higher ground

at the northwest corner of 116th street & olio road in fishers, indiana, there sits a delightful family-owned coffee (and other incredibly good treats) joint that i'm a BIG fan of: higher grounds coffee house, owned by darin & lisa mitchell, two people of whom i'm also a BIG fan.

i'm here for the second time today - round two of "ryan teaches fishers high school how to play guitar" ;) i've really enjoyed the opportunity to share what i know about music, guitar, songwriting, music theory, etc. with three great guys who remind me completely of what it's like to be an 18-year-old dealing with calculus exams, girlfriends, trying to learn as much as possible about the guitar, big life decisions about college, etc. nate, todd, and alex are fantastic young guys whom i've gotten to know a bit better and truly enjoy the company of...that's hard to type and ignore the fact that i ended that sentence in a preposition. i owe THAT to the many - and i mean in the hundreds MANY - of proof-reading sessions i experienced with my dad as a high schooler when all i wanted to do was have him finish dissecting my papers with red ink and paragraph symbols and nearly illegible suggestions of dependent and independent clauses or broken infinitives so i could revise said paper and put my headphones and rock out on guitar, thus contributing to my most-likely-in-the-future slight hearing loss.

well, the fledgling rock duo just arrived. alex seriously brought his electric guitar. without an amp. now THAT'S dedication. gotta go teach some of whatever it is that i've accumulated on the guitar since those junior high days.

i'm out!

but, baby, it's cold outside

5:12 pm tues., 11/27/07

right now i'm in a really cozy, warm coffee shop called "the rocket" in spokane, washington. i'm drinking a numi honeybush tea and checking out the video of my show last night in gig harbor, wa. just passing an hour resting my voice before load-in and sound-check for tonight's show, the last of a very enjoyable 3-day tour of the beautiful northwest...

i spent some time over at the youth center that spokane valley's young life office owns today after a nice lunch with ian cooley, a 24-yr old guy from out here who reminds me a lot of my buddy & friend from church growing up, pj towle - almost physically identical, which makes spokane feel just remotely like home, which is a good thing right now. ha - just started listening "turn my head to home" as i typed that! ian picked me up from the airport today and i felt like i knew him for years - my dad has a theory that that sort of feeling comes from us christians having the holy spirit with us always that recognizes itself in other christians we encounter. somewhat like the feeling inside i'd bet twins feel around each other.

there have been a handful of very distinct moments of clarity of what i'm "here" to do - here meaning on earth, not just in washington - like last night onstage in gig harbor and seeing everyone's smiles and hearing them singing along on my songs. as my good friend ryan brown said on the phone while i was driving to the show in the pouring rain on I-5 through tacoma, "there's nothing better than hearing your lyrics sung back to you." it's true, at least in a musical/songwriting sense. for one moment - sometimes more! - you share the "present" with someone, maybe more than one person, maybe an entire room or a group of friends who paid good money to see you play your songs live, and it's very communal, to tag a somewhat clinical term to it. everything clicks into place and there's that thought that comes through your head that makes everything else around you - outside the room, outside of the whole "show" perspective - is put on hold while you and the audience share the performance together. it can, at that point, go just about anywhere and it's nearly indescribable to pinpoint the collection of emotion - joy, excitement, bittersweet"ness" because the moment is constantly changing, i don't know exactly which i'd use...

i'm sharing my God-given talents onstage and elsewhere, as i continue to move forward with my marriage, work, and time here on this small little place in the universe we call home, which is assuring to know - and do, for that matter. this is a good transitionary place i'm in right now and i look forward to enjoying the next chapter even better than this one.

speaking of "chapters," i picked up a new book - new for me, not new to the world :) - today at the sea-tac airport borders, "searching for God knows what" by donald miller. i've only read the first chapter and enjoy it already; specifically, his argument that pigeonholing God's wisdom, purposes, and guiding hand on my life's plan subverts the very wisdom and oversight we all too often ask for, if not have the tendency to take for granted in prayers we send His way. in other words - in miller's words - there is no "formula" for God - or 12-step program for successful living- needed when God is in the picture in our lives. should make for an interesting read...let me know if you've read it :)

thanks for stopping by, as always. God bless you and yours.

