Boston based Ryan Montbleau and his Band are starting to become
regulars in this area. And that's a great thing as far as they are
concerned: "We always have a great time here. Our viola player
(Lawrence Scudder) went to Skidmore, and we try to do something
cultural. Last year we attended the races, and if we didn't have a
music festival on Cape Cod on Saturday, we'd probably be there again."
Ryan and his band will be making its debut at Putnam Den tonight, and this is a key weekend for the new facility as it settles into a post-grand opening routine and offers up a slate of weekend shows that feature original artists that are in various stages of ascendency.
In the case of Fleming artist Montbleau, you are viewing an established national touring performer whose creative take on the concept of soul music has spawned a 1ΒΌ2 dozen CD's and an impressive following here and throughout the US. He is known and respected for his ability to tap into the essence of emotions--romance, pain, joy, loss - all are fair game, and all are explored without pretense or filter. There's an honesty along with the risk; a liberation in putting yourself on the line.
It's less risky now, perhaps because the fans have responded to Ryan's approach. But there is always new ground to cover, and the prolific songwriter is in the process of gathering revenues for the next CD project. Even the financing is creative: you have the opportunity beginning Monday august 10th to bid on one of six solo acoustic house concerts that will be offered on eBay - the proceeds of which will be earmarked for their next disc.
These house concerts are earmarked to occur over the Labor Day weekend period (Sept 3-7). Given Montbleau's national touring credits, might he not be setting himself up for a logistical nightmare- flying from coast to coast to play for winning bidders on his house concerts in a short period of time?
"I'd actually love that" Montbleau laughs "if it happens to play out that way, so be it. It's up to me to get to your house, and I don't plan on being late." So for him, it appears to be another risk worth taking.
Note well that when you are online you should cast a vote for them to be the featured artist on Jam Cruise 8 (see:http://www.jamcruise.com/2010/vote.php. That vote goes through mid-September, and right now Ryan and His Band are the co-leading vote getters.
Is it 2AM Club Time Yet?
Maybe. Maybe very soon.
If the arrival of a venue like Putnam Den is to have a signature niche in this market, it could well be because they are presenting acts like these - acts that could be the group you tell people you once saw in a 400-person place and they think you are full of it. 2AM Club could be such a group. There seem to be a lot of industry people that think that this group is on the verge of something really big this year.
Certainly there is an infectious groove to their music, which replicates the Democratic Party platform in that they tie in nearly every genre available, and list all the usual, yet major suspects as influences ("Jay Z to the Beatles, Duran Duran to the Beastie Boys, Stevie Wonder to The Strokes"). Their site (myspace.com/2amclub) touts them as knowing "...how to throw a party--and it's not one you're going to forget the next day. Funk, pop, rock, blue-eyed soul, hip-hop, new wave, and electro all converge to create a genre-bending sound that's completely unique, instantly relatable, and practically begging to be danced to."
RCA records apparently believes, signing 2AM Club to a contract last September. The band has relocated to the East Coast from their previous HQ in Los Angeles to effectuate recording their debut disc.
One thing that is notable is that this type of music is usually the result of computerization, spinning and sampling. But these 20-somethings get their sound the old-school way: by playing instruments.
So, can I tout this as a slam-dunk for a Saturday night in the manner that I can recommend Ryan Montbleau without reservation? No, but I think it's worth checking out.
Take in 2am Club with the same attitude you have when you unearth a live longshot at the race course: if it does as well as you hope, you'll never see them at that price again.
In the case of Fleming artist Montbleau, you are viewing an established national touring performer whose creative take on the concept of soul music has spawned a 1ΒΌ2 dozen CD's and an impressive following here and throughout the US. He is known and respected for his ability to tap into the essence of emotions--romance, pain, joy, loss - all are fair game, and all are explored without pretense or filter. There's an honesty along with the risk; a liberation in putting yourself on the line.
It's less risky now, perhaps because the fans have responded to Ryan's approach. But there is always new ground to cover, and the prolific songwriter is in the process of gathering revenues for the next CD project. Even the financing is creative: you have the opportunity beginning Monday august 10th to bid on one of six solo acoustic house concerts that will be offered on eBay - the proceeds of which will be earmarked for their next disc.
These house concerts are earmarked to occur over the Labor Day weekend period (Sept 3-7). Given Montbleau's national touring credits, might he not be setting himself up for a logistical nightmare- flying from coast to coast to play for winning bidders on his house concerts in a short period of time?
"I'd actually love that" Montbleau laughs "if it happens to play out that way, so be it. It's up to me to get to your house, and I don't plan on being late." So for him, it appears to be another risk worth taking.
Note well that when you are online you should cast a vote for them to be the featured artist on Jam Cruise 8 (see:http://www.jamcruise.com/2010/vote.php. That vote goes through mid-September, and right now Ryan and His Band are the co-leading vote getters.
Is it 2AM Club Time Yet?
Maybe. Maybe very soon.
If the arrival of a venue like Putnam Den is to have a signature niche in this market, it could well be because they are presenting acts like these - acts that could be the group you tell people you once saw in a 400-person place and they think you are full of it. 2AM Club could be such a group. There seem to be a lot of industry people that think that this group is on the verge of something really big this year.
Certainly there is an infectious groove to their music, which replicates the Democratic Party platform in that they tie in nearly every genre available, and list all the usual, yet major suspects as influences ("Jay Z to the Beatles, Duran Duran to the Beastie Boys, Stevie Wonder to The Strokes"). Their site (myspace.com/2amclub) touts them as knowing "...how to throw a party--and it's not one you're going to forget the next day. Funk, pop, rock, blue-eyed soul, hip-hop, new wave, and electro all converge to create a genre-bending sound that's completely unique, instantly relatable, and practically begging to be danced to."
RCA records apparently believes, signing 2AM Club to a contract last September. The band has relocated to the East Coast from their previous HQ in Los Angeles to effectuate recording their debut disc.
One thing that is notable is that this type of music is usually the result of computerization, spinning and sampling. But these 20-somethings get their sound the old-school way: by playing instruments.
So, can I tout this as a slam-dunk for a Saturday night in the manner that I can recommend Ryan Montbleau without reservation? No, but I think it's worth checking out.
Take in 2am Club with the same attitude you have when you unearth a live longshot at the race course: if it does as well as you hope, you'll never see them at that price again.
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