festival in the mountains! | ||||
| Aug 8, 2008 Friday | 8:30 PM | The Laughing Goat | Boulder, CO, US | |
| Cover $5 FIRST... the amazingly talented kb marie is opening the show THEN... I'll play my show. AND THEN... I'm hosting a Song School Showcase featuring 6 of my talented songwriter friends! | ||||
| Aug 7, 2008 Thursday | 7:45 PM | Rendezvous (Wyoming Pride) | Cheyenne, WY, US | |
| Prices vary. Rendezvous is a camp out at a campground in the Medicine Bow National Forest, which is between Cheyenne and Laramie. I'll be performing Wed before joke night, Thu before film night, and Sat afternoon. Looking forward to this very outdoorsy pride festival in the mountains! | ||||
| Aug 6, 2008 Wednesday | 8:45 PM | Rendezvous (Wyoming Pride) | Cheyenne, WY, US | |
| Prices vary. Rendezvous is a 5 day camp out at a campground in the Medicine Bow National Forest, which is between Cheyenne and Laramie. I'll be performing Wed before joke night, Thu before film night, and Sat afternoon. Looking forward to this very outdoorsy pride festival in the mountains! | ||||
| Aug 5, 2008 Tuesday | 8:00 PM | Melodies in Mind - Radio Show | Vancouver, BC, CA | |
| I'll be a guest artist on this live radio show in Vancouver! The show features several artists each week, each sharing tunes in a song circle format. You can listen live at on 90.1FM in Vancouver or online at www.cjsf.ca! (click the box on the top left of the website to listen) | ||||
| Aug 4, 2008 Monday | 8:00 PM | Chapel Arts - CANCELLED | Vancouver, BC, CA | |
| Sorry folks! Had to cancel this because I lost my passport 5 days before traveling to Canada. I'm hugely bummed about it, and hope to head to this lovely city in the future! | ||||
| Aug 3, 2008 Sunday | 1:15 PM | Vancouver Pride - CANCELLED | Vancouver, BC, CA | |
| Sorry folks! Had to cancel this because I lost my passport 5 days before traveling to Canada. I'm hugely bummed about it, and hope to head to this lovely city in the future! | ||||
| Aug 2, 2008 Saturday | 3:00 PM | Palouse Pride | Moscow, ID, US | |
| East City Park I'm honored to play in this cute small town pride festival. My first time ever to Idaho! There's a parade at 11:30, followed by a festival from 12-4pm and other festivities at night. | ||||
| Aug 1, 2008 Friday | 6:00 PM | Arbor Crest Winery - Tasting Room | Spokane, WA, US | |
| Just added! My songwriter friend Cheryl Branz invited me to play a short set at her night. Come enjoy live music and sample some fine local wines! | ||||
| Jul 29, 2008 Tuesday | 8:00 PM | Mr. Spots Chai House | Seattle, WA, US | |
| Yummy! A whole venue dedicated to my favorite tea! | ||||
| Jul 27, 2008 Sunday | 12:00 PM | Hillside Folk Festival | Guelph, ON, CA | |
| I'm giving my "Green Musician" workshop at this uber-eco-conscious folk festival. I'm giving a 60-minute workshop on Saturday and Sunday to share my own ideas about how we can green the music industry. | ||||
| Jul 26, 2008 Saturday | 12:00 PM | Hillside Folk Festival | Guelph, ON, CA | |
| I'm giving my "Green Musician" workshop at this uber-eco-conscious folk festival. I'm giving a 60-minute workshop on Saturday and Sunday to share my own ideas about how we can green the music industry. | ||||
| Jul 25, 2008 Friday | 12:00 AM | "Fruit Salad" Radio Show | Vancouver, BC, CA | |
| Co-op Radio CFRO 102.7 FM I'm going to be interviewed live on this queer radio show! It will be a 15 minute slot with talking, songs, and CD giveaways. You can listen online at www.coopradio.org (make sure you pay attention to the time zone difference!) | ||||
| Jul 20, 2008 Sunday | 7:00 PM | BrainWash Cafe & Laundromat | San Francisco, CA, US | |
