Ryan Star is a New York rocker, who is doing his best to change the world we live in. He has been playing music since age 14, his first gig at CBGB's when he was 15! He has had moderate success in a band, as well as solo. He was on the hit television show Rockstar:Supernova, and though he was eliminated before the top 3, he was voted back as the fan favorite, for an encore performance. He is currently signed with Atlantic records, and has a new album coming out at the top of the year. But what makes him different than all the other "rockstars" trying to make it in the industry? He is HELPING people. His current single is called "Breathe" and the song alone has helped thousands emotionally. But lets get more real than that... he has just released the music video for "Breathe" and it is really something special. The video focuses on the very real problem of unemployment our country is currently facing. All of the people in the video are REAL unemployed people, displaying their job qualifications on posters throughout the video. Going one step further, Ryan set up a new website in conjunction with the video release, www.breathe4jobs.com Through the website, potential employers can contact those in the video with job offers. Ryan debuted this new music video on CNN.com, not MTV or VH1, because it is more than just a music video...it is REAL PEOPLE needing help. He has also been featured on some local NY NBC affiliates to discuss this new video and website. His music has been featured on movie soundtracks, television promos, and even as the theme song for the hit FOX show Lie To Me. Most recently, his song Breathe has been featured during the Yankees playoffs. (BOO...go Red Sox! :P ) I can tell you personally, after having the pleasure of seeing him perform several times, and talking with him several times...he is the real deal, and his music has changed my life. visit www.breathe4jobs.com
to learn more about Ryan Star and listen to his music, visit: www.rstar.net and www.myspace.com/rstar
Originally posted about 6 months ago, April 20, 2009.
Ok, so...I don't really know who all wants to hear this, and who doesn't. I also don't remember who I've told, and who I haven't. SO.... if you don't care about this, or have already heard it, feel free to say goodbye now :P
NEWSFLASH:
I kinda like Ryan Star :P
The first time I saw Ryan perform in Knoxville, I was in trouble... surely I don't need ANOTHER crazy talented musician in my life, eating up my time/money/sanity. But alas.... resistance WAS futile..I couldn't help myself.
Last Wednesday, Ryan announced that he would be back in Memphis on Saturday (April 18th) to do a set at a record store there, as part of the nationwide Record Store Days festivities...and then my plan to attend said event was hatched. I needed a little bit more information, and with the help of Twitter and Mr. Ryan Star himself, soon nailed down as many of the particulars as I would ever know. And thus, on Saturday, Matthew and I found ourselves in the car for 5 hours on a lovely little day trip to Memphis. Matthew was such a good sport...didn't complain TOO much :P He also was designated official videographer, so that i could actually enjoy the show more. There are no less than 10 videos showcasing his (slightly) handiwork. We arrived... and I panicked. I don't know why... he's just a dude. A dude whose music I both respect and feel an emotional connection to. And he's pretty laid back, down to earth, etc. But I had a really hard time mustering the nerve to talk to him. Would have been better if I had some of my girls with me!
Anyway, the set... was AMAZING. Very small intimate crowd...maybe 25 people. He played 9 songs...and I've never counted but I do believe that is more than he plays opening for David Cook. He started with Brand New Day. I proceeded to take a quick pic with my cell, to send to Steph and Twitter :P I also took a few pics with my camera. Matthew was in charge of video as i previously stated. I called Steph, to let her have a bit of a cell cast :) After he finished the song, he started into Right Now. I noticed that the call to Steph had disconnected, so i tried to get her back on the line. During his intro to Right Now, he said that this song was about this, right here. Living in the now. He looked at me and said, it's not about your cell phone, or your camera. It's the opposite of that. The opposite of that. It's about this right here. Needless to say, I put my phone away for the duration! SORRY STEPH! And it's a good thing I did, because it truly enabled me to enjoy the music and form a connection that I otherwise may have missed. Which was his goal in calling me out, so hey, i guess it worked!
He performed my favorites... "Breathe" and "Losing Your Memory" with even a cameo appearance by "So Ordinary". He did a cover of Nine Inch Nail's "Head Like a Hole" that was.... haunting. In the best way. He did "Psycho Suicidal Girl" which is one of my favorite live songs, just because it's so fun! He did "Sink or Swim" which I don't think he gets to do very often on David Cook's tour, if at all.
There was some banter...more than I've ever heard out of him at David's shows! Someone's cell phone rang, and he waited for her to take the call before continuing. When she hung up, he asked her if everything was ok. She said it was her children's (she had a little boy and girl there... 5- 7) grandmother, just checking to make sure he hadn't run off with them, lol! Ryan talked about how he always tries to be pretty chill around little kids, cause he doesn't want to scare them. He referenced a movie he watched as a child, and how there was a scary guy that tackled Santa Claus...said it was horrifying! And he always has made an effort to never be the "scary guy". He talked about his albums, old and new. He mentioned that he wrote the old album in 20 something days. And it was basically...here are the songs, not overproduced. GREAT ALBUM by the way ;) Anyway, he said that Losing Your Memory (from said great album) will also be on the new album (due this summer). He said, he's really excited for us to hear it, because it's finally fully realized. He said most of the time when he listens to his music, he's mainly just hearing what's wrong with it, or what should be changed. But with the new Losing Your Memory, it's just finally, and totally realized...exactly how he first imagined it. I thought that was pretty freaking cool! He also said that the song changes meaning to him every year or so..and that it's great because it means something else entirely to each of us. Which is really what it's all about, isn't it? Anyway, the song was amazing. It was a request by the way, from one of the people in the crowd. He asked if there were any more requests before he played his final song. He asked ME if I had any request. I believe he said something along the lines of "What about you, Ryan Star shirt-wearer" with a wink. YES, I wore his shirt. YES I felt like a billboard all day long, lol. But it's all good...it was a cold rainy day, perfect for a nice comfy long sleeved shirt with RYAN STAR NEW YORK CITY emblazoned all over it :P I couldn't have requested a song if I had wanted to. How does one pick a single song? I want to hear them all! Of course, NOW I can think of a few that I wish he had sung...but in the moment, I was just content with everything he'd thrown at us up until then.