Hedback Theatre Benefit Concert

Indy-based singer/songwriter Scott Kline and I have teamed up to help a great cause in Indianapolis, the 1st Annual Footlite Coffeehouse Benefit Concert, next Friday, 11/30.

This is an ALL-AGES concert and all proceeds will go towards the renovation of historic Hedback Theatre in Indianapolis, home of Footlite Musicals. Refreshments will be served by Starbuck's and Tea's Me Cafe' and all sorts of merchandise will be available from Scott and me. Please spread the word and support Hedback Theatre's renovation!

Here are the details on the not-to-be-missed show:

FRIDAY, NOV. 30
Hedback Theatre
1847 N. Alabama St., Indianapolis, IN 46202
6 PM doors/7 PM show
$10 adv/$12 door, (317) 926-6630 for advance discounted tickets.

See you there!

RA

Northwest Tour Announcement

To all the fantastic folks from Bellarmine, Gonzaga Prep, Bonney Lake, White River, Enumclaw, Spokane, etc. (I can't remember everyone's high school's name - forgive me!), this blog is specifically for you! I can't tell you how excited I've been to get back out to the northwest and play for you guys since our time together at Malibu (aka "the best place on Earth"). Here's all the details you'll need for next week's shows, so spread the word and show up with a crew!

Here's an added bonus: I'll have special "collector's" copies of a CD I'm calling "Live at Malibu 2007" at the shows for only $10. The 13-track CD is a compilation of songs I played during my concert each week at Malibu and includes 4 previously unreleased songs you can't find anywhere else! You guys spoke up and said you wanted to get your hands on a strictly ACOUSTIC recording and now you can have it. You just might hear yourself in the audience, too ;)

Here are the details on the shows:

SUNDAY, NOV. 25
Enumclaw/White River, WA Young Life
Glacier Middle School Auditorium (in Buckley)
7 PM show, ALL-AGES!
$5 adv/$7 door, (360) 825-6245 for tix
Folk/soul singer-songwriter Jesse Mac opens.

MONDAY, NOV. 26
Tacoma/Gig Harbor, WA Young Life
Best Western Wesley Inn
6675 Kimball Dr., Gig Harbor, WA 98335
7 PM show, ALL-AGES!
$5 tickets
Singer-songwriter Allen Scott opens.

TUESDAY, NOV. 27
Spokane Valley, WA Young Life
New Community Church
1003 E. Trent Ave., Spokane WA 99202
7:30 PM show, ALL-AGES!
$5 tickets

Can't wait. See you there!

Married & lovin' it!

Whew - what a wild, fun past couple of weeks! After a run with the Indiana University Alumni Association out to the Carolinas (9/22-28) to perform at a week's worth of club events, I had only about three days to prep all the last-minute details - and, oh yeah, PACK (ha!) - for Lauren & my wedding and honeymoon. We went out to Cleveland on Wed., 10/3 and it turned out to be a great decision to go out a little early and settle before the chaos ensued. Good chaos, for the record ;)

It was wonderful being with our family and dear friends for our celebration. The ceremony was beautiful and seemed to be over in a matter of minutes! We're looking forward to seeing the video to help us remember what our nerves clouded over a bit (we DID say "yes," right?! ha!). At our reception, The Jerry Bruno Orchestra was AWESOME and we had a blast dancing the night away with them. Can't wait to see all the pictures from the fun party!

After seeing everyone off the next morning, we were in the air before we knew it (matching "Mr. & Mrs. Ahlwardt: Just Married" t-shirts Lauren had made and all!) to sunny Playa del Carmen, Mexico for our honeymoon. We HIGHLY recommened the Royal Hideaway Playacar to anyone out there who wants to have the best vacation ever! Cheers to our fantastic travel agent, Jane Essenburg with Earle Travel in Indy, for helping set up the fun week.