| Free! Yes, this venue is a laundromat, a cafe, and has live music! Apparently, it's quite the scene. So come clean your clothes while listening to some tunes! | ||||
| Jul 19, 2008 Saturday | 2:00 PM | Mama Art Cafe | San Francisco, CA, US | |
| Mamá Art Cafe is a space dedicated to the exhibition of local and international artists. I'm playing with 2 other artists for a nice relaxing afternoon show. | ||||
| Jul 12, 2008 Saturday | 8:00 PM | Karma Coffeehouse | Los Angeles, CA, US | |
| LA CD Release Show! Sam Dlugach opens Free show! Come to my fave LA cafe, enjoy some yummy lattes, sink into the plush couches, and enjoy! | ||||
| Jul 5, 2008 Saturday | 8:00 PM | Affirmations | Ferndale, MI, US | |
| This LGBT center of Metro Detroit has invited me to give a workshop to their youth program (ages 14-24). It will be an intimate session of music & discussion. We'll talk about themes of my songs, expressing emotions, positive approaches to relationships, how to pursue a creative career, and more. | ||||
| Jun 21, 2008 Saturday | 7:50 PM | West Michigan Pride | Grand Rapids, MI, US | |
| John Ball Park The festival goes from 2-10pm. Music, bingo, vendors, food, beer tent, and a whole carnival of fun! | ||||
| Jun 16, 2008 Monday | 8:00 PM | Chaos Cafe & Parlor | Portland, OR, US | |
| Free show! Performing with local singer/songwriter and friend Kelly Brightwell! This awesome venue features veg/vegan local cuisine and all sorts of creative happenings. | ||||
| Jun 15, 2008 Sunday | 2:15 PM | Portland Pride | Portland, OR, US | |
| Coffee House Stage The festival happens at the Governor Tom McCall Waterfront Park. My set starts right after the parade! | ||||
| Jun 14, 2008 Saturday | 1:00 PM | Lake George Americana Roots Festival | Lake George, CO, US | |
| $35 I'm thrilled to be on the bill at this festival, located in the beautiful mountains of Colorado. It's happening at the Happy Ass Ranch, a sustainable, eco-friendly ranch about an hour west of Colorado Springs. Camping encouraged! | ||||
| Jun 12, 2008 Thursday | 7:00 PM | Uncommon Ground | Chicago, IL, US | |
| The Green Room Sessions: A monthly live music and environmental awareness series at Uncommon Ground. I'm sharing the night with 2 other acts. Learn more at www.livegreenchicago.com. | ||||
| Jun 11, 2008 Wednesday | TBA | North Star Music Cafe | Portland, ME, US | |
| Celebrating "Gay Maine" weekend! Sharing the night with local band Vanessa Torres & Touching Ground. They're so cool, and I'm psyched to be gigging with them! This is my dear friend Anna Maria's new music venue. I'm so proud of her, and so excited to be "finding my way home" to the North Star. | ||||
| Jun 7, 2008 Saturday | 11:30 AM | Milwaukee Pride | Milwaukee, WI, US | |
| Rainbow Stage I'm really excited to be part of this event! 3 days, 4 stages, 100 acts, and 30,000 people. It takes place on Milwaukee's lakefront at the Henry W. Maier Festival Park, which is the largest music venue in Milwaukee! Tickets $13 (Natasha Bedingfield headlines that evening!) | ||||
| Jun 1, 2008 Sunday | 3:00 PM | Motor City Pride | Ferndale, MI, US | |
| Second Stage I’m excited to play my hometown’s pride festival! I’m playing twice on the 2nd stage, so come down and support me! For parking info, visit www.motorcitypride.com/parking.html. | ||||
| Jun 1, 2008 Sunday | 12:00 PM | Motor City Pride | Ferndale, MI, US | |
| Second Stage I’m excited to play my hometown’s pride festival! I’m playing twice on the 2nd stage, so come down and support me! For parking info, visit www.motorcitypride.com/parking.html. | ||||
| May 30, 2008 Friday | 6:00 PM | AJ's Music Cafe | Ferndale, MI, US | |
| Michigan CD Release Show! Tickets $5 | ||||
| Nov 17, 2007 Saturday | 8:00 PM | The Laughing Goat | Boulder, CO, US | |
| Colorado CD release show! | ||||