What was billed a short set of maybe 3 to 4 new songs turned into a memorable, relaxed evening full of old and new material before an intimate crowd of about 200 people.  For some reason, fire trucks were called in just before showtime, apparently a false alarm--but making the wait outside on one of the coldest nights of the winter much more excruciating. I didn't have a ticket (it sold out in a day), and at one point I was waiting outside alone in the cold, with everyone saying sorry, sorry, sorry. I persevered, befriended a volunteer, and got in.

Once inside, tempers subsided and the evening's good cause helped give the room a nice vibe (Housing Works, the show's sponsor, fights AIDS and homelessness; tonight's show was a benefit).

Highlights included an acoustic rendition of Lovesick Blues (and I mean really acoustic--sound problems interrupted the set halfway though and Ryan filled the time while they were fixing it by jumping into the crowd, hopping on a chair, and hamming it up with a little old school twang, all without benefit of amp or mike.) The crowd loved it.  After Jeanne, everything was done all by request, including (according to Ryan) a first time live rendition of Hallelujah by this band.  Ryan said he'd pass a hat around and, for ten bucks, he'd play, or try to play, anything the donor requested.  Eight songs followed.

A night I won't soon forget.

A. Murcia