Ryan Montbleau Band
Salem, Massachusetts, United States
Music
Press
If you've never heard of the Ryan Montbleau Band or its music (David Gray meets G. Love), you're not alone. The band is not playing big venues, selling millions of CDs or grabbing the attention of music critics. But on the other hand, they're not whittling away in obscurity playing coffeehouses and bookstores either. - The Washington Post
Ryan Montbleau Band cooks up an infectious blend of blues, folk, pop, soul, and R&B - The Boston Globe
With an eclectic mix of acoustic rock, gypsy jazz, R & B, and even a little spoken-word, the shifting sounds of the Ryan Montbleau Band have begun to attract more than a loyal cult following. - The Hartford Courant
Ryan Montbleau's songs tell stories with clarity and focus. His language is clear and grounded whether he’s creating a portrait of a lover or paying homage to the beauty of life. - The Boston Phoenix
Ryan Montbleau's songs tell stories with clarity and focus. His language is clear and grounded whether he’s creating a portrait of a lover or paying homage to the beauty of life. - The Boston Phoenix
The venerable Somerville Theatre is rocking on this Friday night, with spectators dancing joyously in front of the stage or bouncing in their seats. The only person who can contain himself is the source of all this excitement: a slight young man in a gray scally cap who sits on a stool onstage, fingering a guitar as his distinctive voice courses through songs of love lost, found, or just out of reach. - The Boston Globe
The venerable Somerville Theatre is rocking on this Friday night, with spectators dancing joyously in front of the stage or bouncing in their seats. The only person who can contain himself is the source of all this excitement: a slight young man in a gray scally cap who sits on a stool onstage, fingering a guitar as his distinctive voice courses through songs of love lost, found, or just out of reach. - The Boston Globe
Discography
Stages II - 2009
Patience on Friday - 2007
One Fine Color - 2006
Photos
Bio
Averaging more than 200 gigs per year for the past three years, Ryan Montbleau Band has generated the kind of buzz that only surrounds a talented artist on the verge.
Emerging onto the national music scene from his home base of Boston, Ryan Montbleau has been described as something of a Martin Sexton (who he's opened for nationally) by way of Van Morrison and Stevie Wonder. Yet Ryan Montbleau Band's music is difficult to pigeon-hole or neatly categorize. It is original yet familiar a fresh sound full of firmly-rooted ingredients, including Americana, folk, blues, ragtime and '70's R&B and soul. Whereas the band's intriguing instrumentation and arrangements (not to mention top notch chops) help to create this unique sound, all is firmly anchored by Montbleau's water-tight lyrics and unmistakable voice.
Having begun his career playing Boston's coffee shops and folk venues as a solo artist with an infectious, percussive, fingerpicking guitar style, the charismatic Ryan Montbleau has evolved into the front man for the eclectic ensemble that bears his name. Make no mistake: this is a band in every sense of the word and is powered by the dynamics of Matt Giannaros (acoustic upright bass, electric bass, vocals), Laurence Scudder (viola), Jason Cohen (piano, organ, clavinet, Rhodes, Moog) and James Cohen (drums), with collaborator Yahuba Torres on percussion.
The collective's albums, "One Fine Color" (2006) and "Patience on Friday" (2007) each display a cohesive vision rarely seen among young artists today. The band has sold upwards of 10,000 records so far and the albums showcase a timeless songwriting, invigorating energy, and humble, honest sincerity that has allowed Ryan Montbleau Band to expand its passionate fan base one show and one listen at a time.
This combination of art and personality creates a magical bond between performer and audience that Ryan Montbleau Band is fortunate to have in these cynical times. Sustaining the band through the years as they tour incessantly, virtually living on the road, they have already established a large, passionate following throughout the country.
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