We're settling nicely into being "back home again in Indiana" and are enjoying finally being under the same roof! All the gifts we received are finally unwrapped and have homes and the pantry & fridge are stocked, which is always a plus. We're developing our routines slowly but surely and look forward to the years ahead as husband and wife. Awww...isn't that cute ;)

During the day, I'm working at Fishers High School as a permanent substitute teacher and Lauren's "lovin' it" at McDonald's regional office, where she rocks as the executive assistant to one of the company's VPs. The rest of this year is a little quiet with upcoming shows, somewhat by design, somewhat by the way everything tends to slow down as the seasons become a bit colder. I'm excited to head back out to the northwest to perform three shows after Thanksgiving for local area Young Life kids in suburban Seattle and Spokane, WA. These folks were with me out at the beautiful YL Malibu camp property in British Columbia earlier this summer and I can't wait to play for them again! I've been writing new material, as well, and am eager to nail down studio time for my next recording project, which will most likely take place later this year (very late fall/early winter). Of course, I'll keep you all posted.

Right now, though, I'm headed out the door soon to tailgate with some of the Fishers YL kids before the big sectional football game at the high school! Go Tigers!

Thanks for stopping by!

PS - I would also like to thank the makers of Neutragena SPF 45 Spray Sunblock for their fantastic product, which delightfully cools one's incredibly pale and susceptible-to-melanoma skin as it is applied. Kudos.

Ryan Brown: His Amp Goes to 11

For those of you who have yet to experience - the perfect term, indeed - Ryan Brown, you must and quickly. The guy's a high school friend of mine and has more skill in the pinky of his fingernail (or what's left of it after last night's show together @ The Upper Room in Indy) than I could ever dream of having on guitar. Ryan's been the lead guitarist of AUSTIN BRIDGES, a band that I'm friends with here in Indy and has recently reunited with his former bandmates of LADYMOON, which is sure to please many an audience's collective ear canal in the months ahead.

Last night at The Upper Room was as much of a show for me as it was for the friendly folks and familiar faces (how's that for some alliteration) who came on out for the good times. Not once did I find myself concerned about Ryan's ability to keep up with chord changes song after song - a handful of which he had never heard before - or hesitant to give him the opportunity to play a solo. He's truly a musician's musician and puts on one heck of a performance.

Not only is Brown an incredible guitarist, but he's a great guy who would love to see you at his bands' upcoming shows. Please show your support, be prepared to get your face rocked off, and tell him I sent you...

Thanks for visiting & have a great week,

RA

PS - a very Happy 26th Birthday to my great friend and colleague MIKE LUGINBILL!

Review of "I Can See Forever"

Yet another review from friend and supporter David Baer; this time, of 2006's "I Can See Forever." Click HERE to visit David's blog and read his review.

Many thanks to you for visiting and David for taking the time to let the world know his thoughts on my songs,

RA

Review of "The Malibu EP"

A big thank-you goes out to David Baer for his recent blog review of "The Malibu EP" - click HERE to read it now.

Many thanks, as always, for the support. Cheers, David!

RA Ringtones now available

Your cell phone asked for them, and I kindly obliged. Thanks to the nice folks at GroupieTunes, songs from "The Malibu EP" & "I Can See Forever" are now available in downloadable ringtone form!

Thank you for your support & happy calling,

RA

2 Shows w/COREY SMITH...

Southern sensation COREY SMITH and I will be hitting the stage together not once, but TWICE next week in Bloomington & Louisville! I've played with Corey down south back in April and Tuesday night at The Bluebird in Bloomington will be a great reunion. Corey puts on a killer show and has a unique sound of pop, country, folk, and rock - if you've never been a part of a crowd 700 people strong singing every word of someone's songs at the top of their lungs, you need to roll out to one - shoot, BOTH - of these shows!

Tickets are going fast for the shows, so get yours today and spread the word...

Here are the details:

TUES., 9/18
The Bluebird (21+)
Bloomington, IN
$10 adv/$12 door
8 PM door/9 PM show

FRI., 9/21
Headliners (ALL-AGES)
Louisville, KY
$12 adv/$15 door
8 PM door/9 PM show
Andrea Davidson opens

Check my page for more info - see y'all next week!

RA

2 Washington Shows & Counting...

Yo, yo, yo! I'm P Busta Parfait but my dawgs call me BUSSSSTTTTAAAAAAAAAAAA!

