By:Willow Knight

Ryan Montbleau is no stranger to the road. In fact, it seems like he is in perpetual motion. Currently coming off of a tour with Hayes Carll, Ryan isn’t slowing down. He played two solo nights at Caffe Lena in Saratoga Springs. Mirth was there for night two. Just another sold out show, the house was packed of his loyal followers, the drinks and snacks were served and we were down to the business of live music… The kind that floods your soul from the first note.

With the first joke cracked and out of the way, Ryan dove strait into an unforgettable extended set. No “set list” just a piece of paper with a world of possibilities scribbled on it, a loose idea of how the evening should sound. This undoubtably leaves a little ‘play’ room, space to read the crowd and yes even take a request… We were all thinking it. So, when someone kept yelling out 75 And Sunny, from the back of the room. Ryan obliged. We also were treated to, the ever relevant, Ships in the Night and his cover of Tracy Chapman’s Fast Car.

Ryan is a meticulous wordsmith. A story teller of his time. We collectively took a journey down roads, through ports and ultimately landed laughing together right there in that historic space, Caffe Lena. For his encore he brought out reinforcements by way of Simon, his faithful canine companion. Simon paced the stage for a minute until he rested at Ryan’s feet, patiently waiting for his friend to finish the show.

He is the kind of thoughtful performer who comes out after a show and gives his attention to anyone waiting to have a word. Kind and engaging, not rushing through any one of a number of conversations. I have seen this man perform a multitude of times, in many different settings, and it’s always entertaining and leaves me with a warm fuzzy feeling deep down in my heart. He’s like a smile wrapped up in song.