Nice Guys Finish ANYWHERE BUT Last (Matt Ryd's CD Release at Schuba's Fri. Sept. 10th, 2010)

It was a "no-brainer" to write this blog.  (Hey, when inspiration calls, you answer with no hesitation, right?)

I found myself running a bit behind with my girlfriend to the CD Release party for Mr. Matt Ryd at Schuba's last Friday, September 10th.  Needless to say, we missed the first act (seems to be a bit of a pattern, huh?  See my write-up about the Wilco show back in July.)  :O ;)  But, stepping forward, we had to make sure that we had all of our belongings since Beth Ann had to, quite unfortunately, leave for work since she works an overnight shift as a receptionist of sorts (bummer, huh?)

We step off of the #77 Bus which drops us off directly in front of Schuba's.  Immediately, I see the man of the evening across the street and wave.  Matt waves back and Beth Ann and me make our way to him and the two ladies that he was entertaining while they were having a smoke.  Per usual, Matt was being his courteous and jovial self.

"How are you, sir?" he says.

"I'm doing well.  How are You?!?  How are you feeling?"

"I'm feeling .... great, actually."

"You excited?"

"Oh, yeah!"

"How is it in there?"

"It's quite packed, actually."

"That's great!" ("Damn it," I think to myself!  "What am I missing?!?"  I have to admit this to you since I played a show the night before at Goose Island where there was hardly Anyone in the crowd.  Then again, the fact that it was the first night of Rosh Hashanah AND the first night of the NFL season..which I failed to realize until that very day...you do the math.  Great show, nonetheless and a lot of fun...and many thanks to Leah Jones AND to our very own, TLT, for coming out to said show...But, I digress...)

"I don't think we formally met," Matt says to Beth Ann. "I'm Matt."

"Beth Ann."

At that moment, it hits me as to the other reason why it's packed.  From what I've Always known about Matt, you get what you see.  And Matt is one of the nicest guys I have met.  Just goes to show, nice guys finish Anywhere BUT last.  This evening would prove that quite well.

Beth Ann and me step inside, pay the cover, and open the doors to a Very Sold-Out room!  It wasn't a Fire Hazard crowd, per se.  We were able to stand comfortably in the place.  The drink line was long.  However, this was due to some Very Excellent Marketing on Matt's behalf.  The cover charge was $10.  With that $10 cover charge, it included a FREE drink ticket which included any draft beer, soft drink, well drink ALONG with a coupon for 15% off any purchase at Binny's Beverage Depot (oh, and BBD sponsored the show.)  I was floored in the best way.  "How?!?"  That was my question for the night amongst my peers to include Kat Fitzgerald, Michael Teach of Chicago Acoustic Underground, Ashley Wolf, Jane Thatcher, Heather Styka, Ryan Suzuka, Jeff Brown & Greg Jackson Combs of the band Goodbyehome.  Needless to say, a LOT of people from the Chicago Music Community was there.  A lot of good times, a lot of conversation had.

When Beth Ann and me walked into the room, Mike Mentzer was on the stage.  The crowd was moving and jumping to his beats. His band was tight. Mike knew how to work the room. His music was fun.  Quite a fit for an opener (or middle act, if you will) before Matt took the stage (and entertaining enough while waiting in the long drink line.) ;)

When Matt's band took the stage, however, that's when the crowd kicked up the cheering a notch.  We all made noise for our musician friend for our support and love for the "nice guy" and his success.  The best part, however, was when Matt started his first song.  I was talking with Jane Thatcher as the first song began.

"Check it out," I said.  "The whole room just hushed."

Jane smiles and nods. "Yeah, no kidding."

I regret to say that I couldn't stay for the whole set because Matt's father, Steve, was set to play trumpet that evening during the set (very sorry, sir.)  However, I did get to hear two songs that really grabbed my attention:  "Over You" was very great and reminded me of my own song "We Might Become Real."  The difference:  "Over You" is much lighter in vocals and has more of a pop-ish appeal while still a rocker, in my humble opinion.  It became one of my favorites on the CD (since I could recognize it after the fact and due to the production quality as well, which will be described in a bit.)  I was also Very, Very Happy to hear my Favorite Matt Ryd song, "When I Fall," which has undergone some changes since I first heard it 2 to 3 years ago.

I am currently listening to Matt Ryd's newest CD "Looking For Home" as I write this.  The production is fantastic, the sound is crisp, clear.  It shouldn't be a surprise since anyone who follows Matt on Twitter (@MattRyd) will usually see a Tweet that reports him mixing, recording music for either himself or for a plethora of other artists.  

What is blowing my mind is that I haven't even gotten to my favorite song from Matt as of yet.  My head is bopping as I'm listening to the track "Over You."  The album grooves, your head can't do anything else but bop and move to the beats.  And, let's face it, even for someone like myself who writes and plays brooding singer/songwriter-ish music, I do enjoy (and, must admit, need) some upbeat music that puts a spring in your step and a smile on your face (even if the subject matter of the tune is more on the "dark side," just like the song "When I Fall," which is playing now...)

"Shadows Of Your Life" closes out the album quite beautifully with an orchestral arrangement and the beautiful, harmonic vocals of Joan Hoedeman.

Ladies and gentleman, you need to do yourself a favor and check out Matt's music and his huge collection of videos at www.mattryd.com

Kudos, Matt!

Photo taken by Theresa Carter at the TLT Showcase