If you weren't at Malibu - aka "the best place on Earth" - you have no idea what that means. If you WERE at Malibu, you probably just thought one of the following:

1. And I'm Orange Julius, but my peeps call me Jewls, aiiiiight?!
2. And I'm Charlotte Raspberry, by my girls call me Char Char!
3. YEEEEAAAAAAHHHHHHBBBBBOOOOOOYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
4. I squash fun for fun!!!

Nope. That last one was just me as Manny the Super Nanny (sigh).

Hey, all you Enumclawers/White Riverers, I'm headed your way! That's right, I'm making a little run up to the northwest (or the northweezie as I prefer to call it) right after Thanksgiving and it's going to be a blast!

Here are the details - some are still coming in, but will be announced shortly:

Sunday, Nov. 25
7:00 PM
For the amazing Enumclaw/White River, WA YOUNG LIFE crew
Venue TBA
All-ages!

Then, it's off to Gig Harbor for another show for some more amazing people on the 26th. Hey, Tacoma...get on the ball and let's get something rolling for Tuesday the 27th! Someone talk to Tom Davis and tell him to hit me up! ;)

Alright, that's it from me...see y'all soon!

RA

Ben Dodds' slideshow from Malibu!

Hi, everyone -

My good friend BEN DODDS from MALIBU put together an awesome slideshow of pics he shot during our time together at camp. It's on his website and he was cool enough to use my song "Maybe on Another Day" as the soundtrack! If you enjoy Ben's photography, stop by his site and tell him I sent you :)

To view the slideshow, CLICK HERE

Enjoy!

RA

amazing grace

amazing grace, how sweet the sound
that saved a wretch like me
i once was lost, but now am found
was blind, but now i see
__________________________________________

saul, who later became the apostle paul, was blinded, literally, by God Himself on the way to damascus (syria) to persecute early Christians. after saul's conversion, "something like scales fell from his eyes and he regained his sight." he was blind, but because of grace, his sight was restored. he was lost and had to be led by the hand the rest of the way to damascus, yet he found his way via grace alone.
__________________________________________

twas grace that taught my heart to fear
and grace my fears relieved
how precious did that grace appear
the hour i first believed
__________________________________________

i just spent a month with high schoolers from all over the country and was able to see lives literally changed forever in front of my eyes. i am grateful for the privilege to be in just one week of so many kids' lives, when fears were relieved forever. if you're one of those kids i got to hang out with, thank you for being who you are.
__________________________________________

through many dangers, toils, and snares
i have already come
tis grace that brought me safe thus far
and grace will lead me home
__________________________________________

if i heard one story of home life gone completely awry in a kid's life while at camp, i heard a hundred. seeing them go home, though, after giving their lives to Christ gave new meaning to "grace will lead me home." one new friend in particular was so scared about what awaited her in her home that she said she didn't want to leave such a beautiful, accepting place and go home. but, she also knew that God would take care of her and love her for who she was, flaws and all. grace led her home.
__________________________________________

when we've been there ten thousand years
bright shining as the sun
we've no less days to sing God's praise
than when we first begun
__________________________________________

my favorite verse of all of 'em. time, fear, worry, everything will go by the wayside in the life to come. ten thousand years will seem like a blink of an eye and a blink of an eye will feel like ten thousand years. time out at malibu seemed a bit like that at times...but no matter how awesome that place was (and is), it's NOTHING compared to heaven. nothing as in our-minds-can't-even-process-it-nothing. love it.

Back from MALIBU!

Where to start...

To grasp the full scope of my time out in British Columbia performing for the 1000 kids who came through Young Life's Malibu camp, you probably had to have been there. Perhaps some of you reading this were actually there with me and can understand a bit better what it was like from your experiences. If that's indeed the case, thank you for the great memories! I had an amazing, if not life-changing, time sharing my music - and month! - with you. If you weren't there, I hope that at some point you can make the trip!

Despite a rocky start as far as travel goes, the entire month was truly a blessing from God. I was able to become friends with wonderful folks from all over this beautiful country of ours (and some Canadians, too!), enjoy the privilege of sharing a week in the lives of each group of kids and their leaders, perform my music for the glory of God and not my own, and see a slice of heaven occur every day in some way or another.

Thank you for your prayers and well wishes while I was out there. More stories & pics to share :) Until next time...

