Clearly, this was meant to be a comedic night. On the tail of leaving the ridiculous Tenacious D concert, I ended up at the Backstage Lounge on Granville Island for a night of pretty acoustic type music. When I got there, there was a dude on the stage, Cory Woodward, who Ryan McMahon had mentioned before as not being one to miss. Well, his music was one thing - pleasant and gentle songs, striking vocals. But he was quite the little comedian too. Just what I needed!





After that was a set on the grand piano instead of the guitar. The fellow was Kerry O'Donovan, a guy I'd seen a few nights earlier at the Oasis downtown for West End Idol qualifying. I'd been completely taken in by the song he played there, so was looking forward to this set. It was nice - but not nearly the impact hearing just one song had. This set definitely went on too long. The audience was restless by halfway through it. he did play the song he'd done before at the Oasis, but at that point, it was all so washed out, I didn't find it nearly as delightful as I had earlier. Oh well. He looks like one of the guys from Precious Fathers as well. Weird.



And then, good ol' Ryan McMahon. He and I have been in this musical world together for years, and he just keeps getting better and better with every year, every project, every song. He has an amazingly strong and charging voice for being such a slight fella - really unexpected for those who don't know what to expect from him. He's a little rough around the edges. Tonight he was joined by former/current/semi-revolving bandmates Mike Rogerson and Dustin Young. It seems McMahon was bitten by the comic bug tonight too, as his inter-song banter centred mainly around how badly he just wants a cheeseburger, and how a pack of girls he was trying to 'win over with drugs' had just gotten up and left in the middle of his set. It's okay, Rye, they weren't worth it clearly haha.



He rollicked fluidly through songs from throughout his repertoire, with my personal favourite being included (on request?), "Girl On Top." McMahon's songs straddle this weird triangular border between folk, rock and blues. While this is all acoustic, and therefore inherently folky sounding, the songs are quick and infused with sudden outbursts and wailed vocals that clearly delineate them as rock, but not without the sly casual sultriness of a good blues tune. How does he do it?? He manages to put all these together into a sound that's very much his own little present to the world. His face strains as he shouts out various vocals, he's in danger or strumming his fingers clear off at points... and then suddenly he's essentially caressing the microphone and the guitar has dwindled down to a barely-perceptible drone. It's a definite experience watching him play. All your emotions will become involved in the meantime.



Including the funnybone, engaged when he talks about cheeseburgers. Mmmmboy.

Elsewhere

By Andy Scheffler
Photos : Andy Scheffler
Published : March, 2007.