CAMBRIDGE, MA - September 11--"The right elements come into contact, the flower is pollenated: the flower dies, the old petals fall away, the new bud forms and ripens. What will it bring to bloom?" Brian Auger.

Ryanhood and Owen Plant have shared many stages besides Club Passim. Previously I have referred to this bill, in headlines, as Ryanhood with Owen Plant. Not this time. Their recent two Passim performances were Ryanhood and Owen Plant. “With” versus “and;” There is a huge distinction.

The format for both shows on Friday, September 11, departed entirely from the conventions of past Green-Plant-Hood shared billings. Gone were the separate Owen Plant and Ryanhood sets; all three musicians shared the stage throughout both sets and performed each other’s material as a trio.

Owen and Ryanhood presented yet another highly positive musical and spiritual experience. They make others’ worlds look better around them because their enthusiasm is contagious. They found a way to lighten our spirits through both their music and their warm, humorous interaction, and also found ways to make everything more exciting and more vital, stimulating us to become more hopeful and engaged in the process. Beautiful and symbiotic musical interplay was heard on Ryanhood songs such as “Around The Sun,” “Nothing But The Real Thing,” and “Heart On Holiday.” A brilliant guest player, Beth Holub on viola, augmented “Back Into Blue” and “Mature,” giving listeners a live rendition of both songs that’s as close to the recorded versions as I’ve yet heard onstage. Beth was really fantastic! A brand new song featured in both sets; it’s called “(You Have To) Start Somewhere.” The trio also performed many of Owen’s new songs (and some of his old standards as well), among them “Beach Bum,” “Raise It Up High,” and “Rum Song,” along with “Freedom Was” and “Love Again” for the long-time Plant devotees.

There is a cooperative, mutually beneficial relationship between Owen Plant and Ryanhood that far transcends the music. One can feel the sense of purpose between the performers and the audience. Ryan, Owen, and Cameron communicate so effectively because they are willing to let the audience see them as real people with hopes, fears, struggles and weaknesses. And that, simply, is the essence of what makes both Ryanhood and Owen Plant so special to their followers.

Green-Plant-Hood performed these exclusive Ryanhood songs as follows:

FIRST SHOW

GARDENS AND THE GRAVES
SOMETHING MORE
BACK INTO BLUE
APPY JAM
(YOU HAVE TO) START SOMEWHERE
SECOND CITY
HELPLESS HOPELESS
BORN TO RUN TO YOU
NOTHING BUT THE REAL THING
AROUND THE SUN
WELCOME YOU INTO MY HEAD

SECOND SHOW

CAN I KISS YOU
NOTHING BUT THE REAL THING
MATURE
THE WORLD AWAITS
BACK INTO BLUE
(YOU HAVE TO) START SOMEWHERE
ODE TO A BUTTERFLY
ALRIGHT
AROUND THE SUN

Green-Plant-Hood performed these exclusive Owen Plant songs as follows:

FIRST SHOW

BEACH BUM
SWEET GIRL
RAISE IT UP HIGH
LOVE AGAIN
FREEDOM WAS
RUM SONG
BEAT TO THE ROSE

SECOND SHOW

THIS BOY…
FREEDOM WAS
WANNA GO BACK
RAISE IT UP HIGH
BEACH BUM
PUT IT IN A LETTER
DRUNK ON YOU
THE RUM SONG
BEAT TO THE ROSE

Both shows featured the same ensemble-played encore:

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