Psalm 119:54,
RA

Martin 00016 Auditorium Acoustic

For you guitar players out there, that's what I'm buying today.

For you non-guitar players, I've sold my electric guitar & amp and am putting the cash towards upgrading to a beautiful new acoustic guitar. I'll keep my Fender acoustic - the same that I've had since the summer between 8th & 9th grade! - as a back-up onstage and as a writing/rehearsal guitar.

This baby sings and is coming soon to a show near you soon ;)

On another note, I'm headed out to western Virginia (not West Virginia, but technically true...) tonight to drive through the wee hours of the morning with our group of Young Life kids. There's a YL camp out there and has everything under the sun to the kids' disposal - tubing, rock climbing, zip lining, waterskiing, music, sports, you name it. I've never gone on a summer camp/mission trip/etc, so I'm going into it with a lot of different thoughts and emotions in my head. Pray for us to have a safe trip and a great time while we're in Virginia!

...and here's some more cool news:

THE MALIBU EP, my new album featuring a contemporary-Christian spin on things, is hitting my doorstep the day after I get back from VA...I'll hopefully have copies at my Canal Point Grill shows on Fri., 7/6 & Sat., 7/7. Show up to get yours!

Thanks for stopping by :)

RA

THE MALIBU EP - UPDATE!

i was down in bloomington yesterday (wednesday) for a recording session for my new album and i wanted to holler with an update about how it went...

first of all, dave weber is a rockstar behind the sound board. i know dave from straight no chaser days and it was so nice to be back home at airtime studios. after a crazy start of the morning having the best breakfast i've ever eaten at the village deli, a follow-up rehearsal with my bud nick jaenicke (piano guru), and running all over state road (both old and new) 37 to rendezvous with aubrey pepper (my bud from young life and AWESOME photographer), we got rollin with the tracks around 2.

at 8 i left with 5/8ths of the project in digital form and haven't stopped listening to it besides the 8 hours of time spent sleeping last night. side note: it's best in some people's opinions to put tracks on the shelf until the next studio session...in others' it's best to periodically listen to them to get ideas of what needs to be brushed up, etc...i've never heard anyone suggest listening non-stop to tracks between sessions. ha!

i'm headed back tomorrow (friday) for a final mixing session with dave and then meet with aubrey early next week to look over the photos and decide which ones will make it to the artwork phase. after i hand 'em over to chris mccormick, he'll put his creative wizardry to work and then it's off to discmakers out in new jersey to mass produce the bad boys. 10 days after that, i'll have 'em on my doorstep and soon after that, they'll be ready to cozy up next to "i can see forever" in your ipods/stereos! :)

the 8 (5 were originally planned...) tracks that will be on the CD, in no particular order, are as follows...four old-school hymns and four originals:

amazing grace
holy, holy, holy
swing low, sweet chariot
i'll fly away
waiting (new version of ICSF tune)
i won't make a judgement on you (new unreleased original)
jesus (new unreleased original)
indiana summertime (BONUS TRACK!)

if you're into james taylor, steven curtis chapman, ray charles, dave grusin (crazy good jazz pianist), sam cooke, corey smith, and/or nickel creek, i guarantee you'll enjoy this album. even if you're not, it's my hope that you'll dig it.

me = stoked.

The Malibu EP - NEW RECORDING!

I'm happy to announce that next Wednesday I'm headed down to B-town to record a brand new disc of tunes entitled "The Malibu EP" with long-time friend and colleague Dave Weber of Airtime Studios. Nick Jaenicke, a great friend from Straight No Chaser/cruise ships/Mitchell Street Band days, will sit in on piano and some surprise guest artists will also be featured.

I've named the project "The Malibu EP" as I'm headed out to British Columbia in late-July to be the guest musician at the Young Life Malibu Camp, hence the oh-so-creative title for the new recording. Clever, I know ;)

The album will feature two new original songs, a bare-bones take on "Waiting" from I Can See Forever, as well as my acoustic spin on a handful of old-school hymns. Kudos to good friend Andrew Landau for getting in my ear about approaching the contemporary Christian genre for this project, something that I've always wanted to take a shot at.

