An Afternoon with Ryan Davis: Poetry in Performance
On Easter Sunday, Ryan Davis, a talented singer-songwriter from Louisville, took to the stage as the opening act for Bill Callahan. The performance took place in a transformed assembly room of a historical Catholic school in Kingston, New York. With the doors welcoming attendees at 2 P.M., the atmosphere exuded warmth and serenity, with playful hints of Easter spirit—like colored plastic eggs placed throughout the rows of folding chairs.
Typically joined by his dynamic six-member Roadhouse Band, Davis opted for a solo act this day, showcasing his versatility with just his guitar, melodica, Roland sampler, a drum machine, a set of effects pedals, a mixer, and a bass sequencer. While his band creates an exhilarating live experience, the stripped-down setup resonated beautifully with his newest material, rich with themes of longing, dark humor, and reflections on desire.
Davis’s ability to juggle various instruments and technology on stage mirrored the intricacies of his music, which blends elements of country-infused rock. There’s an unexpected element to his performances; a lovely pedal-steel riff may suddenly transition into a burst of synthesizers or a rapid breakbeat, evoking a sense of spontaneity that keeps audiences engaged.
A New Album and the Journey of Creation
This month, Davis releases his second solo album titled New Threats from the Soul, a stunning and intellectually rich collection that navigates life in a world turned upside down. He has a unique talent for distilling powerful emotions like love and grief into poignant lyrics. For instance, in the track “The Simple Joy,” he quips, “Perhaps the love we had was not what made the globe turn / But more akin in fact to what made the cows lay down.” His delivery, characterized by a charming country wobble, imbues the performance with both humor and heartfelt resonance.
“I learned that time was not my friend nor my foe / More like one of the guys from work,” he sang lightly, blending humor with existential reflections. Davis’s lyrics navigated the complexities of human experience with a touch that is both laugh-inducing and achingly real. In his quest to understand life’s mysteries, he poses questions that resonate deeply: “Are we getting any closer to me knowing what the point of this is?”
While comparisons to the likes of David Berman and MJ Lenderman arise frequently, Davis reminds audiences of literary echoes from Southern novelist Larry Brown. His characters grapple with life’s mundane realities, all the while yearning for something more. The hard-luck narrators of New Threats from the Soul mirror typical struggles—seeking magic amidst their everyday existence, often bound by the bittersweet irony of life’s fleeting joys.
A Glimpse into Personal Narratives
During an encounter earlier this spring at Strangelove, a low-key dive bar in Manhattan, Davis spoke candidly about the art of songwriting. He clarified that while his songs may seem autobiographical, they are often filtered through the lens of fictional experiences. “Deciding to call this my name was sort of dangerous territory,” he remarked, laughing, emphasizing that the narratives in his songs aren’t strictly his own.
Having emerged from a background steeped in punk rock and DIY ethics, Davis’s journey as a solo artist began during the pandemic. “I was feeling really disconnected,” he recalled, embarking on a creative exploration of sounds and emotions through four-track tape recordings. He viewed that challenging era as a crucial turning point in establishing a distinct narrative voice that encapsulates humor, despair, and relatable life experiences.
| Track Name | Key Themes |
|---|---|
| The Simple Joy | Love and Life’s Ironies |
| Mutilation Springs | Loss and Longing |
| New Threats from the Soul | Existential Reflection |
In conversations with peers, fellow artists like MJ Lenderman applaud Davis’s humor and articulate songwriting. This playful yet profound exploration of life is likely to resonate beyond his music, captivating listeners with the mix of laughter and introspection. As Davis prepares for the broader release of his newest work, it is clear that his unique spin on life’s complexities will continue to draw audiences in.