THEN came "Back of Your Car". And he proceeded to take off all of his clothes, just like the song says.
Ok, not really...but it's good to see that you are still paying attention :P He DID take off his jacket, and button down so that he was in just a t shirt. And pants. On my video, when he starts stripping, you'll hear Matthew whistle :P
And then, he had forgotten to play the single, Last Train Home, so he ended with it. And it was perfect. After it was over I turned to Matthew, and asked him if it had lived up to what I had been going on about all week. He said he REALLY LIKED IT. Which may not seem like high praise, but from Matthew, it is, LOL! Matthew headed over toward the table where Ryan would be signing, while I helped a father and his daughter find Ryan Star's CD to purchase :P You know me....
I called Steph back at this point, to apologize for not being ALLOWED to give her a cellcast :P Had to fill her in on all the details, including what he was wearing, lol. And then it was my turn in line. I was still holding my cell, with Steph still on the line, and he sort of looked at my phone and smiled. I said... Look. I was just trying to let my friend hear your set because she couldn't come and ... He interrupted me to say... Wait...so basically the end of this story is...will I talk to your friend on the phone? I said.. well, I wasn't going to ask that, but actually YEAH. So, he took the phone and talked to Steph for a couple minutes. Somehow she continued breathing. He ended by saying that he'd get her info from me regarding twitter, because he's been saying for a while that he would try to follow her. He made a joke about getting her phone number from me too, LOL! If only he weren't married, Steph :P
Ryan signed my CD, and OF COURSE, even though I told him how to spell my name, he spelled it wrong. I'm SO TOTALLY giving him crap for that next time. Anyway, he wrote "Heidi, Always good for a phone call! Keep listening. Ryan Star"
Yeah, apparently I'll never live the phone thing down.
Then, I had a mission.... I need Kelly Urich to play Ryan Star's single on kcradio.com. He wont, until it gets more radio airplay. But Andrew has been playing it on his show for the last two weeks... I think Kelly might be weakening. Anyway, I asked Ryan if he would mind taking a picture with my kcradio.com magnet, and I can use it to pressure Kelly more into playing his single. I believe his exact words were "Oh, I am SO down with that!" He made some mean faces with the magnet, Artie (guitarist) took a pic BITING the magnet, and then Ryan made a gangsta pose with it. All in all, good fun, and I hope Kelly likes the pics :)
Matthew told Ryan that he had been forced to listen to his Album for 4 hours on the way there, and Ryan said "That's what I like to hear! Force-feeding my music!" And then Matthew said "She even has all this like...bootleg kind of stuff (meaning the lovely mp3's that Mandy has made for us!) and Ryan said..."Awesome! I'm glad that it's all getting heard." So he asked Matthew if he could sign a poster for him or something, LMAO. Matthew just laughed and was like...whatever, sure. So Ryan defaced his poster, drew an eye patch on himself, some extra scruff, etc, and then signed it for Matthew.
We decided to leave him alone after that, and he told me to write down steph's twitter info, so he could try to follow her. He also had a quick conversation with Matthew about an album he (matthew) had in his hand to purchase. He was re-buying Pearl Jam's Ten because he lost his hard copy. Ryan asked him if he was just now buying it, or replacing it. He told us that was the album that made him really want to make music.
Ryan went off to take care of business. Literally, see about getting PAID and such. While I found something to write Steph's info on. After I had it written down, I had to go off and find him. As I said, he was taking care of business, so I waited (patiently) ;) When he was done, I said, hey Ryan, and handed him the paper. He looked at my quizzically for a solid 15 seconds....I swear to God he thought I was handing him my digits or something! I said...here's that info you wanted...he was like "OH!!" :) He turned it over, and noticed that it was on the back of one of Andy's THH flyers ( I always have a few in my purse, never know when you might want to hand one out :P) I said, you've seen that a time or two, huh? He just smiled and said "I love this guy!"
Then it was time to leave. Matthew went off to pay for his new (again) album. Ryan was just kinda lingering...not by us, but not far. And not really doing anything, just...there. As we were leaving, i sort of walked over to him and touched his arm to get his attention. I just said, thank you. it was great. Drive safely! And he pulled me in for a hug, and said... thanks for coming! You guys drive safe too. Matthew, we'll make a fan out of you yet! Matthew said he really enjoyed it. And Ryan said...wait till you catch one of the Rock Shows ;)
And then we were gone. And then we listened to Ryan Star for 4 out of the 5 hours on the way home :P
