Indy In-Tune #106: Ryan M. Brewer

Explicit content warning

01/13/12 • 59 min

Ah, a brand new year and some brand new music to kick it off right. This is not to say that I don't enjoy the "... Returns" shows, but it really is nice to get some new blood on the show again, since that's what we're about here. Ryan M. Brewer is a recurring face and voice at the where I often scout for guests, since it's often difficult to meet and talk to bands at the bigger venes, especially while the next band is playing. I first came across Ryan about a year and a half ago when I heard this band called The Fallow and tried get them on the show. Two weeks ago a friend of mine recommended I check out Ryan's music, at which point I purchased a digital copy of his upcoming CD, and asked if he would be interested in sharing some of the tracks with us on a podcast. At the time, I was unaware that it was, in fact the same guy. It was an honest mistake, it turns out. Ryan M. Brewer shares many things in common with the other successful singer/songwriters we've showcased. He's hard working, prolific, struggling to get his voice heard, and diligently searching for the magic formula that turns locally successful indie musicians into James Taylors and Neil Youngs -- don't worry, if we knew what it was, we would tell you. What differentiates Ryan to me is the amazing diversity. On his debut solo effort, his music, voice, and playing not only take a 180-degree turn from his hard rock/southern rock work in The Fallow (some of which we play in order to showcase this phase of his musical output), but it also fan out effortlessly into an array of styles including music with a country-ish swing (Allegory), "lush" ballads (Sing You to Sleep), indie-infused folk (Innocence and Ignorance), and even spoken word (Like Robert Redford). In the end, the listener is left with only two questions: What CAN'T this guy do with his songs, and WHY isn't there more spoken word music being made?! Links referenced in the show: Ryan M. Brewer can be found here: | | | . Ryan was originally the primary songwriter for Shameless Self Promotion and . Among his influences, he lists , , and . Ryan holds a degree in English from . His eponymous CD is available for download and purchase on his page. Or you can buy it the night before the Super Bowl when he has his CD release party at the . The CD was produced by , formerly the guitarist and songwriter for the band . He has contributed to singer Ben Clark's soundtrack album, , as well as the sountrack to the film . He is an outspoken support of . The track Like Robert Redford features the vocal talents of actress . You can learn more about Ricky Lee Pots and his 6 for 6 series . We make reference to the title track from , which by all rights should be the theme song for the entire Indianapolis music scene. You can catch him January 3th at , which seems an unlikely place for live music, but that's no reason not to support them and, hopefully, encourage more local business to follow suit. He will also be playing in Broad Ripple on January 27th.

