Ryan Hobler Plays His Album Release Show At Rockwood

Had I known Ryan Hobler has been playing music around the New York area for nearly two decades, I would have gone to see him a lot sooner. Armed with a voice as smooth as velvet, and a falsetto sweet enough to make anyone cry, Ryan and his band played his album release show for his latest effort, The Elusive Yes. The album includes production from Bjork, St. Lucia and Wakey!Wakey! producer Andy Baldwin.

Ryan’s band, complete with drummer, bassist, pianist, and few singers – wove such an atmosphere of romance, wonder and wanderlust to accompany Ryan’s beautiful songwriting. They were clearly talented musicians, as well as good friends, made so evident when Ryan invited up his friend Mike to sing a song that turned into one of the sweetest marriage proposals as Mike whipped out a ring at the song’s end. The room was bathed in red light, and the audience was quiet and respectful during the songs, and took opportunities during the breaks in between to participate in playful banter with Ryan and the band.

The set ranged from folk, to jazz-influenced, to Americana which all meshed extremely well together. My favorite song of the night, which I’m still singing “please, oh please, please stop” days later, has to be “The Boulder & The Glass House,” that remarkably sounded as good live as it does on the record.

I may be a bit late to the party in finding out about Ryan Hobler, but I always say better late than never.

Article by: Lesley Keller