I'm also planning on hitting the studio again in late June - this time with Mike Luginbill behind the board - to take on another batch of songs that are 99.9% ready to find a home in your iPods. It's going to be a busy (understatement of the year) summer and I'm excited to get going.

A late June release date for The Malibu EP is scheduled and it will be available on iTunes, CDBaby, AwareStore and through my new website, RYANSONGS.COM. An announement regarding pre-ordering the album will follow shortly...

Get hype!

RA

Where's this coming from?

I am by no means a big deal.

However, I would like to think of myself as successful to a large degree with a healthy balance of confidence-meets-pride in what I do. I wish that could sound as humble as I mean for it to sound in my head - perhaps it's being conveyed that way, which is my hope. I've merely scratched the surface of a much bigger canvas than I personally believe I'm able to imagine at this point in time and my career as a musician and songwriter. Here's my issue tonight, though: I have a handful of impressive bullet points on my resume', but who doesn't?

That sounds - to me just reading it over, at least - as though I'm attempting to minimize my accomplishments thus far in my career, which is not my intention. I am grateful every day that I have been able to see the places I've seen, performed alongside the amazing musicians I've had the distinct pleasure of truly getting to know well, and been seen/heard by some of the most genuine, sincere, and welcoming souls on the road. If you'd allow me to think/type out loud more - really, you have no choice but to stop reading at this point - I believe my intention is to point out that somewhere in Podunk, Kansas there very well may be - and probably is - a young man or woman much like myself, fighting to be heard amidst a sea of cookie-cutter, ubiquitous, drivel that is the pop music of today. How then does one make oneself unique AND differentiated to the point where one becomes in higher demand than the remaining myriad of unique individuals? Is it more than supply vs. demand perhaps? Is the point of what I'm doing to make a buck, leave an artistic footprint on people's lives, both, or something completely not on my radar screen?

I sound like a term paper I had to write in my senior level marketing classes in college. For the record, yes, I used the word "myriad" just now.

I saw Marc Broussard have what I believe to have been a similar mental conversation with himself onstage a year or so ago. Between songs while his band was tuning up, grabbing a drink of water, etc., he spoke of how he missed his "babies back home" and was quick to follow with "...but no one wants to hear some guy in a rock and roll band complain about stuff like that." It was odd, I recall, to see a glimpse of his train of thought, as though he was caught being vulnerable and had to put his rocker cap back on before anyone saw. 800 people saw it. I wonder what the other 799 thought about it.

I am unique in my choice of profession compared to the majority of my peer group in society, somewhat simply stated. Marc Broussard is unique in the same way. For some reason, society - aka "the way things are" - lionizes, if not glorifies, certain occupations (wide receivers in the NFL, talk show hosts, rock stars, etc.) while looking upon others as trivial (a check-out clerk at a supermarket, perhaps) or distasteful (a janitor or mall security guard, maybe). I think Jesus said it best when it comes to the pointlessness of how soceity sees itself: "Indeed there are those who are last and will be first, and first who will be last." (Luke 13:30)

I think what makes us - and maybe me - unique is a certain comfort towards letting our vulnerabilities be exposed, which, granted, has foundations rooted in irony if that which society typically deems worthy of mass-scale attention is used as a paradigm. In other words: when was the last time you saw Halle Berry (simply for the sake of argument) walk down a red carpet wearing jeans - that were purchased for $40 or less - a day-to-day t-shirt, and some average tennis shoes? The mere act of appearing "normal" would very well shatter people's opinions of her possibly to the point of disdain. My point in all of this is: if one dug up Halle Berry's high school yearbook, she'd look just the same as the person next to her who, for the past ten years, has been cranking out a 6 AM - 8 PM work day they feel trapped within to support three kids, a spouse, maybe that master's degree they've been working on so their boss would invite them to the club for dinner after work some day.

Let me get back on track for those of you who may actually be trying to figure out what I'm meaning by all of this (aside: I appreciate you taking the time to read this and hope you can relate it in some way, shape, or form to yourself).