Previous Episode

Indy In-Tune #105: Vilafishburn Returns

My Christmas present to myself: the show I've been wanting to do for six years now. When I think back on 105 episodes of this little hobby of mine, most of what I remember is from the early shows -- back before things became "routine" and it took me a lot longer to organize, set up, and edit these shows together. Lets face it, I didn't know what I was doing for the first year of this. Actually, many would say I still don't know, but at least now I've got a consistent system and even a quirky style going for me. Some of the people who I now consider among my best friends came out of those shows, and many of the bands quickly became the ones that I followed closely and played most-frequently in the ol' MP3 player. Vilafishburn is a prime example of this. Yeah, maybe the first interview wasn't my best work, but the music was magical to me, and the guys were just cool as heck to hang out with -- drinking a couple of frosty beers at a curbside table in Broad Ripple in the stifling summer heat of 2006. I've gone into great lengths before and during this show, to describe the elements of Vilafishburn that make them, in my oft-stated opinion, the most underrated band in Indianapolis. Aaron Patrick's powerful voice and unique and diversely-flavored lyrics, Doug Sneddon's meticulous ear for layering and constructing sounds and moods, the always-moving foundation laid down by the not-so-quiet-when-you-get-him-off-mic Ray Ruiz, and the "holy crap that's just ONE drummer?!" rhythm work of the inimitable Amy Fishburn. It's a formula and a lineup that is electric both live and in the studio. If only we could get them to do more than one show a year, and one album every five. This show was recorded on a crowded Friday night at Birdy's, when Vilafishburn was sharing a billing (and a bass player) with another of my favorite bands from those early days, The Dirty Third. Certainly there is a lot of love between these two bands, and as an amusing aside, I watched Vilafishburn's set with "the Third's" Matt Hesser, who halfway through the first song, turned to me and said, "Man, I am in heaven right now seeing these guys play again." Later that night, I watched the Dirty Third's set from a table next to Vilafishburn's Aaron Patrick, who leaned over to me at one point and said, "You know, hearing these guys play this is like heaven." Who knew you could have a religious experience at Birdy's? Links referenced in the show: Vilafishburn can be found here: / . The first appeared on (though actually recorded as #009) Ryan Shore is the drummer for the Jeremy Vogt Band ( and ) and The Dirty Third (), formerly of Five Til Dawn (), and who will forever be known as the reason we have only one censorship rule at Indy In-Tune: Don't call a fellow band "a bunch of turd snipers," or we at least have to bleep their name. We reference their debut CD, Indian, which came out in 2004. You can purchase that here: | | Their second CD, 2008's Watching over We, was also referenced. You can purchase that here: | | We features songs from their upcoming CD, Bare Tracks, which is due out in 2012 Ryan Shore endorses the 4-track cassette recorder. Ray Ruiz and Matt Hesser (who play together in the Dirty Third) have a newly-formed side project called The New Guilt. Check them out here: | | | is very common in musicians, especially the older ones. The good news is, this type of hearing loss responds most-effectively to simple hearing aids. Ryan Shore is also a proponent , possibly because it requires only four microphones (see earlier comment about the Tascam DP02). Ryan can be see playing in the Jeremy Vogt Band, along side Borrow Tomorrow (), and Chad Mills ( and ) at on January 13. Information can be found . Tickets can be purchased .

Next Episode

Indy In-Tune #107: Borrow Tomorrow Returns

About a year and a half ago, I introduced a band to this show and used the word "honest" to define them. That is to say, honest in the sense of "real" or "genuine." Since then, that band, Borrow Tomorrow, has been through a lot, to say the least -- the untimely loss of a founding member, the struggles of putting together their first full length album, and the struggles of putting every ounce of energy and passion into their music as they try to move themselves to the next level of their art. In many respects, this interview is quite similar to the last one. They're still a tightly knit band in the upper tier of our local music scene. They're still the same fun bunch of guys. They're still the same self-deprecating musicians who, while they obviously believe wholeheartedly in what they do, are grounded by a sense of realism in how the music industry works. What has changed are the little things -- things you might not notice unless you play both interviews back to back (and have access to the material that was unfortunately edited from both interviews due to time constraints). There's a certain air of confidence you pick up on in the second interview that was not quite as pronounced in the first. There's a bit more collaboration and willingness to trust other people's judgment in songwriting decisions. There's a bit more of a willingness to play "from the gut," take a few risks, and make a few concessions for the good of the music rather than serve one's own vanity or personal preferences. Most of all, there's an even greater rapport with the listener, who is no longer just being told a story, but is now invited to "find their place in it." I suppose to a (*cough* *hack*) casual listener, who puts the new album, Too Far to Feel, on as background music while they plink distractedly at their computer, could possibly make the very basic mistake of writing it off as an inconsistent and directionless mix of country, alternative, and pop. Anything even slightly more attentive, however, will reveal that there is a definite emotional core to this album, and the journey of exploration and self discovery the album takes the listener on is not so much meandering, but instead a subtle and well-planned path, where not every turn is seen before you get to it, and none of the scenery looks the same as you walk past it. But enough with this trying to sound important by using fancy words and mixed metaphors to make a point. This is a great album put out by a great group of guys, and unless you're from another planet or something, you're sure to find something there that speaks to you personally. Links referenced in the show: Borrow Tomorrow can be found here: | | | | Their latest CD, Too Far to Feel, is available from the usual suspects ( | ), but you want to . They premiered the album at a gala party at featuring the Jeremy Vogt Band ( and ) and Chad Mills and the Upright Willies ( and . Don't you wish you were there? Fear not. We were, and . As with the Retrospective EP, it was produced and engineered by Kyle Ferguson. Obviously the in-joke about being a lousy roommate, having no songwriting chops, and being part of the Indianapolis slime core revolution is a send up of . Lyricist Chris Jerles has that is a must-read for any fan of BoTo.