I'm sometimes curious as to why people spend time and money to include me and my music as part of their evening schedule (see first sentence of this blog...). Admittedly, many of my songs could be watered down to the same chord progression, theme, or feel. I'm certainly not the most attractive person on the planet, although I'd like to think that I'm relatively more attractive than I've been in the past since subscribing to Men's Health and getting back in a shape that doesn't resemble a slightly overinflated innertube around my midsection. I'm by far not the most talented singer, songwriter, guitarist, lyricist, or showman, however I'd like to think that I have much potential to be seen as a musician's musician or a songwriter's songwriter. I'm not the funniest guy onstage between songs - always, admittedly, an area of slight uneasiness for me - nor do I look the best in pictures after a show. Usually, I'm soaking with sweat (I call it "passion" - ha!) and give out random high-fives to people who have never most likely received nor given a high-five to someone who just got offstage from playing songs on the guitar.

I'm not - by the way...huge disclaimer - suggesting you kind folks who come to my show or enjoy listening to my music from doing so in the near future. Keep doing what you're doing. Please & thank you.

I think what I strive for more than anything on an artist-to-one who appreciates the art level is an ability to be as 100% myself. Always. I can tell when I'm forcing something and I don't enjoy it. Not only don't I enjoy doing it when I sometimes do it, but I don't enjoy feeling the reaction from the person of people to whom I'm doing it. It's awkward when it happens; now much less than before when I was "starting out," though, as I've become more comfortable with what I'm doing. It's odd: the person I'd most expect to look at what I'm doing and shoot it down is the same person who looks at me with sincere kindness in their eye and tells me how much they wish they'd followed their dream long ago. I can't express what it's like to feel that out of place - that I, of all people, get to hear something so important from a complete stranger that they may have never told their spouse or closest friend.

Shoot, if playing some songs on my guitar and telling some stories in between them gets me the opportunity to do THAT, I'm sold. Now, if only I can do it as long as a guy like James Taylor (whom I saw with Sharpie in hand graciously sign album cover after album cover before picking up his guitar onstage...), there's the trick!

Abridged themes from this blog, just because:

1. Love others as, if not more than, you love yourself.
2. Do what you love, love what you do.
3. You're unique by being yourself, and so is everyone else.
4. Come to a show when you can and bring some friends along.

Thanks for reading,

Ryan

UP AND RUNNIN. Woo-hoo!

A big THANK YOU to Chris McCormick for designing the brand new RYANSONGS.COM! Chris is a great friend of mine and fantastic graphic/web designer. If you are in need of a professional, talented, and creative design guru, Chris is your man! Tell him I sent you (inside scoop: he's a big fan of the broccoli cheddar soup at Panera...).

Because he's hooked me up big-time...

http://www.BeerDieGame.com

If you're in college, twenty-one, enjoy Beer Pong but are seeking something a little more challenging, and have a lot of spare time, build a table with Chris' face on it and we'll call it a deal. Hit his BD site up and show him some love!

Disclaimer: Neither BeerDie.com nor RyanSongs.com condone underage and/or excessive drinking. Get a designated driver and drink responsibly.

By the way, anyone who wants to join the fun, I'm throwing a website launch party (WLP 2007) complete with Cool Ranch Doritos and enough Coke Zero to feed an army. Or armly, which I just typed. My place, BYOCRDACZ. 15 gold stars to the first person to reply with the correct meaning behind the acronym.

Thanks, Chris, and thank YOU for visiting! Now stop reading and go buy a t-shirt from the site. Apparently all the kids are wearing 'em.

RA

Gettin' the kinks out...

Hi, everyone, and thanks for visiting the NEW ryansongs.com!

My design team and I are working out all the bugs with the new site, but it should fully operational shortly. In the meantime, please continue to check back for updates, all kinds of fun stuff, and new show dates. Spread the word!

RA

Test/Welcome!

CHECK, one, two...two...TWO...one, two. ONE, two. Test. Can I get more treble, please? We'll put the top back, baby...CHECK, two. Yeah, it sounds good, thanks.

WELCOME, everybody. Thank you for stopping by my new blog. Feel free to visit often and please help spread the word about my music. Updates will be posted often, so come back and say hello anytime. For the next couple of days, I'll be in mourning over the Hoosiers loss to UCLA. Condolences, care packages, and/or sympathy gifts of officially licensed IU merchandise are welcomed.

Talk to you